It was a relatively quiet night, most people were currently asleep, not knowing that a large winged shadow was flying overhead, its sights set on Phoenix Pharmaceuticals.
A lone security guard was making his rounds while also having a little fun by recording his voice.
"Testing 1-2-3, Testing 1-2-3." He then put on his best showman voice. "You too can be a highly paid radio personality in your spare time! Just call the Gotham Institute of Broadcast Arts! Call the-"
He was interrupted when a loud shattering sound was heard in one of the rooms. Quickly making his way to investigate the disturbance, he saw nothing out of the ordinary except for a broken glass window.
"Did someone break in?"
Nervously, he readied his taser for whatever intruder was nearby. However. what he didn't know was that said intruder was right behind him and he didn't notice...up until he heard heavy breathing going down his neck.
Shakily turning around, he cried out in horror at the sight before him and took out his taser, trying to stun the hostile figure before him. However, it merely let out a furious shriek as it shrugged off the electricity before picking him up and throwing him out the broken window and into the nearby river...
MIRACULOUS
"I didn't authorize this statement, Detective."
Commissioner James Gordon was with Detective Harvey Bullock and Lieutenant Roger Raincomprix in the office of Mayor Andre Bourgeois. Bullock had placed down a newspaper article regarding the assault on the security guard from Phoenix Pharmaceuticals. He survived but was hospitalized.
"Come on, Commissioner. Somebody asked me a couple a' questions, I just gave 'em a couple a' answers."
"You gave them without my approval," Gordon said sternly. "If you'd have just kept quiet, he wouldn't know we're moving against him."
"I'll find him! Just need a little extra help, Mr. Mayor." Bullock said as he turned to Andre.
"What kind of help?"
"I want my own tactical squad for the sole purpose of throwing the net over this 'Batman'."
"Commissioner?"
"I've already denied the request. Nobody's taking a vigilante force onto MY streets."
"Your Honor, any nutcase that dresses up like a bat sooner or later is gonna snap." Bullock argued. "At least that Spider-Kid is acting like a friendly neighborhood boy scout around town during the day."
"I don't know, it doesn't seem like Batman's MO." Roger pointed out. "My daughter Sabrina is a big fan of him and Spider-Man."
"I think we can spare a few men, Commissioner. Detective Bullock does manage to get results more often than not." Andre pointed out. "I'm authorizing the strike force."
Gordon sighed and shook his head while Bullock rubbed the back of his head, flattered at the mayor's words.
"Just be sure the DA's Office can give me an airtight case, sir."
The sound of a flicking silver dollar was heard as everyone turned to see a man sitting cross-legged in a chair cooly, catching the coin and holding it up. This was District Attorney Harvey Dent.
"If you catch 'em, Harvey, I'll put 'em in jail for ya."
MIRACULOUS
"Gotham District Police declare war on Batman?"
"I gather you've been reading how to make friends and influence people." Sarcastically commented Alfred as he poured Bruce a cup of tea.
The Wayne Heir simply gave his faithful butler and father figure a wry smirk before frowning.
"Somebody is setting me up."
"My heavens! You mean it wasn't you tossing guards out of windows last night?"
"I only toss butlers, Alfred." Bruce smirked before turning to his computer. "Look here, there were two very quiet burglaries at other pharmaceutical companies this past week. Nobody hurt like last night...but chemicals stolen all the same."
"And you suspect a pattern?"
Bruce pulled open the bust on the counter and pressed a hidden button in the neck as a secret entrance opened leading to the Batcave.
"Only one way to find out." He said as he prepared to slide down the pole and get suited up for tonight's excursion.
"I'll cancel Master Bruce's rendevous with 'Bambi' was it, sir?" Alfred smirked as Bruce rolled his eyes.
"Yes, Alfred, do that."
MIRACULOUS
"No way Bruce assaulted a guy." Peter said. "Honestly, it was bad enough when Jameson was slandering me..."
"Peter, are you alright?" Aunt May asked, making Peter quickly clam up as he turned to his beloved aunt.
