Chicago, IL
gardy720
A new ally joins Clark in his quest.
chapter 1
I Am the Night
An elderly gentleman dressed in a comfortable suit, white shirt, and tie walked into the stunning den of a newly repaired mansion. The walls had been built using the finest oak and pine wood paneling, the floor black and white marble, and the ceiling had a large colorful chandelier hanging from it, centered over a black plush couch. A 42 inch plasma screen television was on.
A young man, no more than twenty five or so, sat comfortably upon the couch, wearing a common red Polo shirt, black Kacky pants, and black leather loafer shoes. He was muscular, had short cropped black hair, piercing green eyes, and a square jaw.
"Tea, Master Bruce?" The older man asked. He had graying hair, neatly cut, salt and pepper colored sideburns, and a long face ending in a distinct pointed chin. "Thanks, Alfred." Bruce replied, giving the elder man a sharp quick bright smile. He took the steaming hot cup of tea from the serving tray, along with the small polished silver sugar bowl, and its spoon.
"Alfred, have a seat." Bruce asked cordially. "I’m rather busy, Master Bruce." Alfred remarked. "You’re always busy, my good friend." Bruce countered. "Take a load off." Reluctantly, the British Nobleman seated himself across from Bruce in a dark blue Lazy Boy chair. "Alfred, how long would it take us to get to Metropolis?"
"By plane, train, or automobile, sir?" Alfred joked, using his dry British wit. "Possibly all three my friend." Bruce quipped. "Let’s see, Metropolis, Kansas..." Alfred considered, making a number of calculations in his head. "I guess the obvious question is why, Master Bruce?"
"There have been a number of unusual occurrences in and around Metropolis, mostly within Smallville, a rural agricultural community roughly forty minutes as the crow flies from Metropolis International Airport." Bruce informed his manservant. "You mean as the bat flies!" Alfred added sardonically. "Exactly!" Bruce chuckled.
"What are these anomalies, Master Bruce?" Alfred’s curiosity had been piqued. "I’ve been keeping a file on unusual, remarkable, or inexcusable events in Smallville, dating back to 1989. The year 2005 seemed especially bizarre. Smallville took a direct hit from a meteor shower that seemed to come out of nowhere. None of the astrological observatories predicted it."
Alfred’s eyebrows rose. "Intriguing, sir." Bruce placed his tea on a coaster on the mahogany coffee table before him. "Seemingly normal salt of the Earth residents of the affected area had developed unusual abilities, genetic implausibilities, mutations...one might say."
"Indeed?" Alfred’s tired old eyes seemed to light up with surprise. "Are these reports credible?" Bruce nodded. "As credible as the Internet might allow, which isn’t saying much. Still, something’s going on out there. It’s worth looking into."
"As if we don’t have enough derelicts, malcontents, and odious felons in Gotham to deal with." Alfred shook his head. "Master Bruce, must we now import the criminal element from the Midwest?"
Bruce laughed heartily. "That’s why we’re going to them." Alfred sighed, pretending to be disgusted. Bruce knew that his lifelong friend and guardian was just as curious as he was about the Smallville stories. "Will we be taking the children?" Alfred’s dry English wit was in full bloom.
"Sure. It’ll do Dick and Barbara some good to get out of Gotham and see some of the rest of the country." Bruce assured him. "Gotham can survive without the Batman for a few days. If not, we can always jet back in a couple of hours time." Alfred yawned. "Very well sir, I’ll alert the heathens."
Bruce snickered. "Oh they’re not that bad, Alfred. They’re just typical average teens." Alfred feigned disbelief. "If you say so, sir. Also, I believe I intercepted a call from your favorite felonious feline, Master Bruce." Bruce’s mood darkened slightly. "Oh? What did Selena want?"
"Miss Kyle was in need of an escort for some charity benefit social occasion. Save the wild tigers or some such rot. I did mention that you might be busy, or might be out of town." Alfred answered as only he could. "Thanks old chum. Did she say anything after that?" Bruce inquired.
"Not much. Actually, she hissed in my ear." Alfred pretended to be irritated. Bruce laughed. "I should call her. Rather than a romantic evening out, I’d be better off keeping an eye on her." Alfred thought of something he’d read in the local social pages. "Master Bruce, I suggest a deal."
"I’m listening." Bruce said warily. "If you enjoy Miss Kyle’s company, maybe you can go with her to the animal welfare benefit, but ask her to accompany you to a social engagement in Metropolis. The Daily Planet is sponsoring a charity ball for its local Neediest Kids fund." Alfred put in.
