*Batman "Bruce Wayne", Gotham City
Spinning away from a burst of fire, Batman swung himself to his side while throwing smoke pellets at Firefly.
The explosion of smoke more surprised the man rather then blind him. Firefly always had filters and specialized goggles to prevent smoke and fire from inhibiting his sight. Still it was enough for Batman to close the distance and deliver a knock out blow to the man.
Collapsing into a heap, Batman began to disarm him and bind his wrists behind his back.
As if on cue GCPD finally arrived in force with the Commissioner to boot. Firefly had broken out recently from Arkham and his tendency to immediately start burning everything became a priority for Batman and Gordon. They had gotten lucky this time as Batman had a... feline source who happened to hear about Firefly buying supplies from a known arms dealer. He informed Gordon and then made his way immediately to the old heavy machinery factory where the deal was going down.
Looking around Batman almost allowed himself a rare small smile under the cowl.
7 of the arms dealers thugs were knocked out on the ground with the respective dealer hanging from the rafters, bound in tight cord. And with Firefly captured that meant for the first time in a few years all the major rogues would be behind bars. Dare he say, Batman felt he would be allowed a minor vacation in the future.
GCPD uniformed officers began immediately securing the scene. A few were laughing and shaking their heads at the arms dealer being hung up in the rafters.
Batman walked towards the exit where Gordon stood.
"A good night Commissioner," he said as he stood with him.
"A very good night Batman."
Commissioner Gordon had gone through the ringer these last few years. The destruction of GCPD Major Crimes had been a blow to his reputation. Then more problems with the Penguin release, the death of Carmine Falcone, and a few of the rogues jumping in to cause chaos. All these things made it a difficult time for Jim Gordon, and his enemies in city hall and the police force tried to take advantage of it. Thankfully, he was able to ride it out and successfully deal with each of the disasters, though his detractors like sharks swam close. It was no secret the many enemies Gordon had who were on his side of the law. The position of Commissioner was coveted, more so from the work Gordon had put into elevating it and expanding its influence.
But the man still held on though he was looking more tired then usual. Perhaps he would also take a vacation now as well?
Gordon sighed as he watched Firefly get taken away, "Thanks again for catching him so quick, last thing Gotham needs is another Eastside fire."
Batman said nothing but a small grunt, he agreed but was cautious. Gotham had a tendency to pretend to be peaceful but then erupt into absolute chaos.
"Will I see you at 'records' later," Gordon asked quietly.
Pausing to think about it he said, "I will swing by, if I see you I see you."
At that Batman made his way home to the Batcave using Batwing. Save for perhaps the Justice League shuttles and the Team's bioship it was the most stealthily made ship on Earth. With enough science and mystical tools employed to make it nearly impossible to track. It made getting home so much easier for the Dark Knight.
Entering through one of the hidden cave entrances he landed and immediately made his way to the Bat computer. A little bit of work then he would head over to 'records.'
Pulling up various files and recordings he needed to review he leaned back into his chair and let his head relax into the head rest. He allowed his eyes to close as he mentally reviewed these last few years.
Despite the tumultuous years, things had worked out for the best.
The U.N. had been forced to calm down from the fiasco of discovering the Team. Things were heading towards disaster with various proposals that would limit the Justice League. Batman seeing the signs had prepared along with others to leave the League in order to continue the mission unhindered.
But then the Reach invaded.
The League had been distracted facing pressure from the U.N. and later a farce of a intergalactic trial for a crime they didn't commit. A ploy from the Light which they managed to prove thanks to the Team. From there they worked with Lex Luthor of all people and managed to drive the Reach off planet. It was a close call as the Reach proved to be sore losers and attempted to destroy the planet, but thanks to Wally West it was stopped though it was a close thing. Wally nearly lost his life but luck was with the League that day as he narrowly survived.
Still, the success of the Justice League and the Team in saving the planet swung public perception back towards them. Proving the adage that fame was such a fickle mistress. This defanged many of the U.N.'s initiatives as they now lacked the support needed to gain greater control. The former U.N. Secretary General was even forced to resign due to the poor reaction of the U.N. to the invasion. A welcomed change from all his efforts to dismantle or control the League.
The new leader, Donna Troy, replaced them and was showing a keen sensibility to international matters as well as a supportive stance to the JL. Her victory was a major surprise for many especially Batman who at first was suspicious it was a ploy from the Light. But digging further he came to realize that the Light simply lost too much during the Reach invasion to make a successful bid for the U.N.
