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Batman: Downfall	By : Driftwood Category: DC Verse Comics > Batman Views: 19223 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I did create nor own the rights to the Batman characters, places or franchise and I make no money on the fiction.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
Chapter Six
The Streets of Gotham,
It took Barbara a few minutes to realise the screaming she could hear was coming from her. The Batmobile handled like a demented tank, it hardly took a turn on the steering wheel to get it to fly around tight turns and when her foot found the accelerator again it lurched forward with deep roar that made her bones ache. The road opened up as she approached the towering structure of a bridge, the Gotham River or maybe the River Liberty Barbara could not tell the difference lazily flowed beneath it. A small screen on the dashboard was directing her away from the city, which was no bad thing right about now, her destination eluded her but if The Batman had switched the system on then it was somewhere he would be safe, atleast she hoped so.

“Harley?” The slumped figure of The Batman mumbled, his eyes opening momentarily catching and holding Barbara’s own green eyes. She let out a cry as a hand shot out and gripped her upper arm in a vice like grip “Harley?” he growled this time followed by a hiccup and a thin stream of vomit passed his lips, the grip loosened and Batman was still once more.

“I hope wherever we are going they can sort you out.” Barbara muttered to herself. The Batmobile left the bridge and the remnants of the city quickly fell behind them and tree’s young and ancient sprung up on either side of the road. Barbara tentatively nudged the pedal and the car lurched forward, her foot continued down and her back pressed against the seat as the car found more speed.

A few minutes later the dashboard began to beep, slow and languid followed by silence for a few seconds then the beep would sound again. Barbara counted the seconds in between. “Eighteen, nineteen, twenty…” The beep sounded and she began to recount this time only reaching eighteen, wherever they were going it was closing in fast. She reached over and shook the still figure next to her. There was no response, the beep sounded again this time a little louder. “Hey Batman, wake up.” She shook him harder this time, his head flopping about. The beep sounded and this time it continued. She shouted and shook the figure as the beeps began to merge into one continuous sound.

Barbara stopped her feeble attempt at waking up The Batman and found herself peering into the darkness beyond the windscreen hoping that a neon sign would light the way. “Turn left,” A groggy voice said almost making her jump. “Turn left, NOW” the shout gave her no time to think and she yanked the steering wheel left, her foot leaving the accelerator as the hulking machine turned. Her stomach flipped and beneath her gloves her knuckles had turned a stark white, the car shuddered to a halt facing down a hidden dirt track road. Barbara watched as Batman reached up and tried to press a glowing button on the dashboard, instinctively she pressed it for him, “Keep going,” he said and fell back into his chair, “Keep going Harley,”.
The tree’s closed in rapidly and Barbara slowed down to compensate, the headlights hardly illuminated enough of the dirt track and she found herself turning into bends at the very last moment. At last the road became straight and the trees began to thin out. A pebbled shore could be seen in the moonlight and a lake rose and lapped at the shore directly ahead. Barbara lifted her foot from the accelerator slowing the car down with no place left to ride, but as she did her mouth fell open as a row of lights began to light up just beneath the surface of the lake, “What in the world?” she muttered as a dark black rectangular hole suddenly appeared at the end of the lights.

With hesitation she accelerated once more, without meaning to she closed her eyes as the Batmobile plunged into the water, only it did not. There was a sickening lurch as the nose dipped forward, water could be heard sloshing underneath and then the tires were running on a heavy surface. Barbara opened her eyes and stared in awe as the Batmobile rumbled on across a platform that was hidden just below the water’s surface. The Dark hole loomed and the Batmobile lurched forward again, only this time it found a ramp and it rumbled down into a smooth walled and well lit tunnel, the only thing she could do now was follow it.
Boone Arboretum,
Harley had made a quick exit from the warehouse the moment she had received word from Ivy to return home. Harley had been scared by just how quickly the toxin had gone to town on Batman, she had expected a few hours in between to gather her own thoughts, but when he started to kiss her back, oh boy! Harley did not think she could be so aroused by someone other than Ivy or Joker. The feel of his tongue in her mouth, his hands gripping her firmly and the way he pushed his groin against her, he had wanted Harley Quinn so badly and beneath Harley’s white face paint she had blushed with the excitement of wanting Batman too.

Harley found Ivy languishing in a bed of leaves; it was a pleasing sight one that made her tingle all over, until she looked closer at her lover. Ivy’s hair was not its usual sexy tangled curls, it was simply a mess and one of her checks had a nasty scrap that looked a terrible mix of blood red and ugly bruise black. Her unitard too had not fared well that evening it was filthy and ripped. One pale breast spilled out of one tear.

Ivy smiled lazily when she saw Harley in the doorway “Oh you are in for a treat with The Batman my dear,”

“What do you mean?” Harley approached slowly, apprehensively, “Did he do this to you?”

“All this and so much more,” Her sex still buzzed with the excitement of her encounter with the lust crazed Batman. Ivy climbed from the bed and walked to Harley. She kissed her deep and probed her mouth with her tongue, hoping perhaps to get a taste of Batman again. Harley’s kiss was more hesitant and when Ivy began to unbutton her white blouse she took a step back. “When he is through with you, I doubt the Joker’s cock will ever be enough for you.”

Harley’s eyes went wide, “You had sex with Batman, why the hell did you not just film that instead of making me go to that damn warehouse and wait.” She swung an open palm at Ivy but Ivy caught it with ease placing it onto her exposed heavy green breast.

“Because I had no idea it was going to happen, it surprised me as much as it did him I think.” Ivy responded, “The drug works, he will be yours and then the footage will belong to the world and Batman will be nevermore.” She leaned in kissing Ivy deeply still aroused by her encounter and wanting nothing more than to let it continue. This time Harley let Ivy finish undoing her top, her see thru bra unclipped and was pulled off with ease. Ivy looked at her lover’s half naked body, the way her face paint finished on the oval of her face, the rest of her body unmarked by her psychotic mind. A freckle here and there just above her high delicate breasts that Ivy now took gentle hold of, feeling the warmth in her hands.