"N-Nothing, Aunt May! Just a little annoyed at how the Daily Bugle and the police seem to have it out for Batman tonight."
"Oh, I heard about what happened at that pharmacy lab." Aunt May said. "Simply terrible. Though I must admit, I don't see someone like Batman just randomly assaulting innocent guards."
"Me neither, Aunt May..." Peter muttered. "I'm gonna head out. Marinette needs help with a school project."
"Tell her parents I said 'Hi'!"
Peter nodded as he left the house, slowly lifting his clothes to reveal he already had his Spider-Man suit underneath. Neatly placing them in one of his hiding spots, he then webbed off to Phoenix Pharmaceuticals.
"Alright, time for Detective Spider-Man to do a little Superhero Investigating..."
Reaching the building, Spider-Man quickly crawled along the walls, looking around to make sure nobody spotted him as he noticed a door opening to see a couple walking out.
"C'mere, you."
Taking the opportunity, Spider-Man quickly crawled inside, making sure not to make any noise to alert the two lovebirds. However, he didn't need to worry as a familiar bat-shaped silhouette flew in overhead, drawing their attention as they gasped.
"He's back!"
"I'll call the police!"
As Spider-Man crawled inside, he noticed a familiar shadow lurking in the room and quickly flipped down in front of him.
"Hey, Bruce. Didn't know you were doing some detective work too."
"Whoever the real culprit is, they'd have had to leave some clues behind," Batman noted, not at all surprised by his fellow hero's entrance. "Follow my lead."
The two made their way to where the crime took place, where a lone policewoman was standing guard and reading the evening newspaper. Batman held up a finger before reaching into his utility belt and rolling some pellets across the ground. The pellets released a pink smoke that only took one whiff for the policewoman to fall unconscious.
"That's certainly not gonna go over well with the cops."
MIRACULOUS
"Raincomprix to Bullock!"
Detective Bullock was doing his rounds in his car when he got the radio message from Roger.
"Yeah, what's up, Roger?"
"The Batman's just been sighted breaking into Phoenix Labs. Thought you might be interested."
Bullock scowled. "I want my squad there backed by choppers and as many officers as you can get NOW!"
MIRACULOUS
"So, what have you found?" Spider-Man asked as Batman finished scanning the room with his Detective Vision, having picked up a few things.
"I found this radio that the security guard who was attacked no doubt had." He said, pocketing the radio in question. "I've also found some hairs. They don't match any DNA signature in the database."
"Well, that's weird. You're saying that the attacker isn't human?"
Before Batman could answer, they noticed a bright light coming in and the sound of choppers and police cars arriving.
"Oh great, this is just gonna give JJJ more ammo against me...!"
The two heroes quickly made to escape as down below, Bullock had arrived, his strike force all gathered along with Roger and some of the police officers on duty.
"Alright, you jokers! Pipe down!" Bullock barked out to his men. "He's in there. I want him by any means necessary!"
The strike force nodded and headed inside as Gordon arrived as well, Bullock smiling as he turned to his boss.
"Commissioner! You're just in time to see us hang this bat upside-down."
"You sure he's in there?" Gordon asked."
"The chopper pilot just spotted him on the fourth floor. For some reason, Spider-Man was with him."
"Well, he can't be in two places at once. Another pharmaceutical factory was just robbed in Brooklyn. You've got the wrong guy!"
"What?!"
"I knew Batman was innocent." Roger nodded to himself.
Back with Spidey and Batman, the two were making their way back to the area where they came, only to see Bullocks' Strike Force coming in.
"You! Stop right where you are!"
"Let me handle this. I've just been developing a new toy I wanted to test out." Spider-Man said to his fellow hero as he tossed out a strange gadget.
Everyone looked at the gadget curiously as it blinked rapidly before exploding in a mess of webbing, causing the strike force to be tied up, some even pinned to the walls and one unlucky guy even stuck to the ceiling.
"Web Bomb, baby!" Spidey cheered as he and Batman got in one of the elevators and went down to the third floor. "Probably shouldn't have done that. Now Jameson is gonna have more words to use against me..."
"If he causes problems for you, just call me."
