A few minutes after getting information they needed, Superman was flying to the location while Batman was jumping from rooftop to rooftop in order to get to the location Gordon had called from.
Superman was clearly ecstatic to be rescuing his best friend while Batman looked cautious. "I hope Jimmy's okay." Superman said. "When we arrive we get Bane as well, right?"
"That's the plan." Batman replied.
"You look cautious." Superman remarked.
"This is all starting to feel too easy, I don't like it." Batman replied.
"Like how too easy?" Superman asked.
"I don't know." Batman replied. "A hunch."
"So, you're assuming that this is a trap because of a hunch?" Superman asked with a raised brow.
"I'm hoping I'm wrong, but something just doesn't add up." Batman replied. "Remember, remain cautious."
When they arrived outside the mannequin factory in Founder's Island, they were greeted by Gordon, whom had hung up on his phone.
"Have you managed to figure how many abandoned buildings we have in this city?" Gordon asked. "It's ridiculous."
"This the right place, Commissioner?" Superman asked.
"I'm sure." Gordon replied. "Trapped and sealed in a lead vault so you wouldn't see him."
"How did you find him?" Batman asked.
"You wouldn't believe it, a tip from Matt Hagen." Gordon replied. "He says that Jimmy is being held here. Not sure what the theme is for this place, but a good place to hide a hostage. If you want to turn them to mannequins. Come on." Gordon opened the door to the factory and walked in.
Superman was about to follow until Batman stopped him. "Wait."
"What?" Superman asked.
"Gordon is usually more cautious." Batman replied. "I don't like it."
"Perhaps he's too eager and wants to go home?" Superman theorised.
"Check the building." Batman requested. "There could be something hiding."
All of a sudden, they heard the sound of shots fired and someone slamming against the wall. They saw Gordon tumble to the floor with a mighty thud.
"I think we just found it." Superman dashed to Gordon with Batman following behind.
"Commissioner, are you okay?" The Kryptonian asked the decommission commissioner.
"I'm fine." Gordon replied. "Just a few bruises, no need to check on me."
"What attacked you, Jim?" Batman asked.
All of a sudden, a strange creature appeared in front of them. Tall, insect-like and ginormous wings, it was Drury Walker.
"Hello Superman, does this bug you?" Walker asked.
It didn't take long for Superman to figure out what he was getting at. "You again?" Superman asked.
"That's right!" Walker responded. "Like it?! Now, I think I feel just a bit stronger to kick your a-" He dashed to punch Superman, but when his fist came into contact with Superman's chest, it caused a loud crunching sound. "AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! AAAAHHHHH! THAT REALLY HURT!"
As Killer Moth screamed in pain, Superman just watched on with an unimpressed look, Gordon just shook his head with pity while Batman gave a deadpan stare.
"Was that the only guard on duty?" Batman asked.
"Unfortunately." Gordon said. "I thought there would have been more. Could have used some leg work."
Batman stared at Gordon with suspicion he wasn't so sure, but he had a feeling that there was something off about him.
"Let's go." Gordon stood up. "He's right around that corner. And don't touch the liquid nitrogen along the way."
But before Superman could follow, Batman placed his hand on Superman's shoulder. "Superman, I need you to look for Barbara Gordon." Batman said.
"Huh? His daughter. Trust me."
Reluctantly, Superman began to listen to hear any sign of Barbara Gordon. "Barb, your Dad will be fine. He's got Batman. Plus, he's got Superman. And let me tells ya, he is a looker. Is it just me, or does he have a great butt?"
"Alysia, you're getting off topic."
"Sorry, I wish to talk about hot guys. Hey, don't you have a crush on that Dick Grayson?"
"She's with a friend." Superman replied. "Alysia is her name."
Batman and Superman walked in front of Gordon. "Hey Jim, how's your daughter, Barb? Where is she tonight?"
Gordon sighed. "Last I check, she's with her mother. Why? What's wrong? Hey Superman, you got a little something on your chest."