Ivy suddenly pushed Harley backwards who in turn stumbled then fell landing hard on her backside, she opened her mouth to complain but Ivy was already straddling her moving up her waist, past her exposed chest stopping with her sex resting beneath her chin. “I have something for you,” Ivy said huskily and ripped the crotch of her unitard apart. Harley watched as Ivy lifted herself up and caught the sight of her wet, swollen sex and the thin film of cum that was seeping from between her labia before Ivy lowered herself onto Harley’s waiting mouth.

Constance could not help but laugh and smile at the newsfeed, watching the human guinea pigs stumbling from the town hall, glass eyed and susceptible to the simplest suggestion. The toxin had worked well and all prospective buyers were now seeing it working on humans. Already he had received emails of congratulations and requests for further details and even simple straight out bids on an auction that had yet to begin. There was perhaps one sticking point with one or two of the bigger players, the question of a cure.

The cure was never going to be administered even if there was a viable one, so it would lose him perhaps one or two clients with a conscious it was something he could live with. No his bigger worry was the threat of The Batman, he had known Carlos was behind the attack and not Poison Ivy he would be coming for him now, he needed the good Professor Cannon at his side, a human shield to keep Batman at bay, atleast for a few days.
Carlos spared a glance as the door to Ivy’s private room opened and the half-dressed figure of Harley Quinn stepped out. He watched with mild interest as the woman slipped her blouse back on, jiggling her breasts in his direction before buttoning the top back up, somewhere under all that make up was an attractive woman, certainly her breasts were smaller than Carlos would normally go for, but there was certainly something about her that Carlos found interesting.

“I don’t get it?” Harley said. And Carlos grimaced at the nasal accent, his semi hard cock losing some of its interest in the woman.

Constance turned back to the television, “And what don’t you get?” he asked.

Harley pointed to the screen, “So their zombie’s, oh scary. Mister J has a dozen clowns that dress up and do a better impression than those guys.”

“They are not just zombie’s my dear,” Ivy replied as she sauntered in, her ripped and dirty unitard now replaced her hair though was still a frizzy mess and twin blooms of high colour were on her cheeks, “They are controllable zombie’s. Imagine a riot getting sprayed by Batch Thirty five, with one simple request ‘Return home’ the riot is quelled no one injured no one killed.”

Carlos smiled and gave a curt nod but then waved one raised finger back and forth “A possible noble cause for a tin pot dictator looking for abject control, but think bigger,” Constance goaded.

Poison Ivy planted a soft kiss on Harley’s cheek then walked over to Constance, “Polling station perhaps, a quick burst of Thirty Five and ‘vote for fellow X’,” Constance nodded then pointed up, “wholesale murder, a legion of followers willing to do your evil bidding ‘kill my competitor’,” Constance pointed up again, “Kill the president.”

At this Constance clapped, “Very good Ivy you know how to think big and with a cure the drug is eradicated and no trace left just the poor victims.”

“If the cure is administered in time that is,” Ivy said leaning in and glowering, “What happens if it is not?” Cannon had already spilled the beans during one of their sessions, the cure had been trialled and failed it would take time to find a viable one. Ivy had been played and would be left a scapegoat for the death of over twenty people including the police commissioner and the wife of Gotham’s Mayor.
“What does your government call it, ah yes, plausible deniability. With the host dead there would be lots of questions but no answers.” Batch #35 was the miracle toxin for the new age of terrorism and everyone was willing to buy. “But I assure you in four days’ time the cure will be administered and those in Gotham general will be back to normal.” Constance looked about the room, “Which leads me to my question, where is the good doctor?”

Ivy knew Constance was set to run, the little run in he had with Batman had scared him more than he was willing to let on. And if he had Klaus then Ivy was no longer needed, oh how she disliked being the scapegoat of weak men, “Somewhere safe.”

“His skill is needed in my laboratory if we are to get the cure manufactured on time,” He tried to sound calm but the fact was this woman was speaking down to him. She would learn soon that such insults were punishable. As she walked slowly round him he refused to turn to look at her.

“He can work on the cure here, under my watchful eye.” Ivy retorted, Constance opened his mouth to speak then froze as he felt a long tendril quickly wrap around his throat, a slight squeeze letting him know he was held fast, “You did not expect us to hand over our only leverage so easily did you Constance.” Constance snorted a laugh, “The doctor stays with me, run your tests, get your data and when it is time give the word, and the cure will be made.” She could see he was in a catch 22, admit there was no cure and be killed where he stood or play along and try and wriggle free, to be on the safe side Ivy had a backup plan.

Constance raised a hand to his throat and tried to squeeze a finger between his neck and the tendril with no luck, “Very well,” The tendril loosened slightly, “Klaus stays here, for now” A simple glance from Ivy and the tendril uncurled and slipped away with a rustle of leaves from up high, “You know where to find me.” Constance said rubbing at his neck with a silk handkerchief.

“Do we though?” Ivy said and tapped at her full lips with a one slender index finger, “I would feel better if you were not totally alone,” She walked back to Harley and rested one hand on her slender shoulder.

Constance uttered a bark of a laugh, “You cannot be serious! I am not having your psychotic girlfriend as my baby sitter.”

Harley nodded in agreement, “I am not wiping that Latino ass for nobody Ivy.” Constance gave her a vicious stare in return.

“Stay calm my dear,” she turned her attention back to Constance, “Consider it a trade for the time being, a show of good will between both parties. You have come with no bodyguards Carlos if The Batman comes for you having Harley close by will have its own wonderful results.” She gave Harley a wink and smiled as she saw the surprised look on the young woman’s face turn to understanding.

Constance waved dismissively with one hand, “fine so be it.”
The Bat Cave,
Alfred had known something was wrong when the batmobile had been called. Within the Bat cave a small alarm had sounded that brought Alfred running. He had waited patiently and also a little worried as his attempt to contact Master Bruce in the batmobile had proven fruitless, whoever was driving was not Batman worse still they were heading this way. The only thing that had allayed his fear was that the guidance system had been triggered something that only Batman and Alfred could do. Had it been anyone of a nefarious persuasion driving, then the GPS would have helped them take an alarming swim in the Atlantic.

Still when the Batmobile arrived into the cave he remained in the shadows as was protocol, the smith and Wesson at his side was loaded and the self-destruct sequence was only a voice command away if needs be. The canopy to the car opened and a slim figure clambered out, Alfred went to step forward, the cape and cowl instinctively making him think of Bruce but he stopped himself as he caught sight of the red hair the billowed out from the back.