The two exited onto the third floor, only to see another group of Bullock's Strike Force having just come in investigating.
"Hey, there he is!"
The squad opened fire as the two heroes ducked into a nearby room. The leader of the squad quickly took point and headed inside, searching for the vigilantes before cautiously taking out a tear gas grenade.
"This'll smoke 'em out!"
He then threw out the grenade, not realizing that the room he was in had many flammable and otherwise explosive substances inside. He realized too late when he saw a gas canister that the grenade bounced off of and knew he wouldn't have time to clear the blast zone.
Suddenly, a web line snagged him on the back and pulled him out the nearby window. Spider-Man caught him over his shoulder and swung out of the building along with Batman as the room exploded behind them. The heroes then landed and placed the squad leader safely on his feet before heading off into the night.
"Are you okay!" Roger asked as he, Gordon, and Bullock hurried off.
The squad leader said nothing, simply slumping over as he groaned before falling on his back, needing a moment to recover from his near-death experience.
MIRACULOUS
The next day, Alya was reading the incident at Phoenix Labs on her break and was, to put it simply, annoyed at Jameson's slander of Spider-Man.
"Where's his proof?" She asked. "I mean it! Not one line in the article gives anything of evidence beyond Spidey being in the same location. All they do is hammer the fact he was on the scene when something and think that's enough for a story. Honestly…You'd think the guy has a hate boner for masked people. Spider-Man was probably only investigating the labs to prove Batman was innocent!"
"Yeah, it really is kind of annoying..." Adrien muttered as he looked to see Marinette chatting with Peter and Bruce, a fond smile crossing his face.
"Should we give you some alone time, Romeo?"
Adrien jerked up when he turned to see Alix Kubdel, the resident sporty girl at school, smirking at him along with Rose, Juleka, and Mylene Haprele, the school's resident peaceful activist.
"Um, well, you see-!"
Nino smirked. "Busted, Bro."
"What is this, you're third week here at school and already you've started crushing on Marinette just as hard as she's crushing on you." Juleka giggled. "It's honestly kind of adorable how dense you two are."
"I-I mean..." Adrien groaned and slammed his head on the table. "Please don't tell, okay?"
"Our lips are sealed, lover boy." Alya smirked. "Besides, I'm already making sure Marinette doesn't make an absolute dork of herself when it comes to you."
MIRACULOUS
Bruce had decided to pay a visit to the Central Park Zoo. Heading to the zoology labs, he knocked on the door.
"Hello, Dr. March?"
"Who is it?"
A grumpy voice came from a middle-aged man with silver hair, a slouch, and a hooked nose as Bruce smiled.
"Bruce Wayne. I've an appointment. I called about a bat problem?"
"What do you think we are, pest control?" The man, Dr. March, snidely asked.
"Well, I just need-"
"Yes, yes, come in." The doctor sighed as he led Bruce inside, muttering to himself. "You donate a few million and you think you own the darn place. I understand I'm to analyze something for you?"
"Yeah, doc. See, I keep hearing squeaks in my chimney, and I found these in my empty fireplace." Bruce handed the hairs he picked up at the lab last night as Batman. "They look like hairs. I thought maybe you could tell me if I have a bat problem."
Dr. March's brow furrowed. "And what if they are bats, Mr. Wayne, what then? Destroy them like vermin? We won't survive the next evolutionary cataclysm but BATS will! They're survivors, Mr. Wayne, not pests! You of all people should understand that!"
"DAD!" A woman's voice chided as the two turned to see an adult woman with red hair. "I hope Mr. Wayne knows you mean no disrespect."
"Well of course not, Miss-"
"Oh Mrs., well actually Doctor. I'm Francine Langstorm. I think you spoke with my husband on the phone?"
A door leading to the main lab opened up as a man with a beard and glasses walked in, giving a smile when he recognized Bruce.
"Oh, Bruce! Sorry for being late, I'm Doctor Kirk Langstorm. Did you bring the sample?"
"I gave it to Dr. March-" Bruce began only for the door to be slammed shut. "Where'd he go?"
