JD2
05-17-2008, 10:45 PM
Hello,
I am a fan of the Batman Beyond series that aired on WB, that said, I think there are some things about the series that fans legitimately hated, and when they tried to remedy them, it just seemd out of place and sort of silly.
I decided to reimagine the Batman Beyond universe in the form of a fan fic. Hopefully you enjoy it!
BATMAN BEYOND
JOSH LEGUERN
Chapter One
2016
With loud and unrelenting panting, The Batman ran down a wide, sweeping hallway at the now abandoned Arkham Asylum. He turns around as Ra’s Al Ghul and a band of his trained warriors from The League of Assassins stand in anticipation.
“It seems this has all finally come to an end Detective, I’m afraid if you will not join me, I cannot allow you to stand in my way.” Ra’s said with genuine regret.
“You’re committing genocide Ra’s.”
“We are doing what is necessary, Bruce.” Ra’s replied as pulled a gun from his holster, I’m afraid you won’t be alive to see I’m right.”
“You’re not killing him Ra’s.” a woman’s voice yells from above.
Ra’s, the ninjas and Bruce all look up in the air to see Selina Kyle, retired from her Catwoman persona come down from a wire and land on Ra’s. A new Catwoman, Cassie Sandsmark aka “Amazon” and Lady Blackhawk defeat all of the ninjas.
Selina puts Bruce underneath her arm.
“Selina… the city.” Bruce says to her.
“There’s no time Bruce, now it’s time to make sure as many people as possible, including yourself are safe.”
“NO!” Bruce shouted.
2038
“Terry, you’re becoming nothing but a no good High School drop out.” Terry could hear his father saying, “Your getting sucked into this go no-where Gotham culture, maybe it’s time you left Gotham.”
Leave Gotham? There was no way in hell. Gotham City was Terry’s home, he knew it better than anywhere else and he wasn’t going anywhere. Besides, he at least had some knowledge about the city’s infrastructure which was critical to doing raids with his gang, Name, like the one he was doing at this moment on Wayne-Powers Inc.
Gotham City of 2034 is a mix of 2000s New York City with it’s spiriling buildings and awe-inspiring sky scrapers, Tokyo of 2010s with technology everywhere the eye can see and just insane with speed trains all built over the ruins of the old city. Terry knows almost every alley way and short cut available from his days cutting class in high school.
Terry got bored in school and hardly ever attended, he dropped out of High School and joined Name one of the city’s lead gangs at sixteen, it’s been a full year now and Terry has gained favor with the gang’s leader Spike Reynoldz. Terry is a computer fiend and a great escape artist, which is perfect for Gotham which was rebuilt with the most technologically advanced security systems in the world. The idea was to frustrate the criminals to the point where they would go elsewhere that had better law enforcement, of course this is Gotham, they didn’t get rid of the criminals, the criminals just got smarter.
Terry hang from a bungee Mission: Impossible style. He was holding a small square device that had green lettering that was indecipherable.
“What’s going on up there Terry.” Spike asked,
“It’s scrambling the video codes via Bluetooth.” Terry said. “Basically, it’s waiting until all of the cameras have images with no people in them, it will keep those shots on the monitors and give us free reign to do what we need to do.”
“So we go in after that.” Spike asked?
“No, we’ve got to make sure the scambler has all of the locks tapped, when we need to walk through them it will unlock the doors as we approach them and relock them, we also need to make sure there aren’t other forms of security.” He said.
“Glad you’re on this McGuiness because I would have never gotten it!” Spike was not the smartest apple that fell off of the tree and not the most patient either, it annoyed Terry sometimes as he had felt like he was leading this gang a lot of the time.”
A screen popped up saying “Scan Complete—All Systems Now Accessable.”
Terry hit a few buttons, and the screen read, “Cameras Disabled.” Then “Motion Disabled.” Then “Doors Unlocked.”
“We’re ready to go.” Terry told them over the monitor. They entered the factory.
2016
Bruce felt rumbling, he was in the Birds of Prey’s jet. Selina had taken over the Birds of Prey and relocated them back to Gotham.
“You’re going to be alright Bruce.” She said to him.
Bruce was now 50 years old, he had been fighting his War on Crime for the last 23 years, with no success as far as anyone could see. Gotham’s crime rate had dropped, but in the place of consistant mafia crime was sporadic freak crime. The crime bosses that had once ran Gotham City’s underground would not have been able to dream of what some of these freaks had done to Gotham City.
“Ra’s has a bomb.” Bruce said to Selina.
“I know” Selina replied.
“We have to stop him.” He told her.
“We’ve tried, Bruce.” Selina said hopelessly. “Even you couldn’t figure it out, who else could?”
Bruce got up and grabbed Selina by the shoulders. “There must be something we can do!” Bruce yelled.
Suddenly a bright light came from the southwestern part of the city, Bruce and Selina look on as a loud boom swept across Gotham City.
“PULL UP!” Selina screamed as the jet shook violently.
The plane settled and they all sat in silence.
Bruce looked out of the window with horror in his eyes. It was over, Batman’s war on crime, everything he fought for and believed in had just been destroyed. Selina came and put her hand on Bruce’s shoulder.
“Bruce, I….” Bruce gently grabbed her hand and took it off his shoulder as he looked down at the burning Gotham City, a tear came down his face.
Selina signaled the pilot to land at Wayne Manor, in the Northeast just outside the city, it survived the blast.
2038
Terry, Spike, and two other members of Name stood inside the Wayne-Powers Military Industrial Plant.
“These weapons will make Name unbeatable.” Terry said. “We’ll be the greatest force in this city since Carmine Falcone.”
“And now there’s no Bat to stop us.” Spike said in almost laughable timing. No one really believed a Batman ever existed, he was about as real as Big Foot or the Loch Ness monster. If Batman was so real, why did Gotham go up in smoke 18 years ago.
“We’re looking for the AX-9256 and the ZP-0987, got that? Six for us, six to sell in Metropolis and New York.” Spike told his crew. “These are high grade energy weapons so make sure your careful, if some wiseguy don’t know how to use this thing, it could be 2018 all over again, you got that? Go.”
Terry began to go and do it when spike called him. “McGuiness” he said to him.
“Yeah?” Terry said.
“Why you doin this man?” Spike asked.
“Because this is going to put Name on the map.” Terry said. “There’s no one that will be able to stop us.”
“You’re not doin this to get back at your old man are ya?” Spike asked.
“I haven’t seen my Dad in a year, Spike, to be honest I couldn’t give two shits what he thinks.”
“Why not do it because of your Dad?” Spike says, “Show him who your real family is now?”
Terry smiles and begins to raid the boxes all saying, “Wayne Powers.”
The guards sit in their office monitoring everything. One of the security guards looks at all the monitors and sees there are no people.
“Jones, where are you right now.” He radios.
“In the Eastern wing, sir.” Jones replies.
The guard looks at the screen for the Eastern wing and no one is there.
“Where in the Eastern wing Jones?”
“By the first left hand door.” Jones says.
The guard sees this.
“Someone’s hacking our cameras.” The guard radios over.
“Attention all security, there are unauthorized people in the premises, please secure all rooms, factories and halls.” He says over his radio.
Terry finds the box that says AX-9256 on it. “I found it!” he calls for spike.
He opens it with a crowbar and pulls the weapon out, an energy rifle, it locks onto heat signatures and shoots waves of concentrated energy blasts at it’s opponent.
One of the other members finds the ZP-0987, a hovering board that locks onto the metal content in the ground and lifts the board using magnetism, going up to 29 stories on buildings.
They grab the stuff as security guards ram through the doors. Terry has them grid locked on his device.
They see sparks and a lazer coming through the locked door, they’re burning their way through.