Barbara raced round to the passenger side, “Help,” she called out as she climbed up and reached into the canopy. Batman’s weight was too much for Barbara all on her own, “Please help, something’s wrong with him.” She looked about the cave, she could see metal structures standing erect on platforms, bridges interlocking different levels but all of it in the dark, if Batman really did now work on his own they were screwed. Yet she saw movement near the closest structure, “Please, help me.” Barbara pleaded.

Alfred could see the girl struggling, her pleas pulled at his heart and he struggled to remain still as his internal conflict waged on. When she finally looked his way and pleaded it was more than he could take, he slipped the gun into his jacket pocket and strode forward, “Activate.” He commanded.

Barbara was blinded by the sudden light that erupted around her, she stumbled back from the car hands going up to her eyes as the cave illuminated. “Where is he?” A man had appeared striding across a bridge that connected the two platforms, her mind raced as the man walked past, he looked familiar but how? “What happened?” he asked as he struggled to pull Batman free.

Barbara joined him, shouldering past him to reach in and grab Batman’s belt heaving him up. “Ivy did something at the town hall, people are frozen.” They lifted Batman bodily from the vehicle, “I got to the roof and Harley Quinn and he were, well kissing.” The man lost his grip as his head whipped round in surprise. “I know crazy, but that’s not the worst part.”

She recounted the rest of her story as they carried Batman to a small medical area. Barbara had told how she had given chase first to Harley Quinn then after Batman when she realised something was wrong with him. When it got to the part where she finally found Batman, she felt her cheeks redden as she told the man what exactly he and Poison Ivy were up to. “Impossible!” the man uttered once.

Barbara felt wounded at that simple throw away response, it made her feel like a child again. “I know what I saw.” She responded firmly.

Their eyes locked as Alfred searched her face, “I believe you. God knows I should not but I do.” They laid Batman down on small metal bed and quickly he removed Batman’s gloves finding a vein and quickly inserting a drip. The mask was caked in blood, a dent ran along one side of the mask, it had been hit and hit hard. The size of the wound beneath though could not be guessed at yet Alfred hesitated at removing the mask in the presence of the stranger even though he knew her to be Batgirl.

“He keeps saying Harley’s name too, over and over.” Barbara added, as she took a step back from the bed, letting the man do his job. The man she had finally realised was Alfred Pennyworth the Butler to the Wayne family. She had visited Wayne Manor as a child with her father a few times, he had aged but his eye’s still glinted as they did when she was ten years old and she knew his effortless smile would make her own smile shine just as it did back then.

“Concussion maybe, but that would not explain his other behaviour,” Alfred responded and finally decided that he had wasted enough time. Barbara knew who would be visible when the mask came away but it was still a shock when the blooded face of Bruce Wayne finally appeared. “Pass me the suture set please,” Alfred asked as he began to clean the wound, some small relief filling him at the effectiveness of the graphite and Kevlar lined mask at sustaining most of the damage. He stood straight as the girl failed to move, “Please, that small tray just there bring it here.” She nodded and came to life getting the tray and walking it slowly over Alfred offered her a smile in gratitude as he began to thread a needle.

It was a long hour before Bruce woke up, within that time Alfred and Batgirl had hardly spoken, his attempt at getting her to remove her own mask had ended in failure and her own questions on Bruce Wayne and Batman were met with tight short answers or no answers at all, both parties finally falling silent when Alfred offered to make them tea. They both drank in silence until from the bed they heard a groan followed by “Harley? Harley?” They both moved quickly to his side, Barbara looking at Alfred as if to say ‘see, told you so.’

“Master Bruce, it’s me Alfred you are home now.” Alfred said checking the small box that offered real time heart monitor and blood pressure readout’s. Bruce’s eyes fluttered open then closed again, the question came again. “No sir it’s Alfred, you are home.”

“Alfred?” Bruce mumbled, he tried to sit up but his body ached from hairline to toenail and exhaustion flooded every muscle, “my head?”

“A nasty bump and cut sir, already sutured up, the graphite and Kevlar in the cowl took most of the trauma though.”

Bruce shook his head, “No Alfred, inside my head feels like it is on fire.” Alfred looked up worryingly at Batgirl. “Something’s not right Harley, they did something to me.” The name slip had both of them worried now. “I need to sit up.” Bruce did not wait for any response but began a very hard struggle to get up in the end Alfred helping out as did Batgirl. Bruce smiled at seeing her masked face. “I guess my secret is out.”

“Well sir you are the one who keeps bringing girls here not me.” The levity broke the feeling of dread that hung over them. “Unfortunately Miss Batgirl here is not so forthcoming with her own identity.”

Bruce nodded and winced, his head buzzed and his brain itched a name floated constantly to the surface refusing to go, what was worse the name was making him tense and aroused. He bit his tongue, the pain offering respite. “You are among friends here, why don’t you take the mask off Barbara.”

Barbara gasped and took a step back, “how did you…” the words trailed off as she came to terms with the idea that someone had figured her out. Finally she nodded and worked her own mask loose, she sighed with relief as the itchy material came away from her skin and she rubbed at her face.

Alfred gave a good natured laugh, “Well I never, Barbara Gordon.”

“When did you figure it out?” She asked of Bruce.

“Only tonight, it was your belief and Batgirl’s belief that Bruce Wayne was the kingpin of the Gotham Underworld that finally gave it away, that and the red hair Harley.” Bruce caught himself and looked at Alfred, “That’s a little concerning Alfred,” Bruce had to think of Alfred’s name before saying it, every inch of his being wanted to scream Harley Quinn.

Alfred nodded in agreement, “I took the liberty of drawing some blood samples and the system is running a toxin screening as we speak.”

“You don’t seem as bad as you did before,” Barbara added.

“Apparently so, I have more control of myself, though she is in my head still. Before, it was like being under hypnosis but being fully aware of your actions, all I wanted was her, it was…overwhelming. You need to know it was not me attacking you.” Bruce could remember it all it was a bad dream that refused to drift away as one fully woke up. The kiss had started it and had Barbara not turned up he knew that he would have gone further with Harley Quinn that was the reason he had given chase. Poison Ivy was collateral damage of sorts. She had given him something that, at that moment, he had an overwhelming need for. Never again he promised himself, but how he longed for Harley Quinn even now scared him.

