Characters are owned by DC and Marvel Comics respectively

-New York City-

Bruce Wayne checked his phone as he rode in the back of his car. As the screen reported no new messages he sighed, and then fixed his tie. His butler, Alfred Pennyworth, looked at him in the mirror and saw he was distraught. "Difficult word today puzzle sir?" he asked, knowing that was not the case.

"I should not be going tonight Alfred. There's been no update since the crash, no sign of any of the escapees." Bruce replied.

"Sir, as I've told you many times, in order for Batman to properly operate under the radar, Bruce Wayne must occasionally venture above it," he replied. The wrinkles on Bruce's forehead relaxed, he knew Alfred was right, "Besides, sir, occasions such as this allow you to help beyond the confines of Gotham City and in ways one cannot when wearing a cape and cowl."

They pulled into a parking lot in front of a dock leading out to a yacht sitting on the waterfront. A special gala for donors to Empire State University. "You'll let me know if we hear anything from them?"

Alfred nodded.

The yacht was filled with the ultimate who's who of New York City and the Daily Bugle was there to cover every moment of it. J. Jonah Jameson had purchased his own table at the gala, but it was specifically a working invitation to his staff members. Peter Parker was pleased to come even if it meant having to occasionally take pictures. He was an ESU alumni afterall. His fiance, Mary Jane Watson, was the rookie reporter for the Bugle and their editor Robbie Robertson sent her to cover the goings on. People were mingling between the tables, Jameson was getting a word in with the mayor. Peter spotted his old professor and waved him over to his table.

"Dr. Connors," he greeted.

Dr. Curt Connors, was pleased to see familiar faces, he was not good at conversing with the donors and trustees. " Peter, it's been too long. And I heard congratulations are in order" he said.

"What can I say, I hit the jackpot," Peter said, smiling at Mary Jane who took the opportunity to show Dr. Connors her new engagement ring.

"How are you Dr. Connors?" Mary Jane asked.

Dr. Connors appreciated her concern for his health. It had been a long time since his last uncontrolled transformation into the monstrous Lizard. He regularly microdosed with antidotes just to be on the safe side. "It's been good, my son is starting middle school, Martha is encouraging me to take a year's sabbatical so we can travel. All I have to do is get through tonight" he replied.

"Well there's plenty of people here, the University pulled out all the stops" added Mary Jane.

They were interrupted by Jameson who returned to the table, quickly after a middle aged man in a dark suit stepped aboard and disappeared into a sea of handshaking. "Alright you two, know who that was?" he asked. Peter had not seen the man, Mary Jane did not recognize him at all. "That was Bruce Wayne, a playboy millionaire from Gotham City."

"Billionaire," Jameson was about to chastise Peter for interrupting him, but soon realized it was Bruce Wayne who had come up behind them at the table. "It's Bruce Wayne, billionaire," Bruce replied coolly.

Jameson was taken aback but quickly rebounded. "J. Jonah Jameson, owner of the Daily Bugle," he introduced himself. "Tell me Mr. Wayne, what brings you to New York City? Some sort of publicity stunt; are you trying to ingratiate yourself to the city before some big land grab, or are you trying to distract people from some financial scandal that is gonna break any day now?"

Bruce was taken aback by the accusation, but then he too rebounded. "The Wayne Foundation has been casting its nets outside my hometown ever since my father began it. We've funded children's hospitals and clean water projects in Central City and Jersey City in the past year. But I do hope these good people won't turn down a scholarship donation just because it comes from Gotham City."

Flustered Jameson pretended someone was signaling him and excused himself from the table. Mary Jane pounced on the opportunity to do her own interview, she got up and extended her hand. "I'm Mary Jane Watson, Mr. Wayne, and this is my fiance Peter Parker. I apologize for Mr. Jameson's gruffness. Hopefully the rest of your trip to New York City is better."

Bruce smiled at her, and released her hand, "if the rest of your city is this kind, it most certainly will be" he then turned to Peter, "you are a very lucky young man." Peter thanked him.

"So is this really your first visit?" Mary Jane asked.

"Yes, I'm surprised it's taken so long. I really should have done some more research before I came. I didn't realize I would need another coat." Bruce commented, it was the week after Christmas and the temperatures got into the teens on some nights.

"Well don't worry, a New York winter is full of surprises" Peter added. Before the boat was rocked viciously.

"What was that? Did somebody hit us?" people on the boat were asking. Some curious on looked over the side. The yacht was completely surrounded by ice; before they knew it it creeped up the sides of the boat. Most people soon found their feet frozen to the deck, while others began sliding and falling on their butts which were then frozen in place. Bruce reached for his phone but a second shaking of the boat sent it flying out of his hand, sliding across the deck and into the water below. He cursed silently.

"Peter what's happening?" Mary Jane asked. Peter was on high alert as his spider sense warned him that they were surrounded. But when he tried to get up, he found his feet were stuck ankle deep in the ice.