Terry looks at his scrambler and presses a few buttons and security doors close over the other doors.
“That’ll give us some time.” He said to Spike.
“Everyone get your boards and grab a weapon, it’s time we put these things to good use.”
They all go they’re things Terry actived the doors to open and Spike fired an energy blas right into the group of guards two fell to the ground fried, the other guards aimed their weapons at the gang as they flew fast through the hallways.
Terry kicked his feet up to one approaching guard and aimed the magnet that the guard’s face. The guard screamed in terror as the magnent was pulling his face, Terrry smacked him with the gun across his head.
Spike was shooting guard and watching them fall with little to no remorse. He updated the blasting power to full power and shot through the wall.
Terry looked back as a guard smacked one of his fellow Name members in the face and fell to the ground.
Spike shot continued to shoot through walls and he came face to face with another security guard.
Spike lifted his rife and shot, but nothing came out. He looked at the gun and it said, “Over heated.”
“Shit!” Spike said, He tried to run away but the guard shot his board down, the guard put the weapon up to Spike’s face and said, “Freeze!”
Spike kicked the gun out of the guards hands but it hit the emergency trigger and blew up.
Terry lost the other Name guy, but finally found the wall leading to the outside of the building. He found a window and crashed through it, he was 15 stories up, enough for the board to continue to work, as he recovered he looked up and saw flashing lights.
“Freeze!” shouted a GCPD officer, standing with a dozen others their guns all aimed at Terry from a GCPD Hoverjet.
A graying red headed woman sitting in a wheelchair with the megaphone, it was Comissioner Barbara Gordon.
“Dammit!” Terry said as he lifted his hands in the air.
2016
Bruce layed in bed as he heard a knock on the door. He looked up and it was Selina with a tray and two plates of food.
“I may not be English or call you ‘Master Bruce’ but I think I’ve made you a pretty good breakfast.
Bruce looked out his window. It had been four days since the blast, but smoke still filled the skies.
“Over two and a half million people, dead.” Bruce said. “Two and a half million.”
“I had been analyzing the data for weeks Bruce, trying to figure it all out.”
“Ironicly, New Arkham and Blackgate survived the blast. The very decay Ra’s spoke about with contempt was the one thing that wasn’t destroyed.”
I have done some more tests, the blast wasn’t nuclear.
“It was a blast made up of compounds of unstable energy put into bomb form.” He said.
“So you know.”
“Wayne Enterprises invented the technology to come up with environmentally friendly way to give energy to the city without the use of fossil fuels or nuclear power.” He said. “We didn’t have the resources to come up with the methods ourselves, so we sold it to Powers Inc., he assured me it would not be used to make weapons, well….”
“Why did you give it to Powers Bruce?”
“It was Powers or LexCorp, the choice was pretty obvious. I was wrong, I was wrong about the whole thing. The bastard didn’t even sell it to the military, he sold it to a terrorist organization.”
“He’s denying it.”
“Is he?”
“Bruce there’s something else you should know…”
“Powers bought out Wayne Enterprises?”
“Well that’s apparently what us being touted around on the news today.”
“Most of our factories are in ground zero,” Bruce said, “Good thing I have secured shares, he won’t be able to do a complete buy-out, he’ll have to do a merger and I’ll stand my ground, we’ll be able to hold off for a few months.”
“Powers-Wayne Enterprises?” Selina asked
“I prefer Wayne-Powers” Bruce said. “And he will have to go along with that.”
A small smile appeared at the corner of Bruce’s mouth, he stopped realized the expression he was giving out and went back to a frown with almost a guilt.
Selina sat on the corner of the bed and put her hand on Bruce’s face, “Hey” she said softly, “It’s okay to smile.”
“Two and a half million Selina. My entire life has been centered around defeating evil in this city and it effectively ends with two and a half million people dead.”
“But how many times did you save the city and the world from Ra’s, Bruce?” Selina asked. “Who knows how many lives you’ve saved or improved, who knows what state the city would have been in had it not been for Batman, Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl, Oracle….”
“Catwoman...” Bruce said assuredly.
“Well,” Selina said embrassed “I’m not worthy to be listed in the same ranks as you, I’m not proud of my entire career.
“You’re a hero Selina.” Bruce said. “There were times when I would not have been able to do it without you.”
Selina shakes her head. Bruce puts his hand on hers.
“We’ve been avoiding this a long time.” Bruce said. He leaned forward and tenderly kissed Selina on her lips. She sat still and looked down.
“Bruce…” Selina said reluctantly. She stood up and looked out the window. With tears in her eyes she looked considerately.
“We’ve sacrificed too much Selina, you sacrificed Helena, Holly, I sacrificed Damien, Jason, why should we sacrifice each other?”
“We love each other don’t we?” Selina asked.
Bruce embraced her and began kissing her passionately.
2038
Warren McGinnis sat at his desk at Wayne Powers Inc. as Director of Marketing Strategy, McGinnis reported directly to Derek Powers, the CEO of Wayne Powers. Mr. McGinnis was gaining a lot of clout in the company, a shrewd investor he was quietly buying out shares as he had some spare cash to try and earn himself a place on the board of directors. Warren looked at a picture of his eldest daughter and younger son, Terry. Terry had been worrying him severely, a smart kid, he got bored in school and flunked and Warren suspects he has joined a gang. All Warren ever wanted for his wife and children was a future, a better life. Unfortunately, Gotham City was where that was going to happen.
Warren looked over the vast, impossible skyline of Gotham City, a city centre completely rebuilt from the ground up by Wayne Enterprises and Powers Inc. Powers had been grabbing at Wayne Enterprises since much of their operation was destroyed during the attack on Gotham, but the company held out, until it nearly bankrupted itself helping to rebuild the city. In the end, Powers won out, and Wayne Enterprises was forced to merge with Powers. As a gesture, Powers gave Wayne the top billing in the new Wayne-Powers Inc. name of the company.
The phone rang, McGinnis didn’t even move, “Warren McGinnis?” he said.
“Mr. McGinnis,” Fixx, Mr. Powers’ personal assistant said. “Mr. Powers wants to see you as soon as humanly possible.”
“Please tell Mr. Powers I will be there within the hour, Fixx.”
“Thank you, sir.” He said.
Warren McGinnis looked over Gotham once more. Could this city be saved from the abyss it seems falling into?
• • • • • •
Warren McGinnis approached Fixx, a slender, feminine African American man who sat in front of Mr. Powers’ office.
Fixx didn’t even look up, “Mr. Powers, Warren McGinnis has arrived.”
“Send him in.” Powers said over the speaker.
The doors of the office opened and Derek Powers, tall, intimidating, his shadow like a beam of power. He turned his eye.
“Warren, please, have a seat.” Powers said. His very words command authority. Warren looks around the office, framed is a picture of Powers on the cover of Fortune Magazine that said, “Like Luthor”
“Derek, you don’t have many spontaneous meetings, something must be pressing.”
“Well, Warren, unfortunately it is.”
Powers throws a file on the desk in front of Warren.
“There are two documents, Warren. Can you guess what they are?” Powers said with slight irritation in his voice.
“Look, Derek if my department is not cutting slack, I….”
“It has nothing to do with your work, Warren, you’re one of the best I have you know that.”
Powers flips open the file and takes the two documents in his face.
“One is a receipt from stock dividends payable to your account and it’s increasing McGinnis, you’re one of the top shareholders of this company.” Powers said.
“I am a businessperson and I fashion myself a shrewed investor. Yes, Powers, I have been buying shares of Wayne Powers, that’s how capitalism works.” McGinnis said.
Powers throws down a photograph with mug shots of Terry McGinnis on it. “That is your son, who was arrested late last night for breaking into our weapons manufacturing lab to steal two of our most top secret weapons.” Powers said. “I take spying on our weapons contracts very seriously, Warren.”