“So what do we do now?” Barbara asked.

The answer was simple, tell her everything.

Bruce and Alfred started with the attack on the Axis Chemical plant, followed by the visit to Porto Areta and Bruce’s run in with Carlos Cesar Constance. Alfred walked Barbara through the trace sample Batman had collected at the museum and how it had led them finally to the old offices of Doctor Woodrue and how the evidence there had led Alfred to the startling realisation of the attack.

“But what is Batch Thirty five, that’s the one thing you are not telling me, why?” Both men failed to answer, “My dad is part of this now, he was there, whatever this is, is in his system affecting him, I need to know.”

Bruce nodded to Alfred, “If you would like to take a seat here Miss Gordon I will bring the files up.” While Barbara read Bruce found his feet and cautiously made his way around the cave to another terminal. He sat down heavily and switched a monitor on moments later the Gotham News channels live feed filled the screen. Alfred joined him sparing a glance at Barbara Gordon as the misery of what Batch #35 was appeared on her screen. He placed a bone china cup next to Bruce Wayne, “Reports are saying that twenty five people have been affected, the good news is the mayor seems to have followed your request and has had them moved to Gotham General under tight security.”

Bruce watched an early recorded video, it was slightly blurry and moved constantly, clearly taken on a camera phone, but it was clear enough to see well-dressed guests walking like zombies to the waiting ambulances. He hit pause, though the image was poor he could make out Selina Kyle still. “I told her to run Alfred, why did she go back?”

“You always said that she had more good in her than bad sir, perhaps this proves it somewhat.”

The sob from behind them made them turn, Bruce wanted to join her, he knew what the toxin was capable of and one person he cared deeply for was now in the same position as Barbara’s father. “We have four days to find Klaus Cannon and the cure. Then we go after the rest of them.” Bruce said firmly.
Rosa’s Apartment,
Alberto Falcone watched with mild amusement as two of his father’s men tore the tiny apartment apart. Carmine Falcone was outside in his town car unwilling to get his hands dirty with the hunt for Harvey Bullock. “There’s nothing here,” one of the thugs, big, with a nasty scar running almost right round his thick bald skull said as he dumped a dirty old coffee table on its head.

“Well try looking instead of tearing the place up.” Alberto responded, he was a small man frail and thin at the best of times but next to these two brutes he was almost microscopic. The bald thug flipped Alberto the finger and marched out of the apartment, the other thug followed close behind. Alberto shook his head, he was the son of Carmine Falcone, the biggest meanest crime boss in Gotham yet that got him zero respect, so much so that thugs could flip him the finger and not worry about finding that finger cut off and shoved up their asses by Carmine.

Alberto sighed and gently closed the door to the apartment with the heel of one expensive Italian shoed foot. It had been a mess before they arrived, it was even more of a mess now but he still went about his business. Harvey was a big man so Alberto started in the kitchen, what food was left in the refrigerator was going off and he quickly closed it holding a silk handkerchief to his nose to try and block out the smell. He noticed the plates in the sink, two of them he ran his finger across one and felt the thick congealed grease. He quickly wiped the grease from his thin finger with the handkerchief. There was a scratched glass, empty glass close by which he picked up noticing a brown dry mess at the bottom and sniffed, the smell of Whiskey lingered.

The bedroom drawers had been tossed out and Alberto kicked weakly at what little underwear and female garments lay on the floor. He knelt down and even though he was alone he looked about guiltily as he reached down and picked up a skimpy pair of panties, hot pink in colour and shoved them into his coat pocket. As he stood back up he caught sight of a pair of men’s underwear and a vest, both large in size and in need of a desperate clean.

Back in the living room he could hear voices and heavy footsteps approaching. He walked over to the only half descent piece of furniture in the apartment an old French dresser on top of which sat a nifty digital phone, clearly stolen judging by the rest of the place he was surprised to see that it was still connected to a working phone line.
Carmine Falcone barged into the apartment just as Alberto, smiling to himself placed the receiver back onto its charging base. “That little street punk lied to us,” Carmine Fumed as he looked about the apartment at nothing in particular, “Go find him and make sure he loses an eyeball.”

“He didn’t lie to us dad, Bullocks gone is all.” Alberto said stepping over broken picture frames and cheap trinkets. “He was here alright.”

Carmine stared at his two thugs, who shrugged with surprise, “You told me there was no trace of him.”

“Two plates in the sink, greasy food residue on them, and a glass that stinks like whiskey” Alberto counted off on his fingers as he spoke, “Men’s underwear in the bedroom, large I might add. And lastly,” he motioned to the phone behind him, “Last call was to the train station, no idea where to but someone got on a train.”

“Fuck!” Carmine spat and kicked out at an overturned chair sending it tumbling across the room, “that cocksucker has left town.”

The bald thug spoke up trying to get back on his boss’s good side, “We’ll go down to the station, find out where he’s going.”

Carmine looked at the thug and laughed in his face then turned to his son, “See what I got to work with here, tweedle dum and tweedle dee.”

Alberto smiled at the thugs, enjoying the way they squirmed under the gaze of their boss. Something that Alberto would be one day, “It was Harvey’s girl who got on the train, he’s keeping her out of harm’s way. That means he is staying in town, unfinished business perhaps.” Alberto did not want to give his dad the chance to issue new orders, “Leave it to me dad, I’ll find him and bring him in dead or alive.”

Carmine looked at him with surprise, his Romanesque nose flaring as if he had smelt something peculiar. He started to shake his head then stopped, “Okay, sure. You two wise guys are back to shaking down small time hoodlums, as for you.” Carmine took hold of his son by the shoulders trying not to wince at the feel of the frail body beneath, the boy took after his mother in nearly every way which was such a pity, “Find Harvey, kill Harvey and bring me his fucking head in a box.” The great thing with the plan Carmine thought was that if Alberto got killed it was no great lose.
The Bat Cave,
The mood in the Bat cave had turned sombre, the blood tests had come back negative any toxin that may have been used on Bruce had, it seemed, dissipated or worse still currently untraceable. His brain he told Alfred and Barbara still itched and it took a huge amount of will power to stop saying Harley’s name. He made a mental note never to tell them that he felt in a constant state of arousal and all for Harley Quinn.