"That’s a worthwhile organization. Though I wish you wouldn’t use ‘Miss Kyle’ and ‘engagement’ in the same sentence." He teased. "Point taken, sir." Alfred returned. "You’re a genius Alfred." Bruce praised. "So I keep telling you sir." He joked haughtily. "That would provide a cover for Bruce Wayne and The Batman. Selena can be trying at times, but I may be able to count on her."
"The jury’s still out on that, sir." Alfred pointed out. "Yes, it is." Bruce agreed. "I shall endeavor to pry the children away from their I-Pods and Cell phones long enough to respond to you. Wish me luck!" Alfred joked. "You can handle them, Alfred. You always do." Bruce pulled out his cell phone.
"Selena? Bruce Wayne..." He began after punching up the Catwoman’s number. Meanwhile, Alfred had located Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon at the Golden Circle, an ice cream parlor near Gotham State University Campus. Barbara was a freshman at GSU, Dick would follow next fall.
"Cool! Road trip!" Dick replied excitedly, after receiving Alfred’s call. Barbara was less enthusiastic. "What on Earth would we want to go to the center of fly over country for? The whole city is going to hell, and Bruce wants to head out to Podunk?"
"Oh come on Babs, it’ll be fun." Dick prodded. "The smell of fresh country air, kind, considerate folk who say ‘howdy’ to you every day, the ability to do a hundred miles per hour on a deserted two lane road with your motorcycle..." That caught Barbara’s interest. "Now you’re talking, Dick."
Later, at Stately Wayne Manor, Bruce, Alfred and the kids were sitting down to dinner. "Okay Bruce, I’ll bite. What is so interesting about Smallville, Kansas?" Dick questioned. Barbara was busy ogling Bruce’s eyes. She still hadn’t quite gotten over her schoolgirl crush on him.
The feisty nineteen year old was the daughter of Commissioner James Gordon of the Gotham Police department. Eighteen year old Dick Grayson had been under Bruce Wayne and Alfred’s custody, since Dick’s parents were killed in a staged circus act accident. Later the case became a triple homicide.
Bruce had taken it upon himself to train Dick and Barbara as his youthful assistant crime-fighters. They made an odd but effective team...most of the time. Alfred and Bruce had been riding the kids hard about completing their schoolwork, despite their unusual nocturnal activities.
"Dick, have you and Barbara ever heard of the phrase ‘meta-human enhancement’?" Bruce asked as he folded his hands above his now empty plate. Alfred busily began to clean up the table, with limited assistance from Barbara. Dick shook his head. "No Bruce, I can’t say that I have."
"Alfred, have a seat." Bruce suggested. "I want you to hear this, too." The nobleman reluctantly sat on the edge of the Baby Grand Piano seat, just outside the mahogany paneled dining room. It was one of three dining rooms in the mansion. The other two were much more formal.
"Meta-humans, are another name for people with falsely enhanced genetic abilities. Most incidents of this type are rare, caused by amazingly unlikely coincidences." Bruce began. "Like the Man Bat?" Barbara chimed in. "Kind of Barb. But the professor chose to experiment on himself."
"Some Meta-humans were genetically enhanced illegally, and in some cases, without their knowledge." Bruce added. "Other mutations are completely accidental." Dick gulped. "I don’t like where this is going." Barbara nodded, flipping her long reddish blonde hair to one side.
"Why do I get the feeling that our crime-fighting jobs just got a lot more difficult?" She remarked. "My point exactly, Barb." Bruce continued. "Smallville has had a high concentration of these ‘rare occurrences’ over the years. Metropolis fared a bit better so far. All of the known cases I’ve been able to trace back there, have landed the meta-humans in one form of asylum or another."
"I see." Dick put in. "Like our own lovely Arkham Asylum." Bruce nodded. "The difference being that most of our Arkham candidates were wanna bee master criminals. The Metas in and around Smallville were officially listed as insane, or diseased."
"So, very few have achieved high levels of criminality." Barbara folded her arms. "That sounds like a subject for my term paper thesis in Criminology 101, Bruce." Dick felt that there was much more to this study. "Bruce, what stopped the Smallville Metas from going ace criminal?"
"That’s what we’re going out there to find out." Bruce said poignantly. "I know that Metropolis has a good police force, but I have my doubts that they alone could be so efficient." Barbara snapped her fingers. "Another Batman? Or Batgirl?" Dick frowned.