Powers throws down a third documents. ‘It’s from your daily log information. It says three days ago, you were looking through our files on our contracts with the U.S. government regarding these two weapons.”
“You’re keeping track of our computer usage, Derek? That’s a little extreme, even for you.” Warren replied
“I have the right to know what my employees are doing, especially considering the sensitive information Wayne-Powers deals with.” Derek replied, “Please Warren, don’t tell me you passed this information onto your son.”
“No, of course not Derek! That’s insane!” Powers didn’t seem to believe him, he walked passed him, “Look, I was putting together a sales pitch for top level brass at the Pentagon. I had to know about the latest items that were sold to the U.S. Government.”
“And why should I believe you?” Powers asked.
“Derek, we’ve worked together for years. You know I wouldn’t do something like this. I’ll talk to my son, this won’t happen again.”
“Oh we’ll be sure of that.” He said.
“What do you mean?” Warren asked.
“Don’t worry about it.” Powers said coyly. “Now Go.” He said.
Warren McGinnis got up, left his chair and looked back, Derek Powers glanced back at him with a dark glare.
2016
Bruce and Selina lie in bed together, holding hands and looking into the night.
“Are we doing the right thing here?” Selina asked.
“I’ve never felt more right about this.” Bruce said. “Selina, it’s a fools errand, it can never be accomplished.”
“I just hope people aren’t left in jeopardy.”
“Alfred always used to want me to quit fighting crime and give to organizations, including the Justice League to ensure that our city was safe. The more I think about it….” Bruce said.
He rolled over and looked Selina in the eyes, “It’s insane if you think about it, t us, just ordinary people are doing the work that is done by people who can shoot laser beams from their eyes, or are granted with mystical powers.” Bruce said.
“I think it’s extraordinary that we were able to do it.” Selina replied.
“Selina, what I am getting at is this. I love you, I have always loved you.” Bruce said. “But this, Bruce looks out the window, this has what has kept us apart. When we came close to happiness together, this is what tore us apart.”
Selina’s face decended into a state of unbelievable shock. “Bruce, what are you saying?”
“I want us to make a commitment. I want us to promise each other that we retire
Batman and Catwoman for good and I want us to be together.” Bruce said.
“Okay who the hell are you and what did you do to Bruce Wayne?” Selina asked.
“Selina, I’m serious.” Bruce gets down on his knee, “Selina Kyle, will you marry
me?”
Selina is shocked beyond words, she can’t believe what she is hearing. “Do you realize what you are saying?” She asked, “No more Batman, no more late nights, no more saving lives and making a difference in the world!?”
“Selina….”
“Bruce, I think you’re just in shock still, I think I…”
“Selina, I have been looking for justice all my life to try and satisfy my what happened to my parents, but justice is not really what I need. I need happiness, I need someone who can fill the void of family I have been missing for a long time.”
“Oh and I guess Dick, Tim, Barabra, Damien and Alfred didn’t fill that void at some point…”
Bruce pulls a ring from his dresser and opens it up. “Shortly after Damien died, the last time that we dated, I bought this ring, I’ve had it for almost ten years Selina, and it has always been for you. When we broke up, I had an inscription written on it….”
Selina looks at it, “Questo anello sarà sulla barretta di bella Selina Kyle….” She reads aloud.
“This ring shall grace the finger of only the beautiful Selina Kyle, it says in Italian.” Bruce said, “Selina I have always seen you as someone I could spend the rest of my life with.”
Selina looks confused and troubled.
“Bruce, I love you. I have always loved you and you don’t know how long I have waited to hear you say this. But I can’t let you give this up unless it something your are serious about.” She puts the ring back into his palm. “I’m sorry, Bruce.”
2038
Warren McGinnis looks at a picture of his family in his office. He says, “dial home” and suddenly the phone begins to ring.”
Warren looked at his phone where had put some files, he had a list of weapons that were sold to terrorist organizations and gangs in Gotham City. He also had proof that in 2015, Derek Powers had sold an Energizer Bomb to the League of Assassins. The League said they had stolen it after the blast.
“Hello” a woman says on the other end.
“Mary?” Warren asked, “Mary it’s Warren.”
“Warren!” she said, “Have you heard about Terry?”
“Yes, I’m going to make some calls to the county jail and see if I can get ahold of him.”
“I have been worried about him lately.” Mary said
“I have too, dear.” Warren said.
Mary paused. Warren and Mary McGinnis have been having problems, just two weeks ago they decided to end a two month trail seperation for the benefit of their children. They certainly were not on terms of endearment.
“How was your day sweetheart?” Warren asked.
“Well, I have just been worried sick about Terry.” She said.
“Don’t worry about it, I’ll take care of it, I’ll make sure at the very least Terry is comfortable where ever he is.” He said. “I want you to have a relaxing day tomorrow, why don’t you book yourself treatment at the spa?” Warren looked at the picture of his daughter, “Take my little princess too.”
“Warren what’s going on?” Mary asked. “You don’t sound like yourself.”
“Mary, I know we have had our differences, but I just want you to know, I love
more than any little petty argument can ever change, you know that right?”
“Oh Warren, I….. I love you too honey.” She said, crying a little bit. “I am so sorry for everything.”
“I am too.” Warren said.
“Let’s try and make this work, not just for the kids, but for us first and foremost.” Mary said.
“We will.” He said, “We will. I love you sweetheart.”
“I love you too.” Mary said
“Goodbye.” He said.
“I’ll see you tonight, dinner will be ready for you.”
• • • • • •
Terry sat in prison, he reflected on what had just happened to him. ‘Why did I throw it all away.’ He thought to himself. ‘My father is a top executive at Wayne-Powers, and who knows if I have jeopardized his job.’ He said. ‘I should have never dropped out of High School, I mean school was boring, but it wasn’t like I’m dumb or anything. I should have just played it straight. I’m foolish.’ He realizes.
Terry was rebellious, but he was not a bad guy. He rolled in the wrong circles not to satisfy some sick desire to rip people off, but because it was something out of the ordinary and something that fit his skill set. This would be new for Terry, he hadn’t heard of anyone getting caught, tried and sentenced for stealing military weapons.
“You’re becoming nothing but a no good college drop out.” He remembers his Dad saying again.
‘Wow,” Terry thought, ‘For once I actually agree with my Dad.’
“Mr. McGinnis” a guard said, “Your sister is here to see you.”
Terry’s sister, a tall gorgeous police detective comes walking through the hallways.
“Terry” she said with an heir of disappointment. Terry’s older sister was six years older than he was and had a mind built for this kind of stuff too, granted she was actually putting it to good use.
“Hey ‘Tec” Terry said to her. ‘Tec was the nickname Terry gave to her when she was promoted to detective a couple of years ago.
“Do you have any idea how much trouble your in.” She asked, “And why the hell didn’t you call Mom or Dad.”
“I didn’t want to worry them with all this, you know?”
“Terr, they’re worried, I’m worried we’re all worried, you should have at least called me!?”
“Alright, alright, look, I’m sorry Sis. Does that make it better.”
“Terry, you’re facing 25 to 40 years with no prior conviction, weapons theft is a major crime these days.”
“Is there anything that can be done?”
“Look, we’re in touch with the D.A.’s office, we have been trying to pin something on Wayne-Powers for a long time, and we’ve ran into some interesting evidence as a result of your theft.” She said. “If you can testify against your gang, and if this evidence pans out, we might be able to get you in a comfy, solo cell fic year sentence.”
“Thanks sis, I really appreciate this.”
“Terry, I love you, be safe okay, and we’ll talk more later.”
“Where are you going now?”