On Superman's chest, there was a glowing red dot that he didn't seem to notice, only Gordon and Batman seem to.
"Get down!" Batman suddenly grabbed Gordon by the shoulders and used him as a shield to stop a bullet.
"Commissioner!" Superman exclaimed. "What the hell were you doing?!"
Batman placed Gordon on the floor and stared at the body. One thing Superman did notice, was the fact that he didn't appear to be bleeding.
"You might have fooled everyone else with your acting skills, but you're no Basil Karlo." Batman stated.
Superman couldn't comprehend what was happening right now. There was a sniper that tried to kill him and now, Gordon might not be what he seems.
"You deal with whoever is impersonating Gordon, I'll handle the sniper." Batman requested. He summoned his grappling hook and grappled his way out of the factory to deal with the sniper.
After Batman left, Superman looked to the body of Gordon and saw that it was shaking. He then began to stand up and there, his body began to shift. He grew taller, his skin was melting, he grew wider and his body began to form in what Superman could only describe as mud.
Soon, he was no longer looking at Commissioner James Gordon, he was looking at a monster made from what could be described as clay.
"Like the new look, Superman?" Hagen asked.
Meanwhile, Batman traced the location of the sniper to a building about three miles away from the factory. The building itself was a small housing complex with four floors.
When he jumped on the roof, Batman narrowed his eyes at the would-be-assassin. "Thought it would have been you."
It was none other than Slade himself. He stood up from his sniping position and looked at Batman. "Nice costume. Not too keen on the ears."
"Slade." Batman said. "Is this really worth it? Trying to kill Superman?"
"Let's not fight, Bruce. Let's talk." Slade suggested. "I haven't seen you for seven years." He removed his skull mask to reveal his one eye and the patch he was wearing. "Come on Bruce, take off the mask. I promise you that your secret will be safe with me."
"I'll pass." Batman said. "Don't know who could be watching."
Slade grinned. "Your intuition hasn't changed. I always admired that about you."
"How did you survive?" Batman asked.
"My own intuition and my rage against you thrived." Slade replied. "I would have hunted you down but I thought I could move on. Took up contracts from everyone. Gangsters, world leaders, military operatives and now, I work full time for the government."
"To try and takeout Superman?" Batman asked.
"To protect Earth." Slade retorted.
Meanwhile in the abandoned factory, Superman stared at his new opponent with a determined stare before he made the first hit. He dashed into the clay monster, but he unfortunately crashed through, covered in clay.
"Uh…" Superman cringed as he tried shaking it off.
He then heard laughter. He turned around to see Hagen's Superman shaped hole in his stomach, reassemble itself back to a full regenerated form.
"My turn!" Hagen roared before he outstretched his arm to attack his opponent. Superman dodged the arm but was hit by a clay wall on the other side.
The wall shape changed into a huge fist that managed to smack Superman into a wall. He pulled himself back up and tried to blast him with his heat vision.
Hagen formed his arms into a shield that was fruitless however, as it just melted through. Matt screamed in pain just as Superman dashed towards him.
He turned his hands into mallets that he tried hitting Superman with. But the clay monster couldn't get a hit out of him since he was hovering far too fast.
Superman hovered to a higher point, right below the ceiling so him and the clay monster could stare down at each other.
Superman wiped some of the substance off his shoulder and flicked it off his hand. "Hagen, I assume?"
Hagen grinned. "And I thought Batman was the detective."
"I never answered your question, I have to say, it's not an improvement." Superman retorted.
Hagen laughed. "Mainly because…" He shifted into his human form. "…I was this." He then shifted back into his clay monster form. "But now, Matt Hagen has been reborn as Clayface." He inhaled through his mouth and began spitting clay at Superman like bullets.
He managed to dodge them, but still got splatters of clay over his costume.
Outside the factory, Batman and Slade were still staring each other down. "Protecting Earth from Superman? Last I check he's doing more to protect this planet than either of us."