"I hope not. I’d hate to see someone else steal our shtick" Alfred rolled his eyes. "To date there haven’t been any reports of winged crime-fighters in the area." He added playfully. "I’m in!" Barb said happily. "Won’t it be unusual if billionaire Bruce Wayne suddenly showed up in Smallville, though?"
"Good point, Dick." Bruce grinned mischievously. "That’s why Bruce Wayne, and his young companions will be going to Metropolis to take part in a Charity Benefits Ball." Alfred’s eyes lit up. Dick and Barbara groaned. "You mean I have to put on a monkey suit?" Dick grumbled.
Alfred was in his element now. "You mean a nice black tuxedo, white shirt and bluish tie, Master Dick?" Barbara laughed hysterically. "I’d pay to see that!" Alfred clearly enjoyed this part of his job. "For you, Miss Barbara, I envision a conservative pink dress, knee length cut, and matching high heels."
It was Dick’s turn to snicker. "No way Alfred! Pink is not my color. I’d hurl!" Barb protested. Bruce came to her rescue. "How about this one?" He shoved a magazine picture in her hand of a leggy model wearing a slinky black dress. "Now, we’re talkin’ Bruce! Evelyn Ferragamo?" She smiled brightly.
"Do you like it?" Bruce downplayed the outfit. "At $3100! You bet I do!" Barb choked out. In seconds, Bruce was on the cell phone, ordering Barbara’s dress, and a personal fitting at Gotham City’s upscale boutique, The Last Word. "I’ll pay you back, Bruce!" Barbara offered, she hated owing people things.
"Don’t bother." Bruce said cordially. "Consider it a late graduation present." Dick scowled. "Oh like the Wayne/Nippon 1600 motorcycle you already gave her for graduation?" He feigned jealousy. Alfred grinned smugly. "Yes, similar to the Wayne/Nippon 1800 he gave you last month."
"I get the point." Dick conceded. "When do we leave for Freaksville?" Bruce glanced at his watch. "As soon as Selena gets here." Bruce said as he reddened. "No way!" Barb exclaimed. "You’re taking the Catwoman with us to Metropolis?" Dick gasped. "Are you nuts, Bruce?" Alfred frowned. "Master Dick, that will be quite enough." He chastised. Bruce sighed. "She’s my date."
Barbara’s heart jumped. How could he pick that wretched feline over me? She silently wondered. "Okay Bruce, what’s she got on you?" Dick prodded. Barbara folded her arms. "Selena deserves a chance to prove that she’s reformed as much as any other criminal element." Bruce stated solemnly.
"It helps that she’s cute!" Dick commented with irritation. "Ew! How could you say that, Dick? Ugh! Men!" Barbara groused. "Why does Bruce Wayne, billionaire, even need a date?" She added with some vehemence. "Selena and I have an uneasy truce...she knows who I am." Bruce dropped the bomb.
"Holy crap!" Dick hissed. "Does she know about all of us?" Bruce shook his head. "No, but unfortunately, Selena is also very smart." Barbara sighed in disgust. "More like devious!" Dick agreed. "Yes, she’s devious as well." Bruce admitted. "Do you trust her?" Barbara grilled. "No." He replied.
"Selena has to earn our trust, as we should earn hers." Bruce said diplomatically. Dick knew that the discussion was over when Bruce took that tone of finality. "Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer? Eh Bruce?" Dick remarked with disdain. Bruce nodded. "We all have trust issues."
"I’m staying home, I mean I don’t have a date." Barbara complained. Bruce chuckled. "Sure you do. Dick’s taking you!" Barbara and Dick exchanged glances. "Get out! No way!" They chorused as Alfred could barely keep from bursting out laughing. His usual stoic British resolve was in jeopardy.
"Give me one good reason that I should go with wonder boy here?" Barbara asked. "I’ll give you two - Evelyn Ferragamo and free dinner." Dick challenged. "Rats!" Barb gave in. "Isn’t that low level extortion, Bruce?" He smirked. "Let me know now, I can call off the dress fitting."
Bruce had called Barbara’s bluff. "Why don’t you have bird boy take Selena?" She threw in the dig. I could do worse, Dick silently mused. "Where’s your team spirit?" Bruce teased Barbara. "Okay! Okay! No one ever said that I wasn’t a team player." She stared daggers at Dick.
"Don’t even think about kissing me!" She warned him. "I’ll pluck every feather from your..." Ahem. Alfred cleared his throat to indicate that the discussion was over. "At this point, I’d rather kiss Alfred!" Dick retorted.
