Warriors Bar, NYC Oliver Kismet Hawke had just woken up, perhaps a half an hour before. He stretched and prepared to enter a meditative state. BUZZZ. He was achieving a peace, one where the answers he was ever in search of would present themselves to— BUZZZZ! His breathing slowed and— BUUUUZZZZZZZZZ! Damn Gardner for installing the door buzzer right outside his room! And may the same curse be extended for his propensity to sleep like a log. Ollie stood, frustrated, and pressed the intercom button just beyond the entrance to his room. “Yes.” “Guy Gardner?” “No. I’m his roommate.” “We need to speak to Mr. Gardner, please.” Ollie sighed. “Just a moment.” A smile replaced his frown. Nothing was quite as zen as the joy of waking Guy from a deep sleep… perhaps the intercom had it’s place in the world after all. **** The DCFutures FanFiction Group recognizes that Batman and all related characters are property of DC Comics. These stories are written for no profit, but rather a strong desire to peer into the future of the DCU. The stories and concepts presented herein, however, are property of the author. So there. **** BATMAN: DCF #42 **** Written and Directed by Erik Burnham darvey@rocketmail.com **** BATMAN created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger BATMAN: DCF created by Erik Burnham **** “For The Sake of Momentum” **** “Mr. Gardner? My name is Kylie Roarke… detective, Gotham City Police Department. This is my partner, Paul Chandler.” Guy nodded absentmindedly. He had been having an outstanding dream when the water had hit. The very cold water. Ollie was obviously still upset about being situated next to the intercom buzzer… “We understand that you are known associates of the Batman,” Paul started. Ollie cut him off with a glare. “He is a good man,” Ollie said. “And we will not help you arrest him on your commissioner’s childish whim.” “Mr. Hawke, you have no right, speaking to my partner in such a tone.” Kylie met the archer’s gaze. “And you, Detective Roarke, don’t have any jurisdiction on your side.” “We don’t need jurisdiction to ask for help in contacting someone!” “Are we to be taken as fools? We will not help you trap an innocent man!” The argument raged on. Guy shrugged. Paul shrugged. “Is she always like that?” Guy asked. “I don’t know, I haven’t worked with her long. I think your friend’s tone just hit a nerve… er… is he always like that?” “Every morning, before coffee and meditation. So what are you really looking for?” “Just what she said – we want to contact Batman.” “Why?” “How familiar are you with our position in Gotham, Mr. Gardner?” “News puts you guys firmly in the anti-Bats camp.” “Yeah, and didn’t that seem to come out of the blue?” Paul continued, looking up with Guy as their respective partners continued to argue. “As a matter of fact, it did. Now why is that?” “We were hoping to find out, Mr. Gardner. That’s why we want to contact Batman. There’s a… a situation we wish to consult him on. I can’t go into details, y’know, but it does involve the commissioner.” “And suppose I don’t believe you?” “Batman saved my life in a roundabout way,” Paul said. “And hers - quite directly. We want to clear up a little mystery, sir, and help him. To do that, we need to get in touch with him. Let me give you my number,” Paul added, taking out his card. “Call me, let me know what the verdict is.” Guy accepted the card. “I’ll look into it. Meantime, why don’t we separate those two before someone puts a hole in the other…” “Good idea.” **** Gotham City, fifteen hours later. It was cold out, nothing new for the gradual segue into spring. Weather regulation towers – recently installed – help deal with the majority of the snow in the record-setting winter. Kept it off the streets, made sure it wasn’t too much of a burden. Pity. Tim liked the snow. Not the accidents it could cause, of course… but the way it made everything seem new. Safe. Like a giant snow globe. Also, it kept people inside. There was less opportunity for conflict, which he appreciated a little bit more now. He could hear them below. “Give it to me!” “No, please, I…” “GIVE IT TO ME!” If there had ever been a more perfect setup in the history of the world… “You asked for it,” Batman snarled, practically bursting into a giggling fit at the expression on the mugger’s face when the hapless youth looked up and saw the expanding shadow blotting out the streetlight near the corner, coming towards him. “Biff!” Tim said, landing on the kid – must be about twenty or so. “Pow!” He continued, knocking the knife from the boy’s hand. “Whack!” A punch to the chin, and that’s all she wrote. “You all right, sir?” Batman asked. The victim just nodded. “Call the cops,” Batman added. “I did,” The man said, calmly. Batman cocked his head to the side. “Pardon me?” “Batman, I’m placing you under arrest. You