Two polar bears with radio collars and a squad of armed thugs boarded the ship. And behind them was the man calling the shots. He was tall, wearing a technologically advanced suit with a plexiglass dome over his head, which was bald and he wore a pair of red tinted goggles. In his right hand was a futuristic gun that appeared to be smoking with cold air.

"Parker you better be taking pictures" Peter heard Jameson crying from across the room. He pulled out his phone and, after firing off a quick pair of texts for help, began earning his paycheck.

The thugs began harassing the passengers. Their leader seemed to be looking for someone. He passed near Jameson, who took the opportunity to chew out the stranger. "Listen hear you, the last thing this city needs is another super-menace! And you are making a lot of enemies tonight, do you know who I am!" He was cutoff as the cold gun turned on him.

"I could care less who you are, you are not the one we want!" The stranger replied, his voice echoed under his dome helmet. He then turned away.

"Don't you walk away from me you snow freak! Freeze!" Jameson instantly regretted that word choice, as the villain turned around and fired his ray encasing him in a layer of ice.

"That's Mr. Freeze, to you!" Growled Mr. Freeze.

Across the deck Peter, Mary Jane, and Bruce watched Mr Freeze turn Mr. Jameson into a human popsicle. "Did you see that?" Mary Jane whispered to Peter.

"That gun chilled the air around it, he flash-froze him," Peter replied whispering too. He then noticed Bruce Wayne, rather than cowering like most of the guests he was coolly watching Mr. Freeze as he moved throughout the crowd searching.

"Peter," Mary Jane snapped him out of his thoughts, as she whispered. "I can't move, can you get yourself free?" Peter tried, but the ice rose far above his ankles, meaning he could not slip out of his shoes. He shook his head, the deck was so cold their breaths were visible as they spoke. "Did you?" MJ did not have to finish her question, Peter nodded that he had sent out the call for help now all they had to do was wait.

Bruce watched Mr. Freeze, but not in such a way that the armed thugs would notice him. He now knew the identity of one of the escapees that had been on the derailed prison transport train bound for Gotham City. But what was he doing here, and who were these people in purple parkas working with him? The ice kept him from slipping away to suit up, and his phone was now at the bottom of the harbor. As the guard paced in front of him, Bruce sneezed falling forward into him. The goon pushed him back with a punch into the gut. Bruce pretended it hurt more than it did. The guard did not notice the tracking device he had attached to his boot.

"Yo Mr. Freeze, we got him!" Mr. Freeze turned to see the soldiers standing with Dr. Connors, whom they had pulled out of his shoes.

"Dr. Curt Connors, your reputation precedes you" said Mr. Freeze.

Dr. Connors stuttered in the cold air as he spoke, "please, why are you doing this?"

"All will be clear soon enough," Mr. Freeze explained. Just then a web launched down and latched onto the shoulder of the goon next to them and yanked him into the air. The rest of the armed attackers looked above, they were local so they knew what trouble was descending on them. Above sitting on the mast was a masked hero in a black and red bodysuit with a web design.

"A little lost aren't you? Disney on Ice is at Madison Square Garden" he said before jumping to avoid blasts from the other thugs.

"It's one of the Spiders, boss!" they yelled to Mr. Freeze.

"I do not care who he is, he cannot be allowed to interfere. Hold him off" replied Mr. Freeze.

The goons opened fire but their aim left much to be desired. The party guests ducked as the battle erupted around them. Peter discreetly gave Miles a thumbs up as he swung by and knocked a thug into the water. He kicked both his feet into Mr. Freeze's chest causing the villain to stumble back. "This does not concern you!" Mr. Freeze replied, pointing his gun at Miles.

"It concerns me when you're giving everyone cold feet!" Miles replied as he jumped in a backflip to avoid the blast which encased one of the thugs who was approaching from behind. Before Mr. Freeze could line up and fire at Miles again; his arm and the cold gun were hit by a flurry of webbing that wrapped them tightly. His eyes had been fixed on Spider-Man and he had not fired any webbing. He turned to see where the web had come from. A second Spider person was perched on a table behind him. Her costume was white and pink with a hood.

"How about you chill dude!" she exclaimed, taking pride in the pun.

Mr. Freeze gritted his teeth and the webbing began to freeze and then it shattered like glass. "You chill!" he snapped and fired at her. She jumped in the nick of time without a chance to gauge her landing, and crashed into Miles.

"Are you ok?" Miles quietly asked his girlfriend Gwen Stacy, who was under the mask. She nodded that she was.

"Get him out of here" Mr. Freeze ordered his two remaining goons who were holding Dr. Connors.

"But what about the Spiders?" they asked.

"They will have more pressing matters to bear with," Mr. Freeze replied. He hit a button which disabled the collars on the two polars bears, they became less restrained and started stalking the passengers. Miles and Gwen each took a bear and webbed them to the ground, securing their paws, and jaws. But it still gave Mr. Freeze and his men an opportunity to escape using snowmobiles on the frozen harbor and disappeared into a sewer pipe which they sealed with ice after entering.

Miles and Gwen missed them just barely. The ice was too thick to punch through. Mr. Freeze had escaped, for now. The two young heroes swung away as the fire and police rescue teams swarmed the boat.