“Dad wants me to meet him on my way back from work at a coffee shop.”
• • • • • •
Derek Powers sat at his desk looking almost apathetic to what is going on.
“The police have found something.” His assistant Fixx said, “and they’re going to give McGinnis’ son a reduced sentence if they find it. We have reason to believe McGinnis knows”
“You have two objectives tonight Fixx: the first is to make sure the Police do not find what they are looking for.”
“and the second?” Asked Fixx
“I’m sure you can figure that one out.” Powers said.
• • • • • •
Det. McGinnis walked into a coffee shop looking for her father. She spotted him and took a seat by him/
“Hey Dad, why are we meeting so far from your office?”
“To make sure you’re not in danger.” He said to her. She looked shocked and worried all the same time.
“Dad are you okay?” She asked.
“Listen sweetheart, I don’t want you to worry your mother, I am going to tell you something that is going to be very difficult for you to hear. “Your mother and I are getting a divorce.”
“What!?” she said shocked and saddened, Warren slid a piece napkin to her.
“Here dear.”
She looked down at the napkin and read, “Not really, the truth is you may never see me again.” She picked up the napkin looked around and wiped her face.
“I can’t give you the details, it’s too dangerous.” He said, “She would never forgive me.”
She began to weep, “Dad whatever the problem is, I can help.”
“No you can’t sweetheart.” He said to her, “I’m afraid this is even out of your league. I don’t want you getting involved, just take care of your mother and Terry for me.”
“Dad, I’m not going to let this happen.” She stood to her feet, “Everything’s going to be okay.”
Warren stood up and gave her a hug, “After my older brother died and left you behind, adopting you was the best thing that ever happened to me. I want you to know that. I love you, Helena.”
Helena cried almost uncontrollably, “I love you too Dad! I’m going to help you.”
“You can’t.
2016
Bruce sat intently reading the book The Art of War, by a lit fire.
“So if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will fight without danger in battles.” Selina said from the background. “It has certainly served you well.”
“I’m just rereading.” Bruce said. Almost awkwardly, Bruce forces out a “How are you.”
“Bruce I was thinking about what you said a few weeks ago, and I think to an extent your right.” Selina said, “We have neglected our happiness and that is not right.”
Bruce put the book down. “Selina, I promise you, the Justice League will not have a more enthusiastic donor.”
“I don’t doubt that, Bruce.”
“I know this is sort of random, but there’s no real way of saying it nicely…. Lucius Fox was killed in the explosion.”
“Oh no, Bruce that’s terrible!”
“Thankfully he lived outside of the city, his family will never have to work again, I’ve taken care of them. I found out about 10 days ago, one of the most brilliant humans I have ever known, incinerated in an instant.”
“So what does this mean for Wayne Enterprises?”
“Well, I’ve thought it over and I have decided to take over as CEO indefinitely. I’m going to try and stop Powers from Merging with our company. I’m going to need to do something if I’m not Batman.”
“Well I guess with Alfred gone, I could become Susie Homemaker.” Selina said. “You still got that ring?”
“Why do you ask?”
“You still interested in giving it to me?”
“Maybe,” Bruce said.
“What? Do you want me to beg for it?”
Bruce kisses Selina passionately. He put the ring on her finger.
2038
A prison guard came out from around the corner to Terry’s small holding cell.
“Mr. McGinnis?” the guard asked. “Your father is one the phone for you.”
Terry walked from his cell to the phone.
“Dad?”
“Terry, son, what happened?” Warren said to him.
“I screwed up Dad, I’m sorry.”
“Well son, we all make mistakes. Some bigger than others.”
“I guess you were right Dad, I am a total screw up.” Terry said to him “I just wish they’d slag me and get it over with.”
“Son, I am so sorry I ever said that to you.” He said. “You are not a screw up, you are an awesome young man who has made a very serious mistake.”
Warren walked to his car, open the dorr and sat down. He started his motor and looked in his rearview mirror, A man slender sillohuette of a man dressed in black with a black helmet on was right behind him. His visor was up with and he briefly caught a glimpse of his eyes. It was Fixx. Warren started out of the parking garage and Fixx followed.
“Terry I want you to know that I have always love you son.” Warren said. “I told Helena that you all need to take care of eachother.”
Warren was riding fast down the freeway that lifted about the city, around many others, when Fixx pulled a gun from his pocket and shot at Warren.”
Terry heard it over the phone. “Dad? What was that? And what do you mean, where are you going?”
“Son, this may be the last time you hear from me.”
“DAD!”
Fixx tried shooting again and shattered the back windshield. Warren moved over into the next lane.
“You’re a smart kid Terry, do your best, strive and work hard. Terry, I love you”
Terry began to cry, “Dad, what’s going on?”
“I think I may have stumbled on something Terry, something big something that could put my boss in jail” Warren was frantic.
“Tell you sister it was Fi...” Warren looked to the side, Fixx was right next to him, he lifted his gun, and fired a shot into drivers seat. Warren McGinnis’ car span out of control through the oncoming traffic. Fixx fired another small object to the car, it landed haphazardly on the passanger side door. Fixx looked at his watch and found a red button on his watch.”
“Dad? Dad, Dad” Terry screamed into the phone
As Fixx pressed the button the car exploaded, blasting a whole into the freeway. Cars fell through the whole and landed on the freeways below crumbling that one with destroying them level upon level.
Fixx clicked the side of his helmet, “Job’s done boss.”
Two Weeks Later
Helena arrived at work, looking disturbed, more disturbed than usual. Helena heard the wheels of a wheelchair approach her, it was Comissioner Barbara Gordon, looking solemn for her, “Helena, I know what it is like to loose a parent.” Comissioner Gordon said. “My step mother was murder in cold blood in front of small children by one of these Gotham freaks. If you need more time.”
“Comissioner, I just want to know who did this.”
“Just let me know how you’re doing through the day.”
Comissioner Gordon made her way back to her office.
Helena breathed in and out and got an email titled, “Encryptic Email, source: Confidential” Helena opened it up, a space for a password was there with a clue: 母.
Helena had recognized the symbol when she studied abroad in Tokyo, the word was “mother” in Japanese.
• • • • •
A prison guard approached Terry’s cell. “Mr. McGinnis, You’ve been released. Cleared of all charges” she said.
“On what grounds?” Terry asked shocked.
“ We took the testimony of the other three gang members and they all said that you had no part in this.” Terry was confused, on the contrary, he had THE part in it, he was the one who broke them into this Wayne-Powers factory in the first place.
Terry made his way into the dank, “Narrows” part of the city, one of the only remaining parts of the old city, which also happens to be one of the most debilitated. Home of the old Arkham Asylum, that now laid in ruins from the scraps from the blast hitting it. This was also the place where people from Blackgate, the island prison off the coast of Gotham are let go. There is no holding cell in the GCPD, it’s too dangerous and Terry thinking of his sister, was all too greatful for that.
“Surprised to be out, Terry?” The voice of an older woman asked him.
Terry turned around, he has always been predisposed to distrust over trust.
“Your welcome.” She said. She was very fit, would be great looking for a woman fifty years old, the maturity gave her away for being about 10 years older.
“Who are you?” Terry asked.
“My name is Selina Kyle.” She said. “And I am your biological mother.”
Terry looked shocked, he was grabbed off the streets and he felt himself rushing through the air he looked down and saw he was about 50 stories up in the air, the girl in a costume of sorts put him down on the foor.
“Who the hell are you?” he asked her.
Suddenly Selina came up on a circular hovering device.
“Her name is Huntress.” Selina said, “These are my Birds of Prey, my question is, are you ready to do something about that bastard who killed your father?” she asked.
Terry looked shocked, and he had an idea that being let go may have had more than a worth while catch.