have the right to…” Perfect, Tim thought. A sting. He tuned out the voice of the undercover cop in front of him and allowed the enhanced audio receptors in his mask to pick up sounds around him. Above him. Hovercars. Holding pattern, not the usual whine of passing. Behind him. Breathing. It was hard to make out amidst the wind, but it was there. Unmistakable, once you locked onto it. Good going, Tim. You walked in on a planned bust! Kudos! …That cop deserved an Oscar. “I’m afraid,” Batman said, cutting off the officer, “that I have a previous engagement to attend to.” “Oh really?” Tim smiled, beneath his mask. “Really.” **** Jon Isaacs was awake. Trapped. Chained to his bed, and at the mercy of a psycho that had taken his place in the name of a personal vendetta. This Batman sure knew how to pick his enemies; or didn’t, such as the case may be. His leg was aching again; the pain was a good sign. …Good enough that the leg was still there, anyway. Sweat and tears stung his eyes. His mouth was dry. …But he could deal with it. He could get by. And when he got outta this, he was gonna send this guy with the clay face to Blackgate’s hole. No. No, Jon was gonna pull the strings and see this guy shipped off to the Bermuda Penal Colony. The thought brought a smile to Jon’s face, and enough strength to struggle against his chains a bit more. **** Gotham City Police Headquarters. “My name is Bradley Carrington,” the impeccably dressed man winked. “And I’d like to see Commissioner Isaacs, if you’d be so kind.” “I’m sorry,” the receptionist asked, quizzically. “Who?” How soon they forget. “Agent Bradley Carrington, sir. Justice League, retired. I’m here to speak with the good commissioner in regards to the Batman.” “I’m sorry, sir, but the commish isn’t in at the moment. May I take your contact information for a later date?” “Ah, Room 224, Gotham Mermacia, I expect to be there after seven this evening. Prior to that, I can be reached at the Cenilmaga Club. Be sure to tell him it is of the utmost importance.” “I will sir.” Idiot, Bradley thought as he left the building, dialing the Justice League’s Gotham Embassy on his personal phone. “Hello, this is Bradley Carrington, authorization code 44310762, agent status: retired. I’d like to request permission to access the Gotham database, if I might. Yes, I’m looking for the present address of Jon Isaacs, commissioner, Gotham City Police Department. Thank you. Yes, I’ll hold.” **** Tim stretched his weary muscles as he exited the Batmobile. “Sir,” Alfred called to him immediately. “There’s a call for you.” “Not now, Alfred.” “On the special line, Master Tim.” “Oh.” Tim ambled over to his workstation and tripped the button that activated his special teleline; it bounced the signal continuously around the world so it would be impossible to locate the origin of the transmission. At the moment, only three people had this number. “What can I do for you, Guy?” “I got a visit from a couple o’ Gotham cops this morning, kid. They want a powwow with ya.” “I’m not in the mood for anymore ambushes, thank you. But out of curiosity, did they give you their names?” “Yeah. Ah… Chandler and… Roarke, I think. Real spitfire, that one.” “Guy, I changed my mind. If you can get a hold of them, tell them we can meet at the Cenilmaga. Parisian suite. One hour from now.” “Will do. Take it easy.” “Alfred,” Tim said as he disconnected his line. “Make the reservation.” “Aye aye, sir.” “Shut up, Alfred.” **** The Cenilmaga Club. Kylie had come here, once, with Mike. It was just after they’d been married. The power went out halfway through the meal. It was one of her favorite memories. Paul wasn’t much for holorestaurants. He preferred his scenery to be genuine. He was, however, more than happy to flash his badge at the little bald man that insisted he must wear a tie. The bald man actually gasped. No one gasped anymore. It was a treat. “Just show us to the Parisian suite, pal.” “You are with the Chiroptera party?” “Chiroptera?” Kylie laughed at the joke that seemed to evade the men. “Yes.” “Very well, please follow me.” The bald man nervously looked once more at Paul’s badge – now hanging out of his breast coat pocket – before leading them to the small holographic dining chamber. A red-haired man was sitting in the suite, sipping coffee in the glow of early twentieth-century Paris. “Hello, detectives.” The man smiled, his voice instantly familiar. “What is it that I can do for you?” “Batman?” Chandler asked. The red-haired man shimmered, revealing the costumed Batman for just a moment. Image inducer. Nice. “Second verse, same as the first, detectives.” “We believe something has happened to Commissioner Isaacs,” Kylie explained, sitting down. “Really. And would this something have anything to do with why everybody’s been picking on me?” “We think so,” Chandler