"Probably to get started on the analysis. If it's a problem to do with bats, we'll let you know by tonight."
Francine smiled at her husband. "Dad was lecturing Little Bruce here on the virtues of Chiroptera."
"Chriopte-what?" Bruce asked, feigning ignorance.
"Chiroptera, the scientific term for bats." Kirk explained. "I hope he didn't get carried away, he tends to be a bit protective of all this. I think he likes bats more than people."
"I can't imagine." Bruce shrugged as he took out the recorder next. "I brought you this too. It's a recording I made of the noises I heard in my chimney."
Bruce pressed the play button and a screech was heard, making Kirk and Francine frown.
"That doesn't sound like any bat I've ever heard, Bruce."
Kirk took the recorder. "The animal behaviorist people here have a sound library. We'll identify it and let you know."
"I'd appreciate it." Bruce smiled but he saw the nervous glint in Francine and Kirk's eyes. A new piece of the puzzle had been put into place.
MIRACULOUS
"So, let me get this straight, you have a super secret underground cave where you make all your gadgets and investigate all the crimes going on in this city?"
Bruce had invited Peter over to the Batcave, feeling like he could trust him enough since they already shared each other's hero identities.
"For the most part, you're right on the money. But I actually have a friend over at Wayne Enterprises' Tech Division that helps with most of my gadgets." Bruce explained as he listened to the recording of the screech again.
"Sheesh, whoever this guy is, he'd give most Death Metal musicians a run for their money."
Bruce smirked. "You know, I actually checked this against any musical sounds. The Batcomputer still can't come close to pinpointing it."
"Man, you just think of everything, don't you?"
Alfred came in, handing Bruce a phone.
"Dr. March is calling, Master Bruce." The butler then turned to Peter. "Would you like anything while you're here, Master Parker?"
"Nah, I'm good Al, thanks."
Bruce shushed the two as he answered the phone.
"Hey, what's up, Doc?"
"You have bats Mr. Wayne. Common brown bats. They shouldn't pose a problem. As the weather gets colder, they'll move on."
"What about the sounds on the tape?"
"It's actually TWO sounds. Starlings and Brown Bats. Probably having a feud over a nest in your chimney."
"Appreciate the help doc. I'll return the favor next time you're raising funds. Bye-bye" Bruce then hung up before turning to Peter and Alfred. "The Batcomputer checked that fiber against every animal species known to man. I went to them because I thought they might know something we didn't. That hair wasn't a brown bat's."
"And those melodic sounds?"
"Computer, check against combined sounds, Starlings and Brown Bats." Batman ordered as he played the recording.
"Negative. Sound not originated by either species."
"Something tells me we've stumbled onto something big," Peter noted. "It's time for the Dynamic Duo of Spider-Man and Batman to unmask the true culprit!"
"We don't know for absolute certain yet but I know Dr. March is lying," Bruce said. "And you're right on one thing, Peter; We're going to find out why."
MIRACULOUS
The two heroes made their way back to the zoo, arriving in Langstrom's laboratory. They could see a bunch of chemicals being mixed and several pharmaceutical prescription bottles set up.
Batman used Detective Mode to discern which companies made the bottles and narrowed his eyes to see they belonged to Phoenix Labs and the other pharmaceuticals that had been robbed in the past week or so.
"Bruce, someone's coming!" Spidey alerted, his Spider-Sense on high alert as the two quickly ducked for cover as someone came into the room.
"W-Who's back there?" Kirk worriedly asked as he looked around, only to notice Batman and Spider-Man stepping into view. "Y-You two. What's going on?"
"We're looking for your papa-in-law, Kirk. It's urgent." Spider-Man said.
Kirk shook his head. "Sorry, he's not here right now."
"Where is he?" Batman asked.
"Giving a lecture on bat evolution and human extinction." Kirk explained. "He can get a bit carried away at times, but he's truly a brilliant man."
"Brilliant maybe, but he's also misguided and a thief." Batman said, presenting one of the pharmaceutical bottles.
Kirk's eyes widened in shock before bowing his head sadly, a look of guilt on his face.