I am a fan of the Batman Beyond series that aired on WB, that said, I think there are some things about the series that fans legitimately hated, and when they tried to remedy them, it just seemd out of place and sort of silly.
I decided to reimagine the Batman Beyond universe in the form of a fan fic. Hopefully you enjoy it!
BATMAN BEYOND
JOSH LEGUERN
Chapter One
2016
With loud and unrelenting panting, The Batman ran down a wide, sweeping hallway at the now abandoned Arkham Asylum. He turns around as Ra’s Al Ghul and a band of his trained warriors from The League of Assassins stand in anticipation.
“It seems this has all finally come to an end Detective, I’m afraid if you will not join me, I cannot allow you to stand in my way.” Ra’s said with genuine regret.
“You’re committing genocide Ra’s.”
“We are doing what is necessary, Bruce.” Ra’s replied as pulled a gun from his holster, I’m afraid you won’t be alive to see I’m right.”
“You’re not killing him Ra’s.” a woman’s voice yells from above.
Ra’s, the ninjas and Bruce all look up in the air to see Selina Kyle, retired from her Catwoman persona come down from a wire and land on Ra’s. A new Catwoman, Cassie Sandsmark aka “Amazon” and Lady Blackhawk defeat all of the ninjas.
Selina puts Bruce underneath her arm.
“Selina… the city.” Bruce says to her.
“There’s no time Bruce, now it’s time to make sure as many people as possible, including yourself are safe.”
“NO!” Bruce shouted.
2038
“Terry, you’re becoming nothing but a no good High School drop out.” Terry could hear his father saying, “Your getting sucked into this go no-where Gotham culture, maybe it’s time you left Gotham.”
Leave Gotham? There was no way in hell. Gotham City was Terry’s home, he knew it better than anywhere else and he wasn’t going anywhere. Besides, he at least had some knowledge about the city’s infrastructure which was critical to doing raids with his gang, Name, like the one he was doing at this moment on Wayne-Powers Inc.
Gotham City of 2034 is a mix of 2000s New York City with it’s spiriling buildings and awe-inspiring sky scrapers, Tokyo of 2010s with technology everywhere the eye can see and just insane with speed trains all built over the ruins of the old city. Terry knows almost every alley way and short cut available from his days cutting class in high school.
Terry got bored in school and hardly ever attended, he dropped out of High School and joined Name one of the city’s lead gangs at sixteen, it’s been a full year now and Terry has gained favor with the gang’s leader Spike Reynoldz. Terry is a computer fiend and a great escape artist, which is perfect for Gotham which was rebuilt with the most technologically advanced security systems in the world. The idea was to frustrate the criminals to the point where they would go elsewhere that had better law enforcement, of course this is Gotham, they didn’t get rid of the criminals, the criminals just got smarter.
Terry hang from a bungee Mission: Impossible style. He was holding a small square device that had green lettering that was indecipherable.
“What’s going on up there Terry.” Spike asked,
“It’s scrambling the video codes via Bluetooth.” Terry said. “Basically, it’s waiting until all of the cameras have images with no people in them, it will keep those shots on the monitors and give us free reign to do what we need to do.”
“So we go in after that.” Spike asked?
“No, we’ve got to make sure the scambler has all of the locks tapped, when we need to walk through them it will unlock the doors as we approach them and relock them, we also need to make sure there aren’t other forms of security.” He said.
“Glad you’re on this McGuiness because I would have never gotten it!” Spike was not the smartest apple that fell off of the tree and not the most patient either, it annoyed Terry sometimes as he had felt like he was leading this gang a lot of the time.”
A screen popped up saying “Scan Complete—All Systems Now Accessable.”
Terry hit a few buttons, and the screen read, “Cameras Disabled.” Then “Motion Disabled.” Then “Doors Unlocked.”
“We’re ready to go.” Terry told them over the monitor. They entered the factory.
2016
Bruce felt rumbling, he was in the Birds of Prey’s jet. Selina had taken over the Birds of Prey and relocated them back to Gotham.
“You’re going to be alright Bruce.” She said to him.
Bruce was now 50 years old, he had been fighting his War on Crime for the last 23 years, with no success as far as anyone could see. Gotham’s crime rate had dropped, but in the place of consistant mafia crime was sporadic freak crime. The crime bosses that had once ran Gotham City’s underground would not have been able to dream of what some of these freaks had done to Gotham City.
“Ra’s has a bomb.” Bruce said to Selina.
“I know” Selina replied.
“We have to stop him.” He told her.
“We’ve tried, Bruce.” Selina said hopelessly. “Even you couldn’t figure it out, who else could?”
Bruce got up and grabbed Selina by the shoulders. “There must be something we can do!” Bruce yelled.
Suddenly a bright light came from the southwestern part of the city, Bruce and Selina look on as a loud boom swept across Gotham City.
“PULL UP!” Selina screamed as the jet shook violently.
The plane settled and they all sat in silence.
Bruce looked out of the window with horror in his eyes. It was over, Batman’s war on crime, everything he fought for and believed in had just been destroyed. Selina came and put her hand on Bruce’s shoulder.
“Bruce, I….” Bruce gently grabbed her hand and took it off his shoulder as he looked down at the burning Gotham City, a tear came down his face.
Selina signaled the pilot to land at Wayne Manor, in the Northeast just outside the city, it survived the blast.
2038
Terry, Spike, and two other members of Name stood inside the Wayne-Powers Military Industrial Plant.
“These weapons will make Name unbeatable.” Terry said. “We’ll be the greatest force in this city since Carmine Falcone.”
“And now there’s no Bat to stop us.” Spike said in almost laughable timing. No one really believed a Batman ever existed, he was about as real as Big Foot or the Loch Ness monster. If Batman was so real, why did Gotham go up in smoke 18 years ago.
“We’re looking for the AX-9256 and the ZP-0987, got that? Six for us, six to sell in Metropolis and New York.” Spike told his crew. “These are high grade energy weapons so make sure your careful, if some wiseguy don’t know how to use this thing, it could be 2018 all over again, you got that? Go.”
Terry began to go and do it when spike called him. “McGuiness” he said to him.
“Yeah?” Terry said.
“Why you doin this man?” Spike asked.
“Because this is going to put Name on the map.” Terry said. “There’s no one that will be able to stop us.”
“You’re not doin this to get back at your old man are ya?” Spike asked.
“I haven’t seen my Dad in a year, Spike, to be honest I couldn’t give two shits what he thinks.”
“Why not do it because of your Dad?” Spike says, “Show him who your real family is now?”
Terry smiles and begins to raid the boxes all saying, “Wayne Powers.”
The guards sit in their office monitoring everything. One of the security guards looks at all the monitors and sees there are no people.
“Jones, where are you right now.” He radios.
“In the Eastern wing, sir.” Jones replies.
The guard looks at the screen for the Eastern wing and no one is there.
“Where in the Eastern wing Jones?”
“By the first left hand door.” Jones says.
The guard sees this.
“Someone’s hacking our cameras.” The guard radios over.
“Attention all security, there are unauthorized people in the premises, please secure all rooms, factories and halls.” He says over his radio.
Terry finds the box that says AX-9256 on it. “I found it!” he calls for spike.
He opens it with a crowbar and pulls the weapon out, an energy rifle, it locks onto heat signatures and shoots waves of concentrated energy blasts at it’s opponent.
One of the other members finds the ZP-0987, a hovering board that locks onto the metal content in the ground and lifts the board using magnetism, going up to 29 stories on buildings.
They grab the stuff as security guards ram through the doors. Terry has them grid locked on his device.
They see sparks and a lazer coming through the locked door, they’re burning their way through.
