Batman Beyond #2

This is amazing! Terry thought as he soared through the night skies of Gotham in his newly-acquired Batsuit. I can’t believe the old man stopped using this; the rush alone is worth the ride. I can only imagine how awesome the rush will be once I try this baby out on Powers and his goons.

As he flew through the sky, he made a point to test the suit’s hydraulics.

Gotta know how this suit works… the fact that it’s insanely fun is just a bonus.

Looping around buildings, pulling barrel-rolls, executing every aerial stunt his mind could imagine, and, being a teenager, his mind could imagine a lot. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a GCPD shuttle surveying the area.

Guess this is as good a time as any to let everyone know the Batman is back…even if he’s only back for one night. Might keep the scum of this city spooked into good behavior… keep what happened to me from happening to anyone else.

He flew towards the shuttle; since it was only a patrol vehicle, catching up to it wasn’t very difficult. As he came to the front, he knocked on the windshield, getting the attention of the eleven officers onboard. One of them, sitting on a bench, spilled his coffee on his legs; he screamed and ran to the back of the shuttle, out of view. None of the other officers even took notice; their eyes were fixed on what flew before them… The Batman. It was all Terry could do to keep from smiling; it was incredible, the mere presence of the Batman commanded so much awe, it was nothing short of amazing. As he turned to fly away, he caught sight of a large building that the shuttle was about to crash into. There was no way they could turn in time to avoid it now, they had gotten too close.

Slag it! Great going, McGinnis, your little stunt is going to cost these men their lives. Think fast!

As his mind raced, his arm tensed and, to his surprise, a batarang materialized in his hand. Without a moment’s pause, he flew around to the right side of the shuttle towards the back. He had to work fast; any second the shuttle would crash into the building and kill everyone onboard, along with anyone unlucky enough to be on the wrong floors of the building. With the batarang still in his hand, he took aim at the right thruster on the back of the shuttle.

Hope this works.

The batarang made contact causing the right thruster to lose power. Quickly, he flew back to the windshield, looked at the man in the pilot seat and mouthed the words ‘Full Power’. The man nodded and engaged full power on the remaining thruster. The shuttle came dangerously close to the building but, just as it was about to hit, it began veering to the right.

Perfect! With all the power on the left thruster, it caused the shuttle to pull to the right. Glad it worked.

As he watched the vehicle begin to head in the other direction, the thrusters were shut off and the emergency landing gear was deployed.

Good job, McGinnis. Good job, he thought to himself with a smile.

He floated there for a minute, high above the streets of Gotham, still reeling from the rush of the previous incident, until he heard a voice blaring in his ears.

You’ve got a lot of nerve, kid!

The voice was coarse, like gravel scraping against sandpaper.

“Is that you, old man, or am I losing my mind?”

Both. It’s really me, but you are crazy if you think I’ll let you get away with stealing my suit.

“Look, something had to be done, and you certainly weren’t going to do it. Powers killed my dad and made this personal, so I took matters into my own hands.”

I see. Well, maybe it’s time I took matters into mine.

“Does that mean you’ll help me bring Powers down?”

No. It means I’m shutting down the suit’s power until you agree to bring the suit back to me.

“Wha…”

Suddenly, the thrusters in his boots ceased firing, and, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t get the suit’s wings to work. He fell from the sky, helpless to do anything.

“Are you crazy!? You’re going to kill me!?”

Not if you agree to my terms.

“You can’t do this; you’re Batman!”

Correction, I was Batman. That was a long time ago. And besides, what makes you think Powers is behind your father’s death?

“A disk my old man left to me in a letter. I took a look at it and, from what I can gather, it looks like my dad had evidence that Powers is using the company to make a lethal nerve gas that he plans to sell to the highest bidder.”

Closer and closer to the ground he fell, hoping that the old man would see reason before he hit the ground. It was a long drop, but he was closing distance between himself and the streets faster than he liked.

“C’mon, old man, just let me wear the suit long enough to avenge my father’s death.”

Your father’s death isn’t my problem.