answered. “He’s not the same, these past couple of weeks. His limp…” “…It isn’t right. Sometimes it’s not there at all.” Kylie added. “A snake in paradise, eh? The limp was the tip-off? Anything else?” “Besides his unnatural obsession with taking you down?” “Don’t kid yourselves, Isaacs has never liked me.” “That’s true,” Kylie continued. “But he never considered you a criminal. A considerably annoying vigilante, maybe.” “But he did have more respect for you after New Years,” Paul finished. “That’s what he told me when I had lunch with him.” “So I was never considered a threat or a menace, yet now I’m relegated to public enemy number one. How’s the Commish after hours? Does he let the obsession go after he punches out for the day, or…” “We don’t know,” Paul said. “He’s been at HQ a lot, lately. Goes home for a couple of hours sleep a night, that’s it.” “That doesn’t sound right,” Batman concluded. “From what I’ve seen, heard, and read, Jon is not that kind of an obsessive.” “Will you help us, then?” Kylie asked. “Of course I will. I’m a hero, aren’t I?” Batman nodded, sipping his coffee. “Rushing in where angels fear and the like. He still living at the same place?” “I think so,” Kylie and Paul added in unison. “Then I do believe I’ll pay a little visit to Mr. Isaacs. Anybody else want some coffee?” **** Two suites over, in a holographic representation of the American White House, Bradley Carrington sat at a meal, discussing the past with a veritable cornucopia of political figures from the late twentieth century. His phone rang in the middle of a fascinating argument between William Clinton, Jack Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan. The latter two were destroying the former. Bradley found it too entertaining, whenever he came here, the match-ups. Who would agree and disagree at what and why. It was akin to dinner theater, and he the only audience. And then his phone rang. “Agent Carrington, we have the address for you.” “Excellent,” The Penguin smiled, dabbing at the corners of his mouth with a napkin. “Another time, gentlemen.” Bradley discontinued the holographics of the room and rose to leave. “I’ve a call to make.” **** To Be Continued! **** NEXT ISSUE: Clayface revealed! **** GOING BATTY **** Letters! Here we go! (Keep ‘em coming!) But first, thanks this issue go to: Joe Conat, who provided me with the final piece in the puzzle. And folks – be on the lookout for Bats #44, the return of Clark Kent to Gotham! On to the letters… Erik, Just read BATMAN: DCF #41. Great issue, but where's was Clark? Also, is Tim's grandfather, the original Tim Drake (Robin III)? Well, I never guessed Tim was biologically a Gordon. Whoa! That means that him and Samy Gordon are blood brothers! How is Tim going to act, when the Batman eventually goes head-to-head with Robin (Justice's protege) in the climactic battle for Earth's freedom?!? This gives a new meaning to "Family Feud." By the way, the BATMAN: DCF List extra, "An Interview With Tim Drake," was great! I felt like a real Gothamite, perusing the paging of GQ for info on the rich & famous, and finding a golden interview with Gotham's favorite ladies man and philanthropist -- the culturally refined and administrative genius, Timothy Drake II! Seriously, the "interview" was cool. It provided a view of Tim's from that the everyday person. Plus, it tied up some narrative loose ends. Keep up the great work! Sincerely, Ryan Ignatius Pratt Religion Major / History Minor University of Southern California ****Ryan, thanks for writing! Robin III is indeed (in a roundabout, wacky kinda way) considered to be our Tim’s grandfather. Just because it’s not blood all of a sudden doesn’t change the facts in his head. Clark will be back in issue #44, and I am SO glad somebody enjoyed the interview with Tim. It was a fun piece to write. (;**** Hey Erik, Bats #41 was outstanding! I can't tell you how impressed I was with how you wrote the interaction between Tim and The Kid. The only part I didn't understand was why Tim broke off the conversation so soon. It really confused me as much as it seemed to confuse Kon-El. Also, I hope that those two detectives solve the "Clayface took over Isaac's life" case. You've turned Clayface into a villain I really really hate...which is good writing :)Lex ****Long time no see, Lex. Good to hear from you. I ended the conversation intentionally on an off key – it was meant to confuse Kon just a bit. (; Clayface’s little usurption saga will be done next issue. And by the way, thanks for the PS you included in your note. Appreciate the thought.**** This issue was written to the music of both Aimee Mann and the Refreshments. And with that, I bid you adieu until next time! -Erik Visit Gotham: http://members.tripod.com/dcfbatman Visit the DCF Message Board: http://216.35.120.23/Indices/6074.html