“Sir if I could suggest perhaps using the CAT scan to perhaps see if there is anything that may have been altered.” Alfred said, part of him wondering if perhaps some version batch #35 was somehow in Bruce Wayne’s system and even now working its vile magic on his brain.

Bruce nodded in agreement and Barbara yawned. Bruce checked the time it was almost dawn and she had not once rushed to see her father. “I think it’s time you took a break from all this,” he said and she shook her head, “It’s not a request Barbara you need to sleep and you need to see your dad.”

“I’m no good to him right now, we need to figure out where that doctor is holed up and get him working on a cure.”
“You are no good to us burnt out and worried either.” Bruce replied quickly back, “Go see him then get some sleep if you can.” Reluctantly Barbara nodded in agreement, “Though I think a change of clothes would be a good idea.” Barbara’s brow furrowed then looked down suddenly aware that apart from her mask she still wore her Batgirl outfit. “Alfred, I’ll get the Scanner warmed up can you show Miss Gordon upstairs, check Dick’s room as well, there may be something she can wear.”

Alfred had managed to find a rather dour grey looking tracksuit that was perhaps a size too big for Barbara Gordon but she accepted it gracefully enough. With her Batgirl outfit placed inside an old duffel bag she walked with Alfred to the large wide double doors that provided the grandest entrance and exit to Wayne Manor. “If you like Miss Gordon I could drive you to Gotham General,” Alfred offered.

“Thank you Alfred, but I think the press would have a field day if I step out of Bruce Wayne’s chauffer driven limousine.” The taxi she had ordered pulled up, she waved at the driver who responded with a loud early morning twin honk of his horn, she began to walk down the stone steps then stopped, “What if there was no drug?” she asked and Alfred looked at her quizzically, “What if the blood test and the CAT scan comes back negative because there was no toxin? What if what happened last night was…human nature?”

Alfred straightened up as he responded, “I have known Bruce Wayne his entire life, what happened last night was not Bruce Wayne,” he took two steps down to join Barbara Gordon, “Everything you see in the magazines and read in the Newspapers of the cocky Billionaire Playboy is an act, what he does every night on those streets, that’s the real Bruce Wayne. Do you know how many of those women he is photographed with get to see the inside of Wayne Manor?” Barbara shook her head, Alfred held up one hand fingers spread wide then closed them into a fist, “Not one of them, they are just happy to have a picture and be in the limelight for fifteen minutes. If you ask me if I think what happened was nothing more than hormones and wish fulfilment then the answer is no.” Alfred hoped that he sounded more certain of this fact than how he actually felt.
Gotham General
She hesitated at the revolving doors to Gotham General the news crews out front paid no attention to her, she looked like hell so to the reporters she was probably some over worked nurse not worthy of their attention. Her hesitation came from not wanting to see her dad the way she had seen him last night, but what choice did she have. Jim Gordon had kept her away from seeing her mom during her last week alive in the hopes of saving her from some pain. Little did he know that he had caused far worse pain, “suck it up Barb’” She muttered to herself and with a deep breath walked through the revolving doors.
Barbara had trouble the moment she entered the secure ward, she found herself surrounded by police all demanding ID, she fumbled in the duffel bag, aware that at any moment her Batgirl suit could drop out leaving her with even more explaining to do. “Miss you will have to leave,” She felt a heavy hand on her shoulder.

“Just wait will you I have my driver’s license here somewhere,” she responded, looking up at the police officer who seeing the look in her eyes took his hand off her immediately, “just give me a minute will you,” she said in the calmest tone she had.

“It’s okay officer I can vouch for Miss Gordon,” Sebastian Garcia looked half the man he was the night before, he still wore his tuxedo but it was now wrinkled and shabby, his coffered hair was in disarray from constantly running his hands through it and no doubt pulling at it in despair. “I sent officers to your apartment but you weren’t there.”

“I was at a friend’s, we left the party early,” she replied as the Mayor walked her down the corridor. The police presence tailed off the further in they went, no doubt the nurses and doctors had given them enough dirty looks to make them aware they were encroaching on their territory. The stopped near a set of double doors, two officers with snub nosed MP5s and body armour stood watch, “I have to warn you, I am not sure what you’ve seen or heard but…well…” Sebastian faltered what else could he say? Even he was not too sure on what was happening. He pushed one door open and led Barbara in.

A glass partition separated them from the patients on the other side, on their side of the glass husbands and wives milled about as doctors asked medical history questions while others looked on weeping quietly. The other side of the glass was surreal to Barbara, many of the patients were standing, doctors and nurses busying around them, she watched as an elderly man was jabbed with a needle, not flinching once. She read the nurses lips as she thanked the man and told him to lie down, without hesitation the action was done and a doctor made a quick note of it. “Whatever you ask them to do they do, but ask them a question, their name, age, you get nothing no response,” Sebastian said his eyes on his wife who lay on her back looking up at the ceiling unblinking. “It’s like they are not there.”

The woman that had arrived at the party with Bruce Wayne, Samantha Kinkalow stood facing one wall, the rear of her gown loose and her backside exposed, she frowned at seeing her in such a state surrounded by so many men yet not one of them looked her way, they stared ahead unblinking.

Barbara found her father next, his hair still neat and trim, but his dinner suit was gone replaced with an unsightly hospital gown, a nurse was speaking to him and he was responding with motions, a hand went up then down, he lifted one leg, lowered it then began hopping on the other. The nurse smirked and the Doctor covered his mouth to laugh, another doctor called over to them and they both stopped their little game. A tear rolled down Barbara’s cheek, “Why would someone do this?” She asked out loud.

“Who knows but we have men on the ground searching for whoever did this,” Sebastian said, he had already been given a name one that had shocked him to hear, though that name had yet to make it to the Gotham Police. Barbara had no reason to keep questioning the Mayor, she knew that he had Carlos’ name he had probably spent most of the night refusing to give the name away to reporters and the confidentiality had stuck inside the corridors of the hospital in case anyone was to hear. “We will find out how to cure whatever this is I assure Barbara. I need to head home sort stuff out do you need a lift?”

Barbara shook her head, “I think I might stay awhile longer.”