Gaining a ally and friend as the head of the U.N. had the watch tower celebrating late into the night. The fact that it coincided with the Team joining the Justice League as fully integrated members also played a part in celebrations. The kids had seemed shocked at the invite but all accepted it with a few going for part-time status.
From there the world went to being, dare he say it, quiet. The Light retreated to the shadows to gain allies and lick its wounds. The Reach went on trial before the Guardians of the Universe and Vandal Savage, the leader of the Light had all but disappeared.
Still while so much went right, there were some things that kept Batman up at night.
League members were finding themselves ambushed more often by para-military groups. There never seemed to be a connection but the frequency of these engagements suggested otherwise.
Then there was Luthor.
Lex Luthor for his part in helping the League defeat the Reach had gain immense popularity. Many doors closed to the billionaire and secret member of the Light were now open, even political ones.
The news networks were already whether of their own volition or bribed to by Luthor shouting loud and clearly the expectation for him to run for President. A fact that unnerved Batman because he knew based on some preliminary polls Luthor would win in a landslide.
That and the fact his campaign funds saw massive investment also caused Batman to be suspicious. Obviously the Light and Luthor would invest in him winning the presidency, but many of the funds came from mysterious sources that Batman could not find.
All of which would require further investigations and preparations.
Still as he began reviewing his various local case files he felt good about the way things were heading.
'Scarecrow new chemical variant.'
'Killer Croc sighted in Narrows sewers.'
'Hermes warning about a growing mystical threat.'
'Falcone and Penguin mobs agree to new borders.'
'Mayor being stalked by a Talon.'
Batman read through the list moving some up on the list and others further down. He only had so much time and resources to spend investigating the various factions and reports of the city.
Reaching the end he paused at the very bottom of the list.
'Krios...'
'Ahnenerbe...'
Both were connected yet both were also just small pieces to the puzzle.
He was surprised when during the Reach invasion Krios had not appeared. The man was a mystery but always reappeared after a few months to cause problems. The situation with the Reach made it an opportune time for him to further whatever goals he had. Certainly a lot of villains had done so during the chaos with record number of thefts, robberies and murders. It was only when the Reach was defeated and forced off planet the criminal world went running back into their holes. After all, a recently victorious Justice League with an unusual amount of support from the U.N. was something for them to all fear.
Yet despite the chaos, Krios did not re-appear.
Now it had been a few years since the Team last encountered him. Why he was with the League of Shadows at that time was just another question to the mystery.
Batman hated the fact he had not pursued Krios since he brutally beat both him and J'onn. What he had done to Major Crimes, the dozens of officers... Montoya...
Footsteps echoed the halls of the Batcave as the familiar clop of Alfred's shoes grew closer to him.
"Earlier then usual Mr. Wayne," the British butler's crisp tone sounded almost happy.
"Don't sound too happy Alfred," Batman's tone relaxed with his closest confidant.
"I am checking on a few files but will soon run out to visit 'records.' But I should be back fairly soon."
"Hmmm," the aged Butler said, "Would you like something to eat when you return sir?"
"Maybe," he muttered as he continued to stare at the Krios and Ahnenerbe files.
Alfred followed his gaze, "It has been a long time since I have seen those files grace your screen Mr. Wayne."
"Too long Alfred, it has been too long," Batman spoke quietly.
Then with practice ease Alfred leaned forward and with a single click on the bat computer's keyboard minimized the files.
Batman raised an eyebrow at his butler and made to speak but Alfred beat him to it.
"You have too many cases with greater priority then to become obsessive on old cases. Between the Penguin and Falcone crime families, Luthor and his possible run for the presidency, and further investigations into the Light, you are stretched far too thin."
Then with emphasis but with some kindness Alfred said, "You are but one man Master Wayne. These last few years have been trying before becoming better but during all of that you have not rested. This Krios has been absent for years, hunting him down can wait."
Batman sighed, "You are right Alfred... as usual."
Shutting the bat computer down he stood up.
"I suppose visiting 'records' and reviewing the various files has just brought back too many bad memories."
Making his way to the batwing, Alfred followed him.
"I will be back in 2 hours," Batman said as he hopped in the cockpit.
Alfred replied, "We shall see... I will have some dinner made by that time."