"He has ulterior motives." Slade said. "You don't get it, Bruce. Superman has the power to destroy us all."
"I'm aware of that." Batman replied. "I know Superman has the power to wipe all of us out."
"Then join me." Slade said. "Help me destroy him so we can save this planet."
"That's not the way I work Slade." Batman protested. "I am aware of the power Superman possesses and what he might do to us if he snaps. But right now, the only thing I see of him is very contradictory to yours."
Slade narrowed his eyes at Batman. "Then he has you fooled as well. That is going to get everyone killed."
"You weren't always the brightest, Slade." Batman said.
In that moment, Slade's tolerance for Batman's stubbornness had run its core. "I have waited too long to kill Superman, but I suppose I have waited longer for this." Slade put his mask back on and summoned his swords. "When you get to hell, Bruce, say hi to Talia for me."
The mere mention of the name, Talia, caused Batman to clench his fists and to narrow his eyes at Slade. They each got in their own defensive positions, ready to attack.
But Slade, being the most impatient, struck first. He tried hitting Batman with various swings from his swords, but the caped crusader managed to dodge them.
One did manage to hit him, but only on his wrist gauntlet with a loud metallic clang. Batman took the opportunity to hit Slade in the stomach while Slade, kneed him in the chin.
But the disorientation was brief as Batman managed to dodge a series ariel spin kicks to the face. He managed to catch his opponent's sword and elbowed Slade in the face, causing him to stumble.
Back in the factory, Clayface had changed his hands into axes that swung at Superman. The alien superhero managed to dodge the axes before punching into Clayface's eye.
However, his fist got stuck in its sticky skin and he couldn't get it out. Clayface laughed sinisterly as his own eye began to devour Superman. The Kryptonian, despite his strength, struggled to get his arm out of him.
Thankfully, after a moment of struggle, Superman managed to free his arm by pressing his feet against his chest and yanking it really hard.
Evidently, his feet got stuck to the monster's chest. Clayface slammed Superman to the floor and kicked him against a wall. Then, just as Superman was about to get up, Clayface picked him up by his cape.
"Hope you got a vomit bag prepared, Superman."
He began to swing Superman around like a doll before slamming him to the floor on one side and another. Then, he tossed The Man of Steel against the wall. He fell on top of a container that he accidentally knocked over, causing liquid to pour out.
Clayface began to slowly walk up to Superman. He laughed as he shifted one of his hands into a mallet. "Fortunately for you Superman, Bane wants you alive. I bet Walker that it would take at least a few rounds for Bane to pummel you."
However, when Clayface took one step on the liquid, his foot began to freeze up. Soon the ice began to travel up Clayface's leg.
He panicked and instantly pulled his leg off, leaving him with only one clay leg. He roared in pain while Superman watched on intrigued yet baffled. What had just happened?
Then, Clayface turned himself into a puddle and retreated into the next room through the small gap in the doors.
Superman looked at Clayface's missing leg and the liquid he stood in. He began hovering and instantly pieced together what had happened. "Liquid nitrogen. What the heck is it doing at a mannequin factory?" He shrugged his shoulders and hovered towards the door Clayface slithered through.
Outside, Slade and Batman were continuing their duel with each other. Slade was repeatedly slamming his swords against Batman. However, he was using his gauntlets to deflect the blades.
Batman kicked Slade in the stomach, causing him to slide backwards. In that moment, Slade only stood up and stared at Batman with an impressed gesture.
"You impress me, Bruce." Slade remarked. "You really have outdone yourself in terms of combat skills."
"And your training from Ra's Al Ghul shows." Batman's retort caused Slade some anger.
"Your arrogance is as prominent as ever." Slade put his swords away. "I suppose I should fight a little fair."
Slade charged up against Batman with a series of aerial kicks that Batman managed to avoid. However, when Slade landed on the roof, he performed a spin kick that caused Batman to fall on his rear.
Before Batman could stand up, Slade kicked Batman on his side, caused him to be knocked to the roof again. But before Slade could perform that same action, Batman grabbed his foot and with all his strength, managed to flip him over.