“I understand, but if you need anything call my office and they will put you right through to me.” Sebastian said and got a single nod in response he spared one more look at his wife then headed off the ward.
Gotham General, lower parking lot
Sebastian Garcia stepped out of the lift on the lower floor; his limousine was parked up near the mortuary entrance and out of sight of any prying reporter. He climbed in and told his driver to head home, as it pulled away Sebastian buried his head into his hands once more, he had no more tears to cry all the anger he was feeling had overpowered all his other emotions.

The Garcia’s had not taken up the offer of the Mayor’s mansion on the outskirts of the city instead Sebastian had opted for the biggest Apartment they could find. He had said in an interview how could he be the Mayor of Gotham City if he did not live within its beating heart, the voters had lapped it up, he was one of them, they simply ignored the fact that many of them lived in squalor while he lived the life of luxury.

His limousine pulled into the underground garage, no surprise that it took a little longer as usual as the private security guard tried his best to clear a path through the throng of reporters who had set up shop outside the private apartments. In the lobby Sebastian found his personal assistant waiting for him arms laden with paperwork and a laptop tucked under one arm, “Carl take the day off all that crap can wait until tomorrow,” Sebastian waved off his assistant as he headed towards the penthouse lift.

The lift sped upwards directly to the penthouse, the doors slid open and the sound of opera music filled the great expanse of the Apartment. Sebastian walked through the rooms, eyes roaming this way and that, finally landing on the only other current occupant of the apartment.

Carlos Cesar Constance sat in the main living room a cup of coffee in one hand his other hand swaying to and fro with the music, “Mayor Garcia come join me for a cup of coffee,”

Sebastian stormed forward and grabbed Constance by the lapels of his dark suit pulling him viciously from his chair the coffee cup flying from his grasp and shattering as it landed on the marble floor. “You son of a bitch what have you done to my wife?” he screamed into his Constance’s face.

His anger flushed from him as he felt the cool, sharp blade of a knife slide effortlessly across his throat, a slender female hand held the letter opener against his Adam’s apple. “That’s not how we treat voters Mister Mayor,” Harley Quinn said softly into his ear.

“I warned you to keep your wife next to you,” Constance reached up and grabbed Sebastian’s wrist twisting them forcefully and making him relinquish his grip, “Remember? I said anyone close to you will be safe, you did not heed my warning.”

Harley lowered the blade and stepped backwards patting the Mayor of Gotham city on his backside. Sebastian rubbed at his wrists, “Get the cure and administer it, the trial is over.”

“That is not going to happen Sebastian so do not ask it again. Four more days and your lovely wife will be returned to you as if nothing had happened.” Constance spoke in soft tones it would be no good to get the Mayor worked up if he knew that in four days’ time his wife was more than likely going to be going through considerable pain as her brain swelled up.

Sebastian turned and kicked at the low coffee table and let out a scream. Harley moved in again but Constance shook his head holding her advancement, “This deal is going from bad to worse. Do you know that Batman is on to you?”

Carlos dismissed him with a wave of one hand, “The Batman yes, yes I know. We had a small talk on the roof last night. Had your Police service done their job properly and followed through with the warrant then Batman would not be here,” he walked over to the small table that held a silver cafetiere and cups and poured two cups of coffee, “Once again something that is your own fault and not mine.” He walked over to Sebastian with the two cups and was quietly surprised when the Mayor took one from him. “Let me show you something.”

Carlos motioned for the Mayor to sit down as he opened up his laptop, “Here look at this,” he said and spun the laptop around for Sebastian to see, “The medical reports, as you can see perfectly normal.”

Sebastian moved uncomfortably as Harley Quinn sat next to him and slid up, pushing her fish net legs up against him, he tried to take his attention of her, what he saw on the laptop screen did just that. He stared in amazement at the medical report for his wife, “How did you get this?”

Carlos took the laptop and spun it back round opening up another window as he did so, “This is a drug test Sebastian all prospective buyers require paper trails of results. Back in the day Axis just had to produce a drug and some tin pot ruler would purchase it with no qualms. Nowadays, bah,” he waved a dismissive hand in the air at the current state of affairs, “They want medical reports, declarations of this, that and the other as if they were legitimate businesses.” He fell silent as he opened up one private email he smiled at the Mayor of Gotham City and spun the laptop round.

Sebastian saw the email it was short and to the point, what made him catch his breath was the sum of money mentioned. “Is that fifty million dollars?” he asked his throat suddenly dry.

Carlos nodded a smiled like a predator, “fifty million dollars, and that’s just an opening offer wait until the end of the experiment you can easily double that,” he could see the Mayor working it out in his head, “your ten percent cut of that figure there would be five million dollars.”

Sebastian’s head was spinning, the man opposite him was mad but so was the money he was offering him on top of what he and Axis had already paid. “Four days?” he asked in a whisper and Constance sat back and smiled.
Gordon Family residence,
Barbara awoke from an uncomfortable sleep, she had dreamed of her father being cut open like the dogs in the Batch #35 reports, his brain swollen and visible through a shattered skull only he was still alive and crying out for Barbara to save him. The sound of a bone saw that she woke up to turned out to be her mobile phone. Her fingers danced across her bedside and found the cool moulded plastic casing, no number appeared on the screen and for some reason it did not switch to her answer service. She hit the green button and held it to her ear, “Hello?”

“It’s me, no names,” Bruce said quickly. “This is a secure line, about as secure as it gets but it is best not to take any chances. Did you see your dad?”

“Yes I stayed about an hour or so but I was almost asleep on my feet a nurse offered me a cot but I sleep better at home, wish I hadn’t.” She rubbed at her eyes, feeling the grit in the corners.

“Nightmares I bet,” Bruce did not need a verbal answer the silence said it all. “Go see him again tonight before you come here, I think Axis is still in town and if they are they will have a man on the ground at the hospital. Look for anyone or anything unusual then get back here and we will take it from there.”

The line went dead and Barbara lowered the phone, “goodbye to you too.” It was on leaving her bedroom that she realised she had not gone to her own apartment but to her family home and had slept in what was once her mom and dad’s bed but was now only her dad’s. She showered quickly at first but as the water encased her she felt her muscles sag and turned the heat up a little higher, she had not bathed or showered in over twenty four hours, as she washed she counted her new bruises and found a new muscle that ached a new and in the shower she could cry.
At the hospital she had no trouble getting onto the ward, her ID opened doors immediately and she walked briskly to the glass partition. The lights inside had been dimmed and all the patients were lying down, “They had to say ‘eat’ to get them to eat something?” an elderly woman said next to Barbara, a sad smile on her face and red eyes, “Only trouble was none of them stopped,” she motioned to one of the patients close by his hand was bandaged up, “He got through two fingers before one of the nurses saw him.” At that the woman began crying.