The rescue team used extreme caution when defrosting all the victims so that no toes were lost. Bruce Wayne was finishing being looked over by the paramedics. As soon as they cleared him to move he got up and began walking through, looking at the other victims. He saw J Jonah Jameson who was still frozen from the waist down and angrily yelling at anyone in earshot. The police were interviewing the people who had been at the table with the doctor who had been abducted by Mr. Freeze. Finally he spotted Alfred who was waiting for him by the car. As Bruce walked towards him, he noticed Peter and Mary Jane, the young couple who he had been talking to before the ice came over the boat. The paramedics were treating them for frostbite with warm towels and hot coffee. He thought about saying something but wasn't sure what he would say. This was not Gotham City, so he felt the need to be extra cautious. As Alfred held the door of the car, Bruce took one last look at the crowd; Peter and May Jane were staring at him.

"Paparazzi problems sir?" Alfred said as they began driving back to the hotel.

"Just a nice couple, caught up in trouble that should never have left Gotham" Bruce sighed.

"At least you now know that Mr. Freeze was one of the escapees" Alfred replied.

"That still leaves four unaccounted for," Bruce replied. "Any word from Dick and Barbara?"

"Yes, I informed them your phone had become waterlogged. The holding cells on the train offered some clues. As you suspected, the transport was deliberately sabotaged. It does appear an explosion attempted to uncouple the second and third transport cars but ended up derailing the entire train." Alfred explained.

"Meaning only three of the escapees were in on it" Bruce deduced. "The other two escaped in the confusion."

"And as you feared, evidence suggests all the escapees headed here." Alfred continued.

"This attack tonight was only the beginning" Bruce took his backup communicator. "I'm telling Dick and Barbara to get here soon, it's all hands on deck."

"And what of the web crawling vigilantes who dart around this city" asked Alfred. "The Daily Bugle claims they are a menace to society. Perhaps they are somehow involved?"

"You didn't see them in action tonight Alfred. Their priority was making sure nobody got hurt. Like me in my early days, I feel they are just victims of bad publicity." Bruce replied.

"Then perhaps you should warn them and enlist their help in recapturing your runaway rogues" Alfred suggested.

"It's their city Alfred, they have their own problems. We'll just have to wait and see" Bruce said, looking out the window as some bats roused from the bridge they were driving under.

"Regardless, I am sure that the University will still graciously accept the Wayne Foundation Scholarship for orphans," Alfred added, with a sense of pride. Bruce smiled. "And now that Bruce Wayne has done his part."

"It's time for Batman to do his," he said, pulling out his batwave. The tracking device he had slipped into the boot of the guard he had fallen on was still working, even though Spider-man had kicked him into the water. It is moving around in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. He deduced since they were pros and would lay low until the heat was off before returning to their base. As soon as they got back to the hotel, the Batman would take to the shadows of New York City.

Meanwhile, Dr. Curt Connors found his blindfold removed. He had been taken to his abductor's base; it was a fully functioning laboratory. The temperatures remained bone chillingly cold. The armed thugs gave him a heavy coat, socks and boots and brought him to a slightly warmer room to change.

As he calmed himself and savored the slight sense of warmth he peered through the crack. The thugs were members of a young tech based upstart gang called the Underground. Their leader, a woman named the Tinkerer was conversing with his current captor, Mr. Freeze. The latter was no longer wearing his clear dome helmet.

"I warned you, and that was just the two kid Spiders" snapped the Tinkerer.

"We got the doctor, the risk proved worth the reward" replied Mr. Freeze.

"One of my men got frozen, and another is in lockup right now," Tinkerer continued.

"You are welcome to rescue them at any time. But if you want access to my research and schematics as agreed, you will get the Doctor whatever he needs" Mr. Freeze added.

She took a deep breath. "Don't worry Mr. Freeze, we're with you. I just think we have to be more careful, now the Spiders are gonna be after us."

"Better Spiders than Bats!"

"So you say," Tinkerer seemed unwilling to believe that a man with no superpowers who threw boomerangs and dressed like a bat was even on par with the web-crawler.

"You are in danger of making the same mistake you warned me against! Do not underestimate an enemy you have never faced. Be thankful he is in Gotham City."

Mr. Freeze and Tinkerer stared at each other frowning. They were interrupted by Dr. Connors, who was trying to slip away unnoticed, tripped and fell into two more Underground members. "Ah, Dr. Connors, so good of you to join us."

"You…you didn't give me much…of a choice" the Doctor replied.

"You are one of the finest minds in the field of biology. And this matter requires only the finest!" Mr. Freeze added.

"You may as well freeze me, you won't force me to make you any weapon" Connors snapped, as he shivered.

Mr. Freeze frowned. "You misunderstand me, I don't want you to help me." He walked over to a fuse box and turned on the lights over a vertical with a cryogenically frozen woman inside. She was hooked up to computers that monitored her heart, breathing, and brainwaves. The readings indicated she was very weak. "I want you to help her."