"He's not the thief...It was me."
This took the two heroes for a spin.
"You? But how?" Spider-Man asked.
"I should explain..." Kirk said. "You see, I've been suffering from encroaching hearing loss. For years now, I've been struggling with developing a cure for deafness not just for myself but for all humanity. I thought I found it when I was able to create a medicine derived from the DNA of a vampire bat...but it went wrong. I used myself as a guinea pig and then I couldn't stop. I desperately wanted to, but IT took over."
"IT?" Batman cautiously asked, seeing the subtle nervous twitch in Kirk's eye.
"Francine and March tried to protect me, but it was too late. The beast knew what chemicals were needed to bring itself about. It was out of my control!" Kirk said, looking more and more desperate. "I didn't want to hurt anybody, you have to believe me on that. When I saw the news of what happened to that security guard, I-"
Kirk was unable to say anymore as he screamed out in pain, hunching over as Batman and Spider-Man got on guard. Spidey moved to see if the good doctor was okay, only for his Spider-Sense to blare wildly as Kirk began thrashing violently like a man possessed.
Much to the two heroes' horror, Kirk began to transform, his arms extending and growing fleshly wing-like membranes like those of a bats, his fingers elongating as his nostrils flared as his teeth became fangs. His ears became larger and pointed and his eyes turned a milky white as his body tore through his clothes.
Soon, in Kirk's place was some kind of monstrous bat humanoid, snarling at the two heroes with glaring eyes as it let out a vicious shriek.
"Holy-!" Spider-Man gasped out. "Okay, what are we going to call this guy? Batman's already taken!"
"Kirk's become something more of a Man-Bat if anything." Batman said.
The Man-Bat shrieked as he swiped his wings at the two, who dodged out of the way as he tore apart the chemical vials and beakers on the table before lifting the whole thing up with unnatural strength and throwing it at the two.
"Whoa!" Spider-Man yelped, catching the table and planting his feet to the ground but that simply gave Man-Bat the opportunity to pounce on him and snarl. Batman was prepared to help his friend when Francine's voice called out.
"Kirk! Stop!"
The Man-Bat noticed his wife and whimpered seeing her horrified and concerned face. Hiding his face in his wings with shame, he quickly flew out the window as Batman quickly took out his Grapnel Gun and fired a line that hooked onto the Man-Bat's leg, pulling him along.
"Don't worry, Mrs. Langstrom, we'll get him back!" Spider-Man reassured as he web-swung after the two.
Francine watched as the three flew off into the distance, wanting nothing more but to save her husband...when a glowing light purple butterfly landed on her glasses, making her gasp.
"Mrs. Langstorm." A smooth voice spoke up. "You wish to save your husband from the monster he had become. I can grant you the power to help Spider-Man and Batman in this endeavor."
A butterfly outline formed over Francine's eyes, which narrowed in determination as she was surrounded by a bright purple aura, transforming her.
"I'll do it."
"Good...now rise, She-Bat! Spread your leather wings and stop the Creature of the Night your husband has become!"
MIRACULOUS
Batman was hanging on as tightly as he could to Man-Bat, who dragged him through a construction site as he carefully manuvered around the beams before planting his feet on one of them and pulling tightly.
However, the Man-Bat was more clever than he appeared and flipped around the beam Batman was standing on to pounce on him from behind. However, the Caped Crusader grabbed onto him and steered him around the city.
Meanwhile, Commisioner Gordon and Detective Bullock had been alerted to what was going on and take a chopper to see what was going on.
"There he is!" Bullock pointed out when he recognized Batman.
"There THEY are!" Gordon corrected, gesturing to Man-Bat.
"What is that thing?!"
"That thing is what we're really after!"
Spider-Man was web-swinging close behind Batman and Man-Bat, doing his best to keep up with them before he noticed another flying shadow zooming overhead. His eyes widened when he saw what appeared to be ANOTHER Man-Bat, only this one had a more feminine build.
"Now there's a She-Bat?!"