Terry looks at his scrambler and presses a few buttons and security doors close over the other doors.
“That’ll give us some time.” He said to Spike.
“Everyone get your boards and grab a weapon, it’s time we put these things to good use.”
They all go they’re things Terry actived the doors to open and Spike fired an energy blas right into the group of guards two fell to the ground fried, the other guards aimed their weapons at the gang as they flew fast through the hallways.
Terry kicked his feet up to one approaching guard and aimed the magnet that the guard’s face. The guard screamed in terror as the magnent was pulling his face, Terrry smacked him with the gun across his head.
Spike was shooting guard and watching them fall with little to no remorse. He updated the blasting power to full power and shot through the wall.
Terry looked back as a guard smacked one of his fellow Name members in the face and fell to the ground.
Spike shot continued to shoot through walls and he came face to face with another security guard.
Spike lifted his rife and shot, but nothing came out. He looked at the gun and it said, “Over heated.”
“Shit!” Spike said, He tried to run away but the guard shot his board down, the guard put the weapon up to Spike’s face and said, “Freeze!”
Spike kicked the gun out of the guards hands but it hit the emergency trigger and blew up.
Terry lost the other Name guy, but finally found the wall leading to the outside of the building. He found a window and crashed through it, he was 15 stories up, enough for the board to continue to work, as he recovered he looked up and saw flashing lights.
“Freeze!” shouted a GCPD officer, standing with a dozen others their guns all aimed at Terry from a GCPD Hoverjet.
A graying red headed woman sitting in a wheelchair with the megaphone, it was Comissioner Barbara Gordon.
“Dammit!” Terry said as he lifted his hands in the air.
2016
Bruce layed in bed as he heard a knock on the door. He looked up and it was Selina with a tray and two plates of food.
“I may not be English or call you ‘Master Bruce’ but I think I’ve made you a pretty good breakfast.
Bruce looked out his window. It had been four days since the blast, but smoke still filled the skies.
“Over two and a half million people, dead.” Bruce said. “Two and a half million.”
“I had been analyzing the data for weeks Bruce, trying to figure it all out.”
“Ironicly, New Arkham and Blackgate survived the blast. The very decay Ra’s spoke about with contempt was the one thing that wasn’t destroyed.”
I have done some more tests, the blast wasn’t nuclear.
“It was a blast made up of compounds of unstable energy put into bomb form.” He said.
“So you know.”
“Wayne Enterprises invented the technology to come up with environmentally friendly way to give energy to the city without the use of fossil fuels or nuclear power.” He said. “We didn’t have the resources to come up with the methods ourselves, so we sold it to Powers Inc., he assured me it would not be used to make weapons, well….”
“Why did you give it to Powers Bruce?”
“It was Powers or LexCorp, the choice was pretty obvious. I was wrong, I was wrong about the whole thing. The bastard didn’t even sell it to the military, he sold it to a terrorist organization.”
“He’s denying it.”
“Is he?”
“Bruce there’s something else you should know…”
“Powers bought out Wayne Enterprises?”
“Well that’s apparently what us being touted around on the news today.”
“Most of our factories are in ground zero,” Bruce said, “Good thing I have secured shares, he won’t be able to do a complete buy-out, he’ll have to do a merger and I’ll stand my ground, we’ll be able to hold off for a few months.”
“Powers-Wayne Enterprises?” Selina asked
“I prefer Wayne-Powers” Bruce said. “And he will have to go along with that.”
A small smile appeared at the corner of Bruce’s mouth, he stopped realized the expression he was giving out and went back to a frown with almost a guilt.
Selina sat on the corner of the bed and put her hand on Bruce’s face, “Hey” she said softly, “It’s okay to smile.”
“Two and a half million Selina. My entire life has been centered around defeating evil in this city and it effectively ends with two and a half million people dead.”
“But how many times did you save the city and the world from Ra’s, Bruce?” Selina asked. “Who knows how many lives you’ve saved or improved, who knows what state the city would have been in had it not been for Batman, Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl, Oracle….”
“Catwoman...” Bruce said assuredly.
“Well,” Selina said embrassed “I’m not worthy to be listed in the same ranks as you, I’m not proud of my entire career.
“You’re a hero Selina.” Bruce said. “There were times when I would not have been able to do it without you.”
Selina shakes her head. Bruce puts his hand on hers.
“We’ve been avoiding this a long time.” Bruce said. He leaned forward and tenderly kissed Selina on her lips. She sat still and looked down.
“Bruce…” Selina said reluctantly. She stood up and looked out the window. With tears in her eyes she looked considerately.
“We’ve sacrificed too much Selina, you sacrificed Helena, Holly, I sacrificed Damien, Jason, why should we sacrifice each other?”
“We love each other don’t we?” Selina asked.
Bruce embraced her and began kissing her passionately.
2038
Warren McGinnis sat at his desk at Wayne Powers Inc. as Director of Marketing Strategy, McGinnis reported directly to Derek Powers, the CEO of Wayne Powers. Mr. McGinnis was gaining a lot of clout in the company, a shrewd investor he was quietly buying out shares as he had some spare cash to try and earn himself a place on the board of directors. Warren looked at a picture of his eldest daughter and younger son, Terry. Terry had been worrying him severely, a smart kid, he got bored in school and flunked and Warren suspects he has joined a gang. All Warren ever wanted for his wife and children was a future, a better life. Unfortunately, Gotham City was where that was going to happen.
Warren looked over the vast, impossible skyline of Gotham City, a city centre completely rebuilt from the ground up by Wayne Enterprises and Powers Inc. Powers had been grabbing at Wayne Enterprises since much of their operation was destroyed during the attack on Gotham, but the company held out, until it nearly bankrupted itself helping to rebuild the city. In the end, Powers won out, and Wayne Enterprises was forced to merge with Powers. As a gesture, Powers gave Wayne the top billing in the new Wayne-Powers Inc. name of the company.
The phone rang, McGinnis didn’t even move, “Warren McGinnis?” he said.
“Mr. McGinnis,” Fixx, Mr. Powers’ personal assistant said. “Mr. Powers wants to see you as soon as humanly possible.”
“Please tell Mr. Powers I will be there within the hour, Fixx.”
“Thank you, sir.” He said.
Warren McGinnis looked over Gotham once more. Could this city be saved from the abyss it seems falling into?
• • • • • •
Warren McGinnis approached Fixx, a slender, feminine African American man who sat in front of Mr. Powers’ office.
Fixx didn’t even look up, “Mr. Powers, Warren McGinnis has arrived.”
“Send him in.” Powers said over the speaker.
The doors of the office opened and Derek Powers, tall, intimidating, his shadow like a beam of power. He turned his eye.
“Warren, please, have a seat.” Powers said. His very words command authority. Warren looks around the office, framed is a picture of Powers on the cover of Fortune Magazine that said, “Like Luthor”
“Derek, you don’t have many spontaneous meetings, something must be pressing.”
“Well, Warren, unfortunately it is.”
Powers throws a file on the desk in front of Warren.
“There are two documents, Warren. Can you guess what they are?” Powers said with slight irritation in his voice.
“Look, Derek if my department is not cutting slack, I….”
“It has nothing to do with your work, Warren, you’re one of the best I have you know that.”
Powers flips open the file and takes the two documents in his face.
“One is a receipt from stock dividends payable to your account and it’s increasing McGinnis, you’re one of the top shareholders of this company.” Powers said.
“I am a businessperson and I fashion myself a shrewed investor. Yes, Powers, I have been buying shares of Wayne Powers, that’s how capitalism works.” McGinnis said.
Powers throws down a photograph with mug shots of Terry McGinnis on it. “That is your son, who was arrested late last night for breaking into our weapons manufacturing lab to steal two of our most top secret weapons.” Powers said. “I take spying on our weapons contracts very seriously, Warren.”