"That won’t be necessary, Master Dick. A semblance of obedience is all I ask!" Alfred dead panned, cracking Bruce up. "We’re all set, then." Bruce continued. Teenagers! He thought sourly. "As soon as Selena gets here, we’ll get packed." Dick and Barbara glanced at each other.
"Uh...how long are we staying in Dullsville?" Dick asked worriedly. "As long as it takes." Bruce answered evasively. All kidding aside, Bruce is onto something big, Barbara thought. To leave Gotham on its own for even one night, let alone a weekend or a couple of weeks, god forbid. There’s more to this story, Bruce is worried.
"Where are Dick and I sleeping?" She wondered aloud. "Each of you will have your own rooms at the Metropolis Silver Star, a top of the line resort hotel near Metropolis Bay." Bruce responded. "Nothing but the best for Bruce Wayne, eh Alfred?" Dick finally cracked a smile.
"At least there’s an upside to this freak hunt. I’ll be at the pool if you want me." He joked. "Maybe some bikini clad evildoers will show up!" Dick added purposely to irritate Barbara.
"You wish, feather head." Barb snapped. "I, on the other hand, am going shopping." She said haughtily. "I can’t be caught dead in an Evelyn Ferragamo with the wrong shoes and handbag, dahling." Bruce rolled his eyes. "Alfred, why not just give Barb our Gold Max Credit Card?"
Dick’s eyes widened. "Hey now! How about bribing me?" Alfred grinned thinly. "You, Master Dick, are included on our major expenses account, and therefore subject to our financial oversight." Bruce chuckled, though below the surface, he indeed was worried about what he might find in Smallville.
"Barb, don’t forget to tell your dad about our plans." Bruce reminded her. "You know Bruce," Barbara began icily. "I’m a grown woman now, not that you’d notice." Dick put his tongue in his cheek. "Ooh! Snap!"
Bruce gulped, he should’ve expected that. "Still Barb, those are the rules! I promised Jim that I’d look after you when you weren’t with him."
"Yeah, ‘a grown woman now’ that still sleeps with a teddy bear named Pookie!" Dick jabbed as Barb fumed. The front doorbell rang. "Saved by the bell, eh Alfred?"
Bruce followed him into the expansive foyer which led to the tall double doors of Wayne Manor. "I should say so, sir." He agreed. "I bet that’s her." Barbara snuck a look through the dining room, and through the reception room, as Alfred opened the door.
Dick was right behind her, glancing over her shoulder. "Hi Alfred!" A low slinky voice said from the doorway. "Miss Kyle! It’s good to see you again." He said earnestly.
"Bruce, it’s been ages." Selena smiled brightly and kissed him on the cheek. Barbara fumed. "Whoa! What a hottie!" Dick exclaimed quietly. "Oh pu-lease!" Barbara snorted.
Selena walked in letting Alfred take her black short coat, and immediately grabbing Bruce by the arm. A black cat followed her in. Dick drooled as he looked over the Catwoman.
She had long fluffy blonde hair below her shoulders, a dynamite figure, bright blue-green eyes, and long legs that ended in four inch black heeled shoes. She wore a spaghetti strap black cocktail dress, which allowed for a good amount of cleavage.
"Oh put your tongue back in your head, bird boy!" Barbara hissed. Bruce guided Selena into the den, motioning the kids to join them. "Selena, this is Barbara Gordon and Dick Grayson." He introduced them. "Hello." The Catwoman said graciously. "I didn’t know we were taking the children." She sniped.
Bruce reddened. "Uh...tonight we’re going to your charity benefit, correct?" Selena nodded confirmation. "I wonder if you’d join us in Metropolis for a benefit there?" Selena looked puzzled.
Bruce Wayne, the Batman, in hayseed country? That certainly didn’t add up, she mused. What’s his angle?
"Okay. What charity?" Selena’s catlike curiosity had been peaked. "Metropolis Neediest Kids Fund." Bruce answered. "We’ll stay at the Silver Star Resort, near the Golden Hawk Casino."
Now we’re getting somewhere, Selena thought lustily. "Sure Bruce, I’ll go. That’s this Saturday?" Bruce nodded.
Barbara thought that she was going to be ill. This little adventure could prove to be a nightmare. The Queen of Mean as Bruce’s arm candy? Yuck! She silently criticized.
Selena’s cat jumped into Barbara’s lap, startling her. "Oh look Bruce, Isis likes your little sister, there." Selena teased. Barb reddened as the cat meowed appreciatively. There’s hope for the bat brats yet, Selena thought sourly.
Chicago, IL
gardy720