“Y’know what, old man, let me hit the ground. I just wanted to make sure that what happened to me never happened to anyone else again, but if I fail in that, then I don’t care to live anyway.”

For a moment, a moment that seemed like an eternity, there was nothing but silence on the com line, then, just as Terry was about to hit the ground, he heard Bruce’s voice.

The suit’s back online. Engage thrusters, now!

“You don’t have to tell me twice!”

With that, flames burst from the bottom of his boots. The wings deployed a half-second later and he found the nearest rooftop to land on. After all, he never knew if the old man might try the same thing again, given the chance. As his feet touched the roof, he breathed a sigh of relief.

That was a close one.

“Alright old man, does this mean…”

Stop calling me ‘old man’. I may be old, but I’m still just young enough to kick your ass.

“Sorry, sorry. Bruce… does this mean you’re going to help me put Powers in the ground?”

First of all: Batman doesn’t kill, and if you even try to take a life, I’ll shut the suit down again, this time for good. Second: You’re the one helping me. I’m in charge here, never forget that.

Terry didn’t like the idea of being ordered around by the old codger, but conceded, knowing it was the only way to see justice done.

“You got it ol…. Bruce. You’re the boss; I’m just the delivery boy.”

Good. And that brings me to the third rule: You’ll refer to me as Mr. Wayne, is that understood?

“What’s wrong with me calling you Bruce?”

You haven’t earned the right.

“Whatever, old ma- Mr. Wayne.”

That’s better. Now, head a half mile west of your current location.

“But, Wayne/Powers is one mile east.”

I know. But you’re going to the secret underground entrance a half mile to the west.

Terry smiled.

“A secret underground entrance? I like your style ol-… Mr. Wayne. Oh, and I left the disc sitting on the computer, in case you want to check it out and make sure I’m right.”

I will. Now, get going.



Terry slowly made his way through the underground tunnels, Bruce guiding him every step of the way over the comm-link.

Remember, don’t move a single muscle unless I tell you to. Make one wrong twitch in those tunnels and you could wind up paralyzed for life.

“Thank you so much for telling me that, now I feel better,” Terry quipped.

Save the sarcasm, kid; this is serious.

“Aye aye, captain!”

What did I just get through saying?

Terry could hear Bruce’s voice becoming more heated.

“Alright, alright, yeesh, I get it. I’ll tone the sarcasm down a bit.”

A bit? Try all the way down, kid.

“That would take a miracle”

Cute. Anyways, move three inches to your left… Alright, good. Now, you’re clear of traps till you round the next corner.

Terry ran as fast as his feet could carry him. He couldn’t fly, he’d found out, because Bruce had rigged the entire length of the tunnels with jamming signals. The only thing that still worked on the suit was the com link, and that only because it was on Bruce’s private frequency which no one else had access to, so there was no reason to jam it.

Is there anything he doesn’t prepare for?

He rounded the corner and Bruce’s voice rang in his ears once again.

Alright, stop. You see the three tunnels ahead of you, right?

“Yeah. Which is the right one?”

All of them.

“Beg your pardon?”

The paths alternate; every hour they change.

“Please tell me you know which one is active right now.”

Of course I do, and you’re in luck; the path just changed three minutes ago, so you have plenty of time to make it through the path before the traps activate.

“Glad to know it, now which path?”

Middle.

“Got it!”



At the end of the tunnel, Terry could see a ladder leading up. Where the ladder led, he didn’t know; it was so tall, he couldn’t begin to see the top.

Good thing I’m not afraid of heights, he thought.

He grabbed the first rung and began pulling himself upward. The light began growing dimmer and dimmer as he made his way to the top, until it became pitch-black. Just when he was beginning to think it would never end, he felt his head slam into something. He barely managed to keep from falling, his ears ringing like mad from the impact. As he regained his equilibrium, he made contact with Bruce.

“You failed to mention the fact that there’s a door or something at the top of this ladder that I couldn’t see because you didn’t tell me that the lights go out as you reach the top.”