Powers throws down a third documents. ‘It’s from your daily log information. It says three days ago, you were looking through our files on our contracts with the U.S. government regarding these two weapons.”
“You’re keeping track of our computer usage, Derek? That’s a little extreme, even for you.” Warren replied
“I have the right to know what my employees are doing, especially considering the sensitive information Wayne-Powers deals with.” Derek replied, “Please Warren, don’t tell me you passed this information onto your son.”
“No, of course not Derek! That’s insane!” Powers didn’t seem to believe him, he walked passed him, “Look, I was putting together a sales pitch for top level brass at the Pentagon. I had to know about the latest items that were sold to the U.S. Government.”
“And why should I believe you?” Powers asked.
“Derek, we’ve worked together for years. You know I wouldn’t do something like this. I’ll talk to my son, this won’t happen again.”
“Oh we’ll be sure of that.” He said.
“What do you mean?” Warren asked.
“Don’t worry about it.” Powers said coyly. “Now Go.” He said.
Warren McGinnis got up, left his chair and looked back, Derek Powers glanced back at him with a dark glare.
2016
Bruce and Selina lie in bed together, holding hands and looking into the night.
“Are we doing the right thing here?” Selina asked.
“I’ve never felt more right about this.” Bruce said. “Selina, it’s a fools errand, it can never be accomplished.”
“I just hope people aren’t left in jeopardy.”
“Alfred always used to want me to quit fighting crime and give to organizations, including the Justice League to ensure that our city was safe. The more I think about it….” Bruce said.
He rolled over and looked Selina in the eyes, “It’s insane if you think about it, t us, just ordinary people are doing the work that is done by people who can shoot laser beams from their eyes, or are granted with mystical powers.” Bruce said.
“I think it’s extraordinary that we were able to do it.” Selina replied.
“Selina, what I am getting at is this. I love you, I have always loved you.” Bruce said. “But this, Bruce looks out the window, this has what has kept us apart. When we came close to happiness together, this is what tore us apart.”
Selina’s face decended into a state of unbelievable shock. “Bruce, what are you saying?”
“I want us to make a commitment. I want us to promise each other that we retire
Batman and Catwoman for good and I want us to be together.” Bruce said.
“Okay who the hell are you and what did you do to Bruce Wayne?” Selina asked.
“Selina, I’m serious.” Bruce gets down on his knee, “Selina Kyle, will you marry
me?”
Selina is shocked beyond words, she can’t believe what she is hearing. “Do you realize what you are saying?” She asked, “No more Batman, no more late nights, no more saving lives and making a difference in the world!?”
“Selina….”
“Bruce, I think you’re just in shock still, I think I…”
“Selina, I have been looking for justice all my life to try and satisfy my what happened to my parents, but justice is not really what I need. I need happiness, I need someone who can fill the void of family I have been missing for a long time.”
“Oh and I guess Dick, Tim, Barabra, Damien and Alfred didn’t fill that void at some point…”
Bruce pulls a ring from his dresser and opens it up. “Shortly after Damien died, the last time that we dated, I bought this ring, I’ve had it for almost ten years Selina, and it has always been for you. When we broke up, I had an inscription written on it….”
Selina looks at it, “Questo anello sarà sulla barretta di bella Selina Kyle….” She reads aloud.
“This ring shall grace the finger of only the beautiful Selina Kyle, it says in Italian.” Bruce said, “Selina I have always seen you as someone I could spend the rest of my life with.”
Selina looks confused and troubled.
“Bruce, I love you. I have always loved you and you don’t know how long I have waited to hear you say this. But I can’t let you give this up unless it something your are serious about.” She puts the ring back into his palm. “I’m sorry, Bruce.”
2038
Warren McGinnis looks at a picture of his family in his office. He says, “dial home” and suddenly the phone begins to ring.”
Warren looked at his phone where had put some files, he had a list of weapons that were sold to terrorist organizations and gangs in Gotham City. He also had proof that in 2015, Derek Powers had sold an Energizer Bomb to the League of Assassins. The League said they had stolen it after the blast.
“Hello” a woman says on the other end.
“Mary?” Warren asked, “Mary it’s Warren.”
“Warren!” she said, “Have you heard about Terry?”
“Yes, I’m going to make some calls to the county jail and see if I can get ahold of him.”
“I have been worried about him lately.” Mary said
“I have too, dear.” Warren said.
Mary paused. Warren and Mary McGinnis have been having problems, just two weeks ago they decided to end a two month trail seperation for the benefit of their children. They certainly were not on terms of endearment.
“How was your day sweetheart?” Warren asked.
“Well, I have just been worried sick about Terry.” She said.
“Don’t worry about it, I’ll take care of it, I’ll make sure at the very least Terry is comfortable where ever he is.” He said. “I want you to have a relaxing day tomorrow, why don’t you book yourself treatment at the spa?” Warren looked at the picture of his daughter, “Take my little princess too.”
“Warren what’s going on?” Mary asked. “You don’t sound like yourself.”
“Mary, I know we have had our differences, but I just want you to know, I love
more than any little petty argument can ever change, you know that right?”
“Oh Warren, I….. I love you too honey.” She said, crying a little bit. “I am so sorry for everything.”
“I am too.” Warren said.
“Let’s try and make this work, not just for the kids, but for us first and foremost.” Mary said.
“We will.” He said, “We will. I love you sweetheart.”
“I love you too.” Mary said
“Goodbye.” He said.
“I’ll see you tonight, dinner will be ready for you.”
• • • • • •
Terry sat in prison, he reflected on what had just happened to him. ‘Why did I throw it all away.’ He thought to himself. ‘My father is a top executive at Wayne-Powers, and who knows if I have jeopardized his job.’ He said. ‘I should have never dropped out of High School, I mean school was boring, but it wasn’t like I’m dumb or anything. I should have just played it straight. I’m foolish.’ He realizes.
Terry was rebellious, but he was not a bad guy. He rolled in the wrong circles not to satisfy some sick desire to rip people off, but because it was something out of the ordinary and something that fit his skill set. This would be new for Terry, he hadn’t heard of anyone getting caught, tried and sentenced for stealing military weapons.
“You’re becoming nothing but a no good college drop out.” He remembers his Dad saying again.
‘Wow,” Terry thought, ‘For once I actually agree with my Dad.’
“Mr. McGinnis” a guard said, “Your sister is here to see you.”
Terry’s sister, a tall gorgeous police detective comes walking through the hallways.
“Terry” she said with an heir of disappointment. Terry’s older sister was six years older than he was and had a mind built for this kind of stuff too, granted she was actually putting it to good use.
“Hey ‘Tec” Terry said to her. ‘Tec was the nickname Terry gave to her when she was promoted to detective a couple of years ago.
“Do you have any idea how much trouble your in.” She asked, “And why the hell didn’t you call Mom or Dad.”
“I didn’t want to worry them with all this, you know?”
“Terr, they’re worried, I’m worried we’re all worried, you should have at least called me!?”
“Alright, alright, look, I’m sorry Sis. Does that make it better.”
“Terry, you’re facing 25 to 40 years with no prior conviction, weapons theft is a major crime these days.”
“Is there anything that can be done?”
“Look, we’re in touch with the D.A.’s office, we have been trying to pin something on Wayne-Powers for a long time, and we’ve ran into some interesting evidence as a result of your theft.” She said. “If you can testify against your gang, and if this evidence pans out, we might be able to get you in a comfy, solo cell fic year sentence.”
“Thanks sis, I really appreciate this.”
“Terry, I love you, be safe okay, and we’ll talk more later.”
“Where are you going now?”