However, Slade landed on his hands and performed a backflip. He charged at Batman again where they began to exchange punches with one another.
Batman and Slade each deflected their punches and even managed to get some to their faces, chest, and stomachs.
Just as Batman was about to punch him again, he grabbed him by the wrist and tossed him against the chimney. Slade tossed a knife that happened to attach through the cape and into the bricks of the chimney.
Before Batman could make an attempt to move it, Slade slammed his head against the bricks and then began to repeatedly punch him in the stomach. Batman didn't expect Slade to be this fast since he was struggling to deflect every punch coming from him.
Eventually, Batman did manage to release himself by his his gauntlets to his face and shooting bat shaped shurikins from them, causing them to hit Slade in his mask. He kicked Slade in the chest, causing him to be knocked to the roof.
He removed the knife from his cape and tossed it away like it was nothing. Despite a wide array of punches to his gut, Batman did manage to stand up straight and get into a fighting position.
Back in the factory, Superman kicked the door off its hinges to find Clayface. But all he managed to find was something that he himself was creeped out.
Behind those doors were a bunch of mannequins. Appeared to have been left behind after the factory's closure. Legless, armless, headless, armless & legless, some standing and some lying on the floor. And some were even covered in cobwebs and had bugs crawling all over them.
Superman looked freaked out by the fact that there were so many mannequins all over the place. It was almost something out of a horror movie Lois and Jimmy make him watch.
He began to look around every mannequin to spot any kind of sign of one of them being Clayface in disguise. It would seem to make sense.
He began to use his supervision to find out which mannequin was which. He carefully scanned every mannequin in the room. He scanned them back and forth for anything, but he couldn't find any of them that could have been Hagen.
"I can't see any skeleton." Superman said. "Any of these could be him."
Suddenly, he was attacked from behind by Clayface. He grabbed him by his back and stuck him against the wall.
He leered sinisterly at Superman and laughed. "Did you really think I'd take the mannequins? Would have been too easy for you to find me."
Superman grinned. "You also forgot one thing. Your weakness is ice."
Clayface smiled. "Last I check, you don't have any ice powers."
"You're right, I don't." Superman then began to blow on Clayface's arm, causing his arm to freeze. In a panic, Clayface removed his frozen arm off of Superman.
"No!" Clayface reacted in horror.
Superman then used his ice breath to blow Clayface in an attempt to freeze him. It was thankfully working as the ice traveled all over Clayface's body. And soon, Clayface couldn't stop it as he became a frozen ice sculpture.
Due to using too much of his breath, Superman dropped to the floor and began gently inhaling in order to get his breath back. "Okay, okay. That exhausted me a little." He looked to the frozen opponent with a deadpan stare. He was tempted to make an ice pun, but he knew it would be embarrassing so he flew off to find Jimmy.
Back on the roof, Batman and Slade were still fighting. They were deflecting every one of their punches once again.
Then, Batman performed a jump kick to Slade's face, causing him to stumble backwards. Slade retaliated by firing a blast from a wrist mounted cannon.
Batman dodged the beams and tossed one of his batarangs. It pierced the bore of the weapon, caused it to exploded in his face.
Slade and Batman continued their fistfight. At one point, while clashing their fists against one another, Slade took the opportunity to headbutt Batman in the face, causing him to be disoriented. Then, Slade grabbed Batman by his wrist and tossed him over his shoulder.
He stomped on his chest just as he was about to stand up. In that instant, Slade unsheathed his sword and pointed right at Batman's mouth.
"I always wondered what Talia saw you in, but I guess you're about to find out." He was about to stab Batman in the mouth. That was when, a blast from two red beams shot the weapon out of his hand.
Slade looked at his weapon and then towards his attacker. Whom, turned out to be none other than Superman.
"I think it's time you leave." Superman said.