The 'She-Bat' suddenly slammed into Man-Bat as Batman kept his hold on him, putting him in a headlock as he saw this new bat humanoid and his eyes widened when he saw more than a few similarities.
"Dr. Langstrom?!"
"Don't ask!" The She-Bat said, her voice having a bat-like echo to it but still recognizable. "Let me take care of this!"
Batman nodded and let go of Man-Bat, gliding down as Spider-Man caught up with him, the two watching as the Man-Bat and She-Bat engaged in aerial combat, shrieking at each other before the She-Bat eventually gained the upper hand, releasing a sonic cry that disoriented the Man-Bat and sent him crashing headfirst into a billboard, knocking him unconscious.
The heroes quickly caught up as She-Bat landed and crouched over Man-Bat protectively, a sorrowful look in her eyes. Batman turned around to see the chopper with Gordon and Bullock approaching and gestured for She-Bat to carry her unconscious husband and follow him and Spider-Man.
MIRACULOUS
As soon as they arrived at the Batcave, Francine had turned back to normal, a butterfly flying off into the distance afterward. She was a little disoriented from her transformation but otherwise felt fine.
"Will you be able to cure him?" Francine asked as Batman went over to the Batcomputer.
"I think so. I've got a list of all the items stolen from the chemical labs. With these, I think I might be able to undo the tragic fate that your husband has brought upon himself."
"Let me help. I'm pretty good with this kind of stuff too!" Spider-Man suggested as he went over, Francince sighing sadly as she lovingly caressed her transformed husband's face.
"It's okay, Kirk. Everything is going to be okay..."
MIRACULOUS
The Purple Butterfly that had transformed Francine into She-Bat flew into what looked like an abandoned conservatory, were moths and butterflies flew around carerfree. The Purple one ignored them and landed on the gloved palm of a man in a purple suit with a classy cane and white mask that only revealed only his eyes and mouth.
"Excellent work, my little Kamiko." The man smiled, covering the butterfly with his free hand. A purple energy surged before he removed the hand, revealing the butterfly was now back to normal. "DARKWINGS, FALL!"
A purple energy overtook the man, who was then replaced by Gabriel Agreste, accompanied by a small floating creature.
"..I do wish there was a different command; 'Dark' is so…villainous sounding. Oh well. A good first, Nooroo?" Gabriel asked his little friend, who smiled.
"Indeed. Although, I still think those two had things under control."
"Perhaps. But things are changing, and I think they'll be needing all the help they can get. Especially since Emillie and I were never able to find your siblings…"
Nooroo floated closer to his master.
"Worry not, Gabriel. Something tells me they'll resurface soon enough. Besides, it's getting rather late for you. You have a full day tomorrow, right?"
Gabriel smiled warmly at Noorro's concern.
"I suppose you're right. Emilie and Adrian are probably wondering where I am. Have a good night, Noorroo. Be sure and take a break."
"Only if you fdo the same." Nooroo smiled back as Gabriel left the room, finding himself in his study, which he left to find Emilie and Adrian enjoying an evening snack together after one of his Adrian's photo-shoots.
MIRACULOUS
"So the real thief was Dr. Kirk Langstrom?" Marinette asked as the gang was hanging out in the cafeteria again.
"Yes, but he wasn't in control of his actions," Bruce explained. "Luckily, they were able to find a cure for him."
"Thank goodness. I hope he's okay now." Rose said worriedly.
"But what really weirds me out is how did Francine turn into a She-Bat and then back to normal?" Peter wondered. "That's a mystery to be sure."
"I know, she didn't have the formula in her system either. And not even she knew how she transformed other than hearing a strange voice speak to her..."
Bruce and Peter could only muse on this. It seemed a new mystery was afoot...
Knightmare Lord A/N:
That's right, Hawk Moth is a good guy! But why was he helping Batman and Spider-Man? And what are his plans now that he isn't evil in this universe? All will be revealed in time but for right now, we gotta set up the next chapter because Paris' finest heroes are about to make their debut in this story!
Any words from you, Mrotrax?
Mrotrax A/N:
Another fantastic chapter, and based off of KL's fave Batman episode no less.