“Dad wants me to meet him on my way back from work at a coffee shop.”
• • • • • •
Derek Powers sat at his desk looking almost apathetic to what is going on.
“The police have found something.” His assistant Fixx said, “and they’re going to give McGinnis’ son a reduced sentence if they find it. We have reason to believe McGinnis knows”
“You have two objectives tonight Fixx: the first is to make sure the Police do not find what they are looking for.”
“and the second?” Asked Fixx
“I’m sure you can figure that one out.” Powers said.
• • • • • •
Det. McGinnis walked into a coffee shop looking for her father. She spotted him and took a seat by him/
“Hey Dad, why are we meeting so far from your office?”
“To make sure you’re not in danger.” He said to her. She looked shocked and worried all the same time.
“Dad are you okay?” She asked.
“Listen sweetheart, I don’t want you to worry your mother, I am going to tell you something that is going to be very difficult for you to hear. “Your mother and I are getting a divorce.”
“What!?” she said shocked and saddened, Warren slid a piece napkin to her.
“Here dear.”
She looked down at the napkin and read, “Not really, the truth is you may never see me again.” She picked up the napkin looked around and wiped her face.
“I can’t give you the details, it’s too dangerous.” He said, “She would never forgive me.”
She began to weep, “Dad whatever the problem is, I can help.”
“No you can’t sweetheart.” He said to her, “I’m afraid this is even out of your league. I don’t want you getting involved, just take care of your mother and Terry for me.”
“Dad, I’m not going to let this happen.” She stood to her feet, “Everything’s going to be okay.”
Warren stood up and gave her a hug, “After my older brother died and left you behind, adopting you was the best thing that ever happened to me. I want you to know that. I love you, Helena.”
Helena cried almost uncontrollably, “I love you too Dad! I’m going to help you.”
“You can’t.
2016
Bruce sat intently reading the book The Art of War, by a lit fire.
“So if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will fight without danger in battles.” Selina said from the background. “It has certainly served you well.”
“I’m just rereading.” Bruce said. Almost awkwardly, Bruce forces out a “How are you.”
“Bruce I was thinking about what you said a few weeks ago, and I think to an extent your right.” Selina said, “We have neglected our happiness and that is not right.”
Bruce put the book down. “Selina, I promise you, the Justice League will not have a more enthusiastic donor.”
“I don’t doubt that, Bruce.”
“I know this is sort of random, but there’s no real way of saying it nicely…. Lucius Fox was killed in the explosion.”
“Oh no, Bruce that’s terrible!”
“Thankfully he lived outside of the city, his family will never have to work again, I’ve taken care of them. I found out about 10 days ago, one of the most brilliant humans I have ever known, incinerated in an instant.”
“So what does this mean for Wayne Enterprises?”
“Well, I’ve thought it over and I have decided to take over as CEO indefinitely. I’m going to try and stop Powers from Merging with our company. I’m going to need to do something if I’m not Batman.”
“Well I guess with Alfred gone, I could become Susie Homemaker.” Selina said. “You still got that ring?”
“Why do you ask?”
“You still interested in giving it to me?”
“Maybe,” Bruce said.
“What? Do you want me to beg for it?”
Bruce kisses Selina passionately. He put the ring on her finger.
2038
A prison guard came out from around the corner to Terry’s small holding cell.
“Mr. McGinnis?” the guard asked. “Your father is one the phone for you.”
Terry walked from his cell to the phone.
“Dad?”
“Terry, son, what happened?” Warren said to him.
“I screwed up Dad, I’m sorry.”
“Well son, we all make mistakes. Some bigger than others.”
“I guess you were right Dad, I am a total screw up.” Terry said to him “I just wish they’d slag me and get it over with.”
“Son, I am so sorry I ever said that to you.” He said. “You are not a screw up, you are an awesome young man who has made a very serious mistake.”
Warren walked to his car, open the dorr and sat down. He started his motor and looked in his rearview mirror, A man slender sillohuette of a man dressed in black with a black helmet on was right behind him. His visor was up with and he briefly caught a glimpse of his eyes. It was Fixx. Warren started out of the parking garage and Fixx followed.
“Terry I want you to know that I have always love you son.” Warren said. “I told Helena that you all need to take care of eachother.”
Warren was riding fast down the freeway that lifted about the city, around many others, when Fixx pulled a gun from his pocket and shot at Warren.”
Terry heard it over the phone. “Dad? What was that? And what do you mean, where are you going?”
“Son, this may be the last time you hear from me.”
“DAD!”
Fixx tried shooting again and shattered the back windshield. Warren moved over into the next lane.
“You’re a smart kid Terry, do your best, strive and work hard. Terry, I love you”
Terry began to cry, “Dad, what’s going on?”
“I think I may have stumbled on something Terry, something big something that could put my boss in jail” Warren was frantic.
“Tell you sister it was Fi...” Warren looked to the side, Fixx was right next to him, he lifted his gun, and fired a shot into drivers seat. Warren McGinnis’ car span out of control through the oncoming traffic. Fixx fired another small object to the car, it landed haphazardly on the passanger side door. Fixx looked at his watch and found a red button on his watch.”
“Dad? Dad, Dad” Terry screamed into the phone
As Fixx pressed the button the car exploaded, blasting a whole into the freeway. Cars fell through the whole and landed on the freeways below crumbling that one with destroying them level upon level.
Fixx clicked the side of his helmet, “Job’s done boss.”
Two Weeks Later
Helena arrived at work, looking disturbed, more disturbed than usual. Helena heard the wheels of a wheelchair approach her, it was Comissioner Barbara Gordon, looking solemn for her, “Helena, I know what it is like to loose a parent.” Comissioner Gordon said. “My step mother was murder in cold blood in front of small children by one of these Gotham freaks. If you need more time.”
“Comissioner, I just want to know who did this.”
“Just let me know how you’re doing through the day.”
Comissioner Gordon made her way back to her office.
Helena breathed in and out and got an email titled, “Encryptic Email, source: Confidential” Helena opened it up, a space for a password was there with a clue: 母.
Helena had recognized the symbol when she studied abroad in Tokyo, the word was “mother” in Japanese.
• • • • •
A prison guard approached Terry’s cell. “Mr. McGinnis, You’ve been released. Cleared of all charges” she said.
“On what grounds?” Terry asked shocked.
“ We took the testimony of the other three gang members and they all said that you had no part in this.” Terry was confused, on the contrary, he had THE part in it, he was the one who broke them into this Wayne-Powers factory in the first place.
Terry made his way into the dank, “Narrows” part of the city, one of the only remaining parts of the old city, which also happens to be one of the most debilitated. Home of the old Arkham Asylum, that now laid in ruins from the scraps from the blast hitting it. This was also the place where people from Blackgate, the island prison off the coast of Gotham are let go. There is no holding cell in the GCPD, it’s too dangerous and Terry thinking of his sister, was all too greatful for that.
“Surprised to be out, Terry?” The voice of an older woman asked him.
Terry turned around, he has always been predisposed to distrust over trust.
“Your welcome.” She said. She was very fit, would be great looking for a woman fifty years old, the maturity gave her away for being about 10 years older.
“Who are you?” Terry asked.
“My name is Selina Kyle.” She said. “And I am your biological mother.”
Terry looked shocked, he was grabbed off the streets and he felt himself rushing through the air he looked down and saw he was about 50 stories up in the air, the girl in a costume of sorts put him down on the foor.
“Who the hell are you?” he asked her.
Suddenly Selina came up on a circular hovering device.
“Her name is Huntress.” Selina said, “These are my Birds of Prey, my question is, are you ready to do something about that bastard who killed your father?” she asked.
Terry looked shocked, and he had an idea that being let go may have had more than a worth while catch.