Get over it. And you’re right; it is a door you hit your empty head on.

“You wanna try telling me how to open it?”

It’s voice-activated. Only my voice can open it from there.

“Then why the hell did you make me go through all of this if I couldn’t go any farther?!” Terry whispered harshly.

I can open it from the cave.

“Oh……….. Let’s just get on with it.” He heard the door release and pushed it open.

Terry, wait, there’s something you should know.

“What?”

You’ve seen Powers before, correct?

“Yeah.”

And his associate, Mr. Fixx?

“Yeah, when I was a kid that guy gave me the creeps.”

Well I just finished looking at the disc and digging through some computer files at the company and…. Terry, it looks like Fixx is the one who killed your father.

Rage engulfed Terry. He could barely contain it.

“Thanks for telling me, Mr. Wayne. I can’t wait to make him pay.”

As long as you don’t kill him, kid.

Terry made his way through the exit.

No. But by the time I’m through with him, he’ll wish he were dead.



After making his way into the heart of the Wayne/Powers facility, Terry came to a large, titanium door, blocking his path.

“Alright, how do I get in?”

I wouldn’t bother if I were you.

“Why not?”

Powers isn’t sloppy. You’ve probably already tripped several silent alarms.

“Just great! But that still doesn’t explain why you don’t want me to go this way.”

This is the quickest way to the shipping area, where Powers is most likely present at the moment. It makes sense that he’d set a trap for you in this next room.

“I think you’re giving Powers a bit too much credit.”

Fine then, see for yourself; just don’t say I didn’t warn you.

“Fine, but how do I access this door?”

The suit contains lock-picks in its fingertips; insert one into the access panel and it will hack the door.

Terry grinned.

“Wicked.”

He stood in front of the access panel, produced a pick from the finger of the suit and inserted it into the panel. A few seconds later, the lock released and the door slowly opened. He stepped inside to a large, empty room; nothing but large crates littering the floor. He casually moved forward.

Guess the old man was wrong for once.

As the thought passed through his mind, he heard a loud cracking sound coming from his right; he jerked his head towards the sound and noticed a heavily-armed guard breaking free of one of the crates.

Okay, maybe he wasn’t wrong. Still, one guard is hardly…

He heard the sound again, this time from behind him, and much louder than before. He turned to see every crate on the other side of the room broken, with a guard standing next to its remains.

What did I tell you?

“Y’know, nobody likes a guy who’s always right.”

You think I care if I’m ‘liked’? And besides, the wooden crates should have tipped you off. Who uses wood to transport cargo anymore?

“Good point.”

He returned his attention to the guards in the room, each of them pointing a large blaster in his direction. One guard spoke up to the others, his voiced slightly muffled by his helmet.

“What’s this guy supposed to be, a circus reject? Halloween’s over, kid. Go home before you get hurt.”

Another guard responded, “I don’t think that’ll do any good, Mick, did you hear him talking to himself? Probably a schizo. I’d be surprised if he even understood a word you just said.”

The whole group broke into laughter, then the first guard spoke again.

“Yeah, you’re probably right, Jamey. It’s best if we put the poor kid out of his misery.”

Without another word, they fired at their target. Thinking fast, Terry dove to the side and produced two batarangs and threw them at the guards, missing them by a mile.

You call that an aim?

“Give me a break, would you? I’m new at this?”

Well, your aim had better improve, and fast!

“I’m aware!”

He took to the air, thinking that would be the best way to avoid their fire.

Aside from producing them, then throwing them manually, you can also fire them straight from the suit at the intended target.

“Thanks for the tip.”

He barrel-rolled to his right, turned and fired a flurry of batarangs at each guard, taking out all of the guns, and leaving a few of them with batarangs lodged in their arms, legs, and shoulders.

Careful with those, you could’ve killed someone firing wildly like that! Bruce yelled.

“Sorry, I just panicked.”

That’s no excuse! You have to keep a cool head in this line of work. Don’t let it happen again!

“Okay, boss, it won’t happen again.”