Barbara looked for her father suddenly fearful, relief filled her as she found him towards the back. A nurse took his temperature then noted it on a chart before moving on to the next bed. The way they all lay was almost too calming an effect it was if they were all simply asleep and not suffering from any kind of drug, she looked about and could see faces she had seen that morning now more tired and drawn but looking upon their love ones with a sense of well-being. If only they knew what they may be witnessing in two days’ time then perhaps they would look as fearful as Barbara did.

Barbara watched as another nurse entered the ward, hair black hair pulled back in a severe bun and sporting a tan from a recent holiday it seemed. She motioned a quick hello to the other nurse who waved back slowly and with a look of puzzlement on her face. The second nurse now worked down the opposite side of the beds. Barbara watched her take one chart and hold a hand a few inches above it then replace it, she did this on a further two charts before the first nurse approached her. Even with the glass partition Barbara could tell that a heated debate was taking place, the second nurse held up her hands to calm the first nurse and Barbara caught sight of a slim black box affixed to her palm.

Barbara turned to call out to the two police guards but the words stuck in her throat, she turned back just as nurse two started to back out of the ward. Barbara started to walk round to the door, keeping an eye on the nurse. She turned the corner as the nurse stepped out, “Sorry I guess I got the wrong ward,” she said politely in accented voice and a cheerful smile on her lips, when the first nurse had turned back the smile dropped quickly, muttered a curse to herself and bit her lip in consternation.

“Hey, excuse me?” Barbara called out and began to approach the nurse, the nurse looked over the smile returning briefly then faltered the moment before she ran.

Barbara gave chase instantly, the nurse had started to stretch ahead as she headed down the empty corridor, she burst through a set of double doors into a busy ward and Barbara heard two men shout out stop just as she followed through. Barbara stopped turning with speed to a dazed looking police man, “The nurse, she’s not a nurse you have to stop her.” Before the officers could respond Barbara gave chase again. Outside the secure ward the corridors were crowded which slowed the faux nurse down as she stumbled and pushed past the infirm and well without consideration.

Barbara gained momentum jumping over spilled trollies that the faux nurse had dumped in an effort to slow down her pursuer, Barbara heard the nurse scream out in anger as a lift closed just as she reached it. She turned and ran towards a fire exit door shouldering it open and setting off an alarm as she rushed through. Barbara only seconds behind her crashed into the door then felt the heavy weight of someone tackle her at the waist, dropping her to the ground and holding her down. “Police hold it right there,”

“Damn it you moron you got the wrong person.” She cried out.

The policeman chuckled, “That’s what they all say lady.”
Gotham General,
“Who was it?” Bruce asked over the phone. The tackling police man had offered his apologies again and again to Barbara when they had checked her driving licence and discovered just who they had attempted to arrest. Barbara had given them the description of the faux nurse, checks were quickly run, the photo fit image shown to the on duty nurse for the ward who told them what they were already suspecting. The nurse did not exist anywhere in the hospitals register.

“Could have been a reporter, it looked a little bit like a camera in her hand, or…” She opened her car door and slammed it shut a little harder than usual still pissed at being taken down, “Or it’s someone working for Constance.”

“I would go for the second one he’s still in town and gathering notes on his little experiment.” The line went quiet for a moment then, “Get over here we need to discuss this further.”
The Bat Cave,
The amount of technology on display in such a strange environment as the cave system beneath Wayne Manor still made Barbara’s mouth hang open in awe as the lift door opened up. She know knew what Bruce Wayne and Wayne Enterprises had been hiding for so long and she wondered just how many people truly knew that Bruce Wayne and Batman were one in the same. Alfred led the way across platforms that held work stations and machinery that were clearly state of the art if not perhaps prototypes ahead of their time. They passed close to one platform and Barbara muttered a “Wow!” at the sight of the agile Bat wing, up close it was more menacing than she could have imagined possible.

Alfred caught the look on her face, “Off shore accounts and dummy corporations own most of what you are seeing here Miss Gordon. The shipping and paperwork was a little tricky to start off with but I managed to get the hang of it in the end.”

“This was why paperwork was so scarce in the books at work, Wayne enterprises board have no idea do they?” Alfred winked in response, “Your Tax evasion must make the Falcone’s look like small time crooks.” She responded and Alfred smiled proudly back.

Bruce was stood at a small work bench a pair of welding googles covered his eyes as he worked on a small grey coloured box, he looked up as he heard them approach from behind and pulled the googles up onto his forehead. “Giving chase was a reckless mistake,” He said straight out catching Barbara and even Alfred unawares. “Follow and observe should always be key, had you done that we may very well have Constance’s location by now.”

“Now hang on, I am not some hot-headed teenager, that woman was up to no good and I gave chase, If I had gotten her we would have been able to get a ton of information out of her.” Barbara hit back.

“No, the police would have her and she would have called a lawyer and been back on the streets with zero information gleaned. Barbara Gordon was giving chase not Batgirl,” Bruce turned back to the work table and pushed the grey box aside, “I told you before this is not a game, the stakes are higher now than they were, you need to control yourself.” He was having a go at her for a mistake that even Dick Grayson would have made, he was venting for no other reason than he felt helpless in saving Selina Kyle his emotions were getting the better of him.

Barbara pointed viciously at Bruce as she spoke, “My Dad’s life is hanging in the balance, trust me I know this is not a game, but if you are not going to do anything but hide in here then I will go out there and do something.”

Bruce turned, “I am not hiding, I am…” he faltered.

“You cannot shake it can you, whatever Harley did to you, it’s still working away.” Bruce nodded, “What did the CAT scan show?” Barbara asked.

“Some mild swelling in the insula and striatum, though that could be from the blow to the head, certainly not batch thirty five, thank heavens. Ivy may have found something new for her bag of tricks.” Alfred responded this time, “We need to tip their hand and soon, whatever is going on we need answers and Klaus Cannon may be the only one willing to give them to us.”