Leaving the Batcave, he flew down one of the many passages before exiting the hidden exit near cape Carmine. With a tap of thrust he flew high into the air before drifting the batwing to hover near the skyscrapers of Eastside. Finding a rooftop that was empty he lowered the craft down and hopped out.
Taking a moment to make sure the craft was out of the way should anyone come up here he tapped his built in computer pad on his wrist and soon the craft became invisible.
Without a second glance Batman made his way to the ridge of the roof scanning the area before leaping off. He allowed himself to free fall for just a moment before spreading his cape out and activating the electrical components to make a firm glider. Soon he flew across various streets before making his way to glide silently into an alleyway.
Deactivating his glider he allowed himself to fall quietly onto the ground.
Swiftly he kept to the shadows as he entered a building through the window of the first floor. Around him were an assortment of older hospital beds along with various mismatch of medical equipment. A few of the beds had occupants but all were asleep as he made his way swiftly through the room out into the corridor. There he moved to the stairs that led him up into the long term care wing.
The long term care wing of the Thompkin's clinic was different from the others in the sense that it had only a handful of room and each held a single patient. Most of the patients here were either those suffering terminal illness or long term comas.
Walking down the hallway Batman reached room 407. The door was slightly ajar but Batman was not concerned. He had left a few devices inside the patient's room to alert him to any visitors.
With practiced ease he slips through the open door.
The room was simple, with a small sink connected to a hidden bathroom, a hospital bed with its monitoring equipment, and a bolted down window. A few flowers were on the window seal but no other parahelia or pictures were set up. There was nothing else, not even a chart to indicate who the patient was.
Standing by the bed taking notes was the namesake of the clinic, Doctor Thompkins.
Batman stood silently watching her.
Dr. Thompkins was nearing her 64th year, but despite her age and the stress of her job she still had the youthful energy and appearance of a woman 15 years younger.
"How is the patient?" Batman spoke aloud.
Dr. Thompkins nearly jumped in surprise but to her credit did not scream.
Breathing heavily she gave him an annoyed look.
"You are going to give me a heart attack one of these days!"
Walking closer to the bed he said, "I doubt it, you will outlive Gordon and I by a few decades knowing how stubborn you are."
The doctor muttered something under her breath before going back to writing a few notes.
While writing she said, "Patient is doing exactly what she was doing a few months ago. Stable, but no changes, no sign of the coma ending."
The two of them stayed silent while Dr. Thompkins continued to write a few notes and adjust a few dials on the monitoring equipment.
"Will you be staying long?" She asked while working.
"No," he responded, "Has Commissioner Gordon been by recently?"
With a sigh of satisfaction she sat on one of the visitor chairs.
"No, I suspect you beat him here. If you planned to meet him, he is probably not far behind."
Batman shook his head, "No plans to meet up, just that he was planning to come tonight."
"Hmm," Dr. Thompkins gave him a careful look, "I think we will need to have a discussion sometime about the patient."
Batman gave her a tired look.
"Don't give me that look," she said waving her finger, "You came to me asking to take her in, fake her records and keep her anonymous. Even though her being here and being discovered would stretch the neutrality of this clinic. I did so, and would do so again."
"But Batman..." she said before emphasizing, "Bruce... the choices of her medical care should be with her family, not Gordon and certainly not you."
He stayed silent on that. He knew she was right, the fact was Gordon and him wanted simply to hide her and keep her safe till she recovered. But recovery had not come and she still stayed in her coma for years. The fact he and Gordon had kept it secret for so long had entered into an uncomfortable grey area.
Dr. Thompkins then said, "It has been years, and I am sorry but this is not fair for this clinic or for her and her family."
Considering what she was saying was a difficult pill for Batman to swallow. The more she spoke the more Batman began to waver.
He made his way to the door intending to leave before stopping.
"A few more months?" He asked with the smallest hint of pleading.
"A few more months..." Dr. Thompkins repeated with an exhaustive tone.
A few seconds passed before she said, "Fine... a few more months."
Batman gave her a firm nod before leaving the building the way he came in from.
Making his way to the batwing his mind was filled with so many different thoughts. Dr. Thompkins words, the growing complexity of the upcoming U.S. election, increased attacks on the JL, Krios... and of course a problem he never knew what do with.
That final thought came to his mind as he crested the top of the skyscraper where the batwing was.
Leaning on the invisible wing was the familiar skintight black suit, a stylized mask, and a variety of thief tools around her waist and forearms.