See that it doesn’t. Anyway, now that you’ve disarmed them, almost literally I might add, get out of there before reinforcements show up.

“On my way out!” He bolted for the door, pulling a gas pellet from his belt and tossing it behind him as he flew out.

How did you know which slot on the belt the knockout-gas pellets were in?

“I didn’t. I just pulled one out and hoped for the best.”

Next time, ask before you do something like that.

“Why, something dangerous in one of the slots?”

Try most of them.

“Umm…. Mental note: ask you before pulling anything from the belt that might blow my arm off.”

Enough sarcasm. Now, take the next right and it’ll lead you straight to the shipping area.

“About time,” Terry replied. Fixx, I’m going to tear you limb from limb when I get my hands on you.



“WHAT?!” Powers yelled into his phone. “What do you mean he got away? Find him, now!”

“What’s the problem, Mr. Powers?” Mr. Fixx asked calmly as he oversaw the shipment being loaded onto the transport.

“We have an intruder, and security failed to apprehend him.”

“Who is this intruder?”

“Batman, or so they say.”

“Batman? Batman hasn’t been seen for twenty years.”

“I’m aware of that, Fixx. Just finish loading the cargo and get going; I won’t let some freak with a bat-fetish spoil our plans.”

Fixx nodded.

“Yes, sir.”

As he watched on as the workers loading the last of the cargo, he caught a slight movement in the corner of his eye. With a smirk, he slowly pulled a gun from his coat and fired a shot to his right.



Before Terry knew it, he was dodging a gunshot from out of nowhere.

“Y’know, with all the features you have on this suit, a stealth function would’ve been nice.”

The suit does have a stealth function.

“Well, why didn’t you tell me?”

He dodged another flurry of bullets as he caught the attention of all the guards.

You didn’t ask.

“Funny. Anyways, it’s too late for stealth now, and I prefer the direct approach anyway.”

He rolled to the left to avoid more gunshots. Coming out of his roll, he threw two batarangs wildly in the guard’s direction, this time, taking out two guns.

Schway! I’m starting to get the hang of this.

Then, using the suit’s jets, he tackled three guards clumped together. He’d taken out enough of their guns to make things easier, so he turned his attention to Fixx and Powers, both of them standing calmly in the middle of the room, next to the transport, watching the whole thing unfold as if they were innocent. He walked towards them slowly, wanting to unnerve them a bit before he talked to them. It didn’t work. He stood in front of them for a good two seconds staring them down, hoping to scare them, at least somewhat. Again, it didn’t work.

“Powers, I’m shutting you down for the illegal production of lethal nerve gas.”

He turned his scowl towards Fixx.

“And you, Fixx, I’m taking you in for the murder of- UGH!”

He felt pain wrack his body, as he was knocked aside by another man. He jumped back on his feet quickly to face his attacker, one of Powers’ more dedicated employees; a large man, sporting a power-rod: a weapon about the size of a traditional bo-staff, the only difference being that, on contact, the power-rod sent an electric charge through its target. The man looked at Terry with a menacing glare, practically daring him to make a move. With no time to waste, Terry raced towards him, vaulting over his head, planting his feet in the man’s back and engaging the jets. The man was thrown against the nearest container, rendering him unconscious.

“Now that that’s over,” he said, turning back to face Powers and Fixx, “I’m ready to deal with you two.”

Fixx pointed his gun at Terry. “Fine by me, kid, just don’t cry when I beat you senseless.”

“That’s enough!” Powers interrupted, grabbing the gun away from Fixx. “Get the shipment out of here, I’ll deal with this.”

“But there’s still one container left.”

“Forget it, just go!”

Without another word, Fixx boarded the transport. Terry started to go after him, but a warning shot from Powers stopped him short.

“Not so fast, kid.”

“You really wanna do this, Powers?”

“Not really, but you’ve forced my hand.”

“Okay then, you asked for it.”

He shot a flurry of batarangs directly at Powers. But Powers shot every one of them down before they even came close.

“Like shooting skeet,” he chuckled.