“There are two of us now Bruce, we can do this,” Barbara said encouragingly.

Bruce’s brow furrowed and he pulled the goggles from his head leaving a deep red phantom outline across the skin. “Tag team? You take one I take the other.”

Barbara shrugged, “Something like that, I take two you take one.” Bruce started to shake his head, “Cannon is going to be with either Constance or Ivy and wherever Ivy is, Harley will be close by, I can handle them.”

“You go after both targets together at the same time, then the chance of the other finding out is minimal,” Alfred seemed impressed, “It may work and it keeps you out of Harley’s reach.”

“Barbara you are not ready to face Poison Ivy, she is more calculating and a lot clearer headed than Harley.” The plan could work but Bruce was concerned for Barbara, already Ivy and Constance had unwittingly hit Bruce where it hurt with Selina, if he were to loose Barbara too…

Barbara held up three fingers, “Three days Bruce, that’s all we have left. You know as well as I do Constance is not going to appear with a miracle cure there is nothing in it for him.”

“If we do this, it is my way do you understand.” Bruce said and motioned to Alfred who quickly walked off. Barbara could not help but smile grimly. “We need to work out their locations and fast.”

Alfred had started to work on the main computer he was quickly pulling up the evidence already gathered from the museum as well as Woodrue’s offices. A map sprung up on the main screen and both sites were circled along with the town hall, “this is the flight path of the helicopter that Constance was on,” Alfred said and a narrow blue line crossed the map, looped the town hall and headed back in roughly the same direction. “This is the path that Harley Quinn took,” Bruce shifted on his feet and muttered the name under his breath. “But Miss Gordon here gave up the chase a couple of blocks in so her final destination is not really known.”

Bruce looked at Harley’s path, the urge to suddenly run and head in that direction pulled at him, “That’s the warehouse district, only a few empty units though, that’s your target Barbara.”

She nodded grimly, she would have to go from building to building and that would take time. Now all they had to do was find Carlos Cesar Constance. Barbara looked at what they had “I know it is obvious but that helicopter’s path crosses Gotham airport a few miles later,” she watched Alfred start to type and felt out of control. She rested a hand on his shoulder, “May I?” She asked and Alfred moved aside.

Barbara sat down and looked at the surrounding screens of the super computer, “Your system is out of date,” she said as she began to type, she smiled to herself as she felt the two men behind her stiffen up at the accusation. “Don’t worry I am working on a new one for the library and all local utility companies and schools, lets them access information fast and cross reference it even quicker.” A blue screen popped up on a lower monitor and in seconds Barbara had figured out how to move the program to the main screen, Bruce gave a low whistle. “I call it Oracle.”

Bruce leaned over her, “I take it I have you to thank for shutting my feed to the Police Departments central computer.”

Barbara nodded then apologised, “That system was the first one I piggybacked onto Oracle, only way I could do it was by changing the server routers anything that was yours was lost in my clear out.” A monitor to their right brought up the main system for the airport and Barbara began to run through it, “Nothing direct to Porto Areta no surprise there, we have one personal jet from Metropolis and one from Northern mechanics and Technologies and one more from a company called Tri-Axant, that has been here for a few days now,” She turned to Bruce, “Where’s the Wayne Lear Jet?”

Bruce smiled, “In the shop being repaired.”

“Tri-Axant is a plastics company, dealing mainly in heavy containment systems,” Alfred said reading the information off one screen.

Bruce looked about him he was stunned by the system at work. The history of each jet and its owners filled the screens. The system was grabbing data from everywhere the pilot’s names had now started to fill another screen along with their history. “Oracle brought up all this data from what was on that screen without you asking?” Barbara nodded.

“There you are,” Alfred exclaimed, “Tri-Axant was part of a merger with a French company four years ago that dealt in polyethylene terephthalate, a company that has shares owned by Axis Chemical.”

Barbara stabbed at her keyboard, “hanger three Gotham Airport.”

Bruce strode off towards a bay of thick heavy looking boxes as he approached a single light source high above them flicked on and scanned his body. A deep rumble followed and Barbara stopped working to watch. The heavy boxes separated and turned outwards revealing three bat suits, each contained within a heavy clear container. Bruce approached the one on the left and the partition opened silently.

While Bruce was doing this Alfred had gotten up and had gone to the work bench and collected the small grey box, he approached Bruce now who was partly suited up. Alfred peeled back the collar on the bat suit and inserted the box between Bruce’s neck and the suit itself. “What’s that for?” Barbara asked intrigued.

“If I lose control,” Bruce said and continued to suit up the cowl coming down over his face, Barbara watched as Bruce’s demeanour changed and when he spoke next his voice was deep and gravelly, bringing her skin out in goose bumps. “Alfred can hit a switch and a strong electric current will immobilise me.”

“Fair enough,” Barbara responded and grabbed her duffel bag from the floor, “Anywhere for me to change?” she asked.

Alfred took her to a quiet corner and left her to change. Her suit was becoming tattered, she had yet repair the damage from the museum fight and had gained even more rips and dents at the town hall, she spared a look at Batman and felt embarrassed with how she looked next to him. “Oh shit!” she exclaimed as moved her hand about the empty duffel bag, her mask was nowhere to be found. She stepped out and called to Alfred and Batman, “I have a problem, my mask it’s gone.”

Alfred smiled, “You left it here yesterday, I took the liberty in upgrading you though,” he looked her up and down, “When the chance arises I’ll need your measurements for a suit too.” He went back to the work station and walked over a mask not dissimilar to Batman’s. “It should fit perfectly. We build them here and order the parts in from ten different businesses to hide our trail.” Barbara took hold of the mask it hardly weighed anything yet looked tough enough to stop a bullet, “You have a radio transmitter built in so you will have constant contact between myself and Batman, I didn’t have time to wire in night vision yet, apologies.”

Barbara shook her head and surprising Alfred gave him a hug, “thank you.”

Batman watched from a distance, he was eager to get going time was ticking down and Selina and Jim Gordon would soon be heading into phase two. Yet he allowed Barbara to have this moment, she was growing into a hero and one day an equal to Batman. She slipped the mask over her head and became a symbol that would strike fear into the evil that filled the streets of Gotham. “Ready?” he asked her as she approached.

“Ready!” she replied with a wicked smile.
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Batman: Downfall