Slade narrowed his eyes at Superman and Batman before he summoned a pellet from his wrist. "Not right now, Superman. You're not my priority for now." He tossed the pellet on the roof, releasing a cloud of smoke.
Superman dashed through the smoke in an attempt to catch him. However, Slade was gone. Superman cursed himself for not catching Slade in time, but knew Batman was his priority right now.
He dashed to him to see if he was okay. "Are you alright?" Superman asked.
Batman groaned as he sat up. "I'm fine." He held his chest. "Bruised chest, but it will pass."
"I was overhearing a conversation you two were having. Who's Talia?" Superman asked.
"Not important." Batman replied. "Did you find Jimmy?"
"I checked the warehouse from top to bottom." Superman replied. "He's not here. I don't know about you, but I think it was a trap."
"I knew from the beginning." Batman stated.
"And you didn't say anything because…"
"We wouldn't have our information." Batman replied.
Later, Batman tossed Killer Moth on the roof, whom was still reeling from the pain of having his hand broken. He looked at his opponents and cringed.
"I won't talk!" Killer Moth said. "No matter how much pain you put me through."
"Actually, it's not me you need to worry about." Superman said. "I won't put you through pain."
"And I won't." Batman stated. "That is if you give me an answer I don't like. So Walker, where is Bane?"
Killer Moth laughed. "My tendrils are sealed, bats. I won't tell you anything." He laughed while Batman just grinned.
"I will make you." Batman said as he began reaching into his belt. "And I think I might have a way." As Batman began reaching into his belt, Superman took a glance at what the gadget was and raised a brow.
That gadget turned out to be nothing but a penlight. "Okay, Walker. Look here." Batman activated the penlight, emitting a blinding flash.
And in an instant, Killer Moth was instantly hypnotised by the device. "The light. The light." He tried reaching for the light but Batman just pulled it away from him. "Give! Give me the light!"
Superman could only watch with befuddlement and amusement. Not only did Walker mutate into a moth, he also developed a moth's affinity with light.
"Give me the light!" Killer Moth pleaded.
Batman turned the penlight off. "Not until you tell me where Bane is."
Killer Moth, looking desperate for the light, got on his knees. "Kilmer Docks. His base of operations are there."
"Thank you." Batman turned the penlight on and handed it to the mutated moth. He snatched it out of his hand and began to stare at it and caress it.
"Beautiful, light." Killer Moth cried. "Beautiful light."
Just as Batman and Superman were about to leave for the docks, the Caped Crusader was getting a call from the communication piece in his mask.
"Talk to me." Batman said.
"Hey Bruce, hope I'm not bothering ya. But me and Lois have found out that Mockingbird is actually a Wayne Enterprise employee named Edward Nashton. And on top of that, we might have found the location of Bane's base of operations. It's actually the…Wait, you know don't you?"
"Thank you, Robin." Batman stated. "Me and Superman will meet you there. Anything else I need to know?"
"Gus Goreman and Alexander Luthor are safe." Lois replied. "Is Clark okay?"
"Going to need a shower but he's fine." Batman replied.
Superman sniffed the clay that was all over his body and gagged. He then dashed away to clean himself up.
"And Bruce, I got a call from Alfred. Lucius, Vicki and Gordon have gone missing. I think Bane might have had something to do with this."
"My same exact thoughts." Batman said. "Thanks, Robin and Miss Lane. We'll rendezvous with you in a few minutes."
Superman returned as soon as Batman hung up. "I heard your conversation from the shower." He stated. "I got a plan how we can get this Nashton to confess."
"Record a confrontation with Batman." Batman said as he walked towards the ledge of the roof.
"You coming with me?" Superman asked. "Or shall you catch up?"
"Go and meet Robin and Lois." Batman turned to Superman and smirked. "And tell me how Robin reacts to meeting you. He's quite a fan."
Superman smiled back. "Will do." He flew away to leave Batman to himself.
Batman was currently staring off into the distance, thinking. Fighting Slade again brought up some old memories he wish he had forgotten. And that name, Talia.