He went on the offensive, firing shots Terry could barely manage to dodge, even with the suit. He threw another batarang at Powers to distract him long enough to dive behind the nearest cover. He heard Powers’ voice, taunting him.

“You can’t hide from me forever, why not just come out now? I promise I’ll make it nice and quick.”

Terry looked up and saw the last container of nerve gas that hadn’t been loaded. He stood up, grabbed it and threw it at Powers.

“Catch!”

Powers turned and shot without looking, hitting and puncturing the container as it flew towards him. As it hit, it knocked him to the ground.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” he screamed as the gas covered his body.



Terry was already flying off after Fixx at full speed before he heard Powers screaming, so it was too late to turn back. It didn’t take long before he caught up with the transport, flying over the Gotham River. He landed on top, opened the upper-hatch and lowered himself in. He engaged stealth-mode, wanting to get the drop on his enemy. He kicked the pilot-seat around and, to his surprise, it was empty. Before he could turn back around, he felt electricity surging through his entire body: every muscle and tendon was on fire. Finally, the pain subsided and he heard Fixx’s voice.

“You shouldn’t have followed me, kid. You could’ve made it out of this alive.”

He went to throw another punch with electric-knuckles strapped to his hands. Terry blocked the punch with his forearm then grabbed both of his arms. There they stood, deadlocked, neither of them budging.

“You’re pretty strong, for some clown who thinks he’s Batman.” Fixx laughed.

Terry’s eyes narrowed.

“I. Am. Batman!”

With everything he had, he threw Fixx over his shoulder, sending him flying into the windshield. Fixx was down for the count. Terry punched a hole into the control panel and yanked free a handful of wires.

“Try flying this thing now, Fixx!”

The transport began shaking wildly, sending the nerve-gas canisters rolling to the front of the ship and water flooded in.

Damn it! Thing’s going into the river!

He looked back and noticed Fixx was unconscious.

Damn! What would Dad say if I just left a man to die like this? Guess I’d better save this worthless piece of slag.

He grabbed Fixx and threw him over his shoulder.



The ship exploded as soon as he and Fixx got clear, although the blast still gave them a shake.

“I’ll be damned if I let a brat like you save my life,” Fixx said suddenly.

Without warning, he threw another punch at Terry, again sending an electric shock through Terry’s system. As spasms rushed through his body, he jerked wildly, throwing Fixx down towards the water. Before he recovered, it was too late. As Fixx’s body hit the water, electricity shot upwards in a flash. Terry looked down only to see the charred corpse floating to the surface. He flew off without looking back.



“terry…terry, wake up. Terr…..Terry!”

Terry awoke with a start.

“Huh?” he said, wiping the sleep from his eyes.

“Wake up, honey, we have a visitor. It’s Mr. Wayne! He’s here to see you!”

She left the room to let Terry get dressed.

Mr. Wayne? What does he want? Terry thought.

After getting dressed, he made his way to the living room where Bruce was sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee in his hand.

“Thank you, Mrs. McGinnis.”

He turned his head and saw Terry standing in the doorway.

“Ah, Terrence, you’re finally awake I see!”

“Yeah.”

Since when does the old man act this….happy?

“You never told me you knew Mr. Wayne, Terry!”

“Why, I owe this young man my life. He saved me from a group of hooligans a while back. I tried to reward him but he wouldn’t have it.”

Terry’s mother looked at him, beaming; she’d never been more proud of her son.

“Mr. Wayne wants to offer you a job, Terry. And I know you’ll take it, right?”

“It’s not much, mind you,” Bruce said, taking another sip of his coffee. “I find that in my old age I need an assistant, a go-fer, if you will – go-fer this, go-fer that - and I thought you might be interested.”

“Sure!” Terry responded excitedly.

“But I warn you, I’m a tough boss. I expect nothing but the best from those who work for me. Think you can handle it?”

Terry smiled. “I think I’m up to the challenge.”

“Very well then, Mr. McGinnis,” Bruce said, reaching out to shake Terry’s hand, “welcome to my world.”

The End


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