Chapter five: harbor

Bruce's POV:

I just finished putting on the rest of my suit when the crashing noises of the metal elevator could be heard echoing through the cave. Of course it was old Alfred walking steadily along the rocks and dirt that filled it.

"Master Bruce, your leaving already?" He seemed suprised. There was no good reason to be, it was dark already, but in the winter that meant it got pitch black by six. Though right now it happened to nearly be nine o'clock.

"Yes I'm leaving now, why does that bother you?"

"Well you know me, I don't every want you to go lolly gagging around in a black suit and cape, taking down criminals and risking your life," he complained. Dispite Alfred's dissaproval I had no choice, no one else had the balls, or compassion that I did.

"If I don't do anything that man will ruin this city, and any other criminals who work up the courage to go against the Joker."

"There are other ways of helping, as in using your wealth and political power, as your father did."

"Dad had good intentions but it never did this city's crime rate any good, I can only help the wealthy with wealth, but batman, he has a purpose." 

Alfred nodded trying his best to understand. Even if he didn't agree with me I could still always count on him to be there for me. He wasn't really a butler, really he was my family.

"I'm going, stay on coms I'm going to need a lot of research and survalence, I've already taken the liberty of breaking into the city's camera's, unfortunately they don't have audio."

"Does that mean your going to have to get close?"

I opened the airplane-like hatch to the tank and jumped inside "Not nessiarily, I'm going to leave a bug down lower to the ground," I answered as the hatch closed.

Alfred immeadiantly switched to the coms after he was silenced by the closed space of the vehicle and the roar of its engine.

"One of Fox's inventions I presume."

"Yes, always the finest for me, Waynetec."

I floored the gas petal of the tank and quickly burst through the waterfall entrance. If I wasn't using this place as my secret lair, I'd definately make this into a tourist attraction, it is absolutely beautiful.

"Can you patch in some routes for the harbor, I don't want to be seen tonight."

"Very well master Bruce, I'm on it right now." Alfred once taught, had always effectively gotten my information quick and easily. By the time I'd reached the city a fake holographic line was directing me on my windshield. I'd never say thank you enough to that worried old man, he deserved so much more.

The GPS guided me to a secluded parking space behind one of the four large warehouses surrounding the cargo bay. I then moved higher in the air where I belonged, to scope out my scene. According to Lucious, this was only a hush-hush thing, it might not even be real. If it is that means I was right and the Joker does have something tucked up his sleeves.

No one was here yet, but the large cargo ship with the name lexcorp on the side was finishing up its arrival at the harbor. Lexcorp? Where had I heard that before?

"Alfred can you do a search on lexcorp?"

"Yes sir, have you planted the bug already?"

"No I'm waiting til someone shows, but I'm not going to get close, I'll have to send down a batarang." If anyone on the ship caught sight of me, the whole operation would be blown.

As a large black SUV pulled into the bay I grappled to a crane arm, streched perfectly above the scene. Fox may be right this time, maybe I was right, the Joker could be planning something huge.

"Lex Luthor, owner of lexcorp based in Metropolis, bald and sinister looking, actually I think he was at the Christmas party a few years ago." I remember Lex now, green eyes and sharp looking. If he came off that ship I'd not only uncover Jokers game but I'd also uncover a massive criminal system.

"Did Lex report any ships missing?"

"Not that I know of, but he's not on the one your looking at either, appearantly as we speak he's giving an appearance at a scientist convention."

"Keep an eye on him, if he's dirty Bruce might have to make a trip over to Metropolis."

The SUV had been stopped for a while now, on, with bright high beams pointed at the ship. I needed to wait til someone came out of that car, then I'd place the bug. I couldn't risk them knowing about me.

Though the car was still the boat began to stir with life. A group of mafia looking men followed by a man in a skull shaped black mask walked off the ship. All thirteen of them were carrying oozies, excluding the masked man, who only had two pistols tucked in his pants. As the group stopped in front of the SUV the car finally turned off and the high beams went down. I couldn't risk losing anymore conversation, so I threw down a bugged batarang. I cringed as the small metal object whacked and stuck to the side of the SUV. Thankfully it seemed the bug went unseen.

"Hurry up clown!" A deep raspy voice ordered, most likely coming from the masked man. All four doors of the SUV opened, out came eight of the Joker's goons, but not the man himself. They all stood in a near line formation facing the other party.

"What's this bullshit?" The masked man snarled.

"I don't know what your talking about" one of the thugs responded bravely. Whoever this guy was he didn't phase the Joker.

"You know what I'm talking about! Where's the clown king himself, I was told we were having a buisness negotiation! Have you any idea who I am!"

"No, but-"

"BUT NOTHING! I'm black mask! In case your incompetent foolish minds didn't know!" Black mask, how utterly original. I guess batman wasn't creative either, but I didn't make up the name I was assigned it.

"Alfred, check out the name black mask."

"Right away sir."

Black Mask's guys held up their guns and pointed them at the Jokers guys. It was going to get bloody and fast, the only way I could stop it is if I got rid of the cargo. I swung onto the ship as the two groups began arguing, setting up remote bombs on as many shipping containers as I could. My belt could only hold so many bombs, and not big ones either, I'm just hoping this chemical Joker ordered is flammable.

"I'm going to show that freak who really runs this city, you hearing me!" Black Mask yelled. I made my way back to the top of the crane, on my way up, pressing the detonator.

Boom.

Everyone was caught off guard, the explosion was louder and bigger than I even expected. A large hole in the ship began to form, and any other remaining crew members jumped for refuge in the sea.

"My goodness, don't tell me that was you?" Alfred echoed.

"Yes, but it was all in good cause, hopefully no one was hurt," I groaned.

The fire warmed and brightened the cargo bay, and I was spotted. The bug must have been damaged in the explosion becuase no warning came as a hail of bullets rained down on me. I ran down the cranes arm, feeling the many bruises I was going to have later. When there was no more crane to run on I grappled out of sight, just in time to see Black Mask get shoved into the SUV. His men managed to take out two of the Jokers, and get a few good shots at me, but the Joker didn't have amateurs.

Quicky I got to the batmobile and headed full speed after the SUV.

"I hope your not planning to blow up that car too," Alfred said in dissaproval.

"I have to get Black Mask, I need to find out if Lex is dirty, or what the Joker wants with those chemicals."

Catching up to the slick black car was easy, until the left rear window opened. Out popped the painted clown face of the Joker, carrying in his hands a rocket launcher. The glass on my windshield was fairly durable but not that durable. He pulled the trigger sending a football sized rocket my way. I only had a few seconds to swerve out of the way, avoiding the misile but having it smash into a police car behind me. The Joker however could be seen laughing hysterically. He'd continue the same process of shooting and me dodging til he ran out of bullets or I was gone. I couldn't lose them though not when they were right there in front of me.

I hit the autopilot on the tank and jumped out of it. The tank would show up at the manshion but not with me in it. Immeadiantly I hitched myself to the SUV's bumper and opened my wing suit, creating a summer fun hang-gliding ride. Though it was the middle of winter and it was anything but fun.

"Hear that batman! You may mistake it for the sound of rushing wind, but it's actually the high heavens calling for you to join them! Adios batsy!" He reloaded the launcher. As fast as I could I threw a tracking device on the car, my final option. Joker pulled the gun trigger yet again, only this time the rocket was headed at me full speed. With the comfort of about a tenth of a second I closed my wing suit and fell, the wind pushing me back, and gravity yanking me down, all just in time for me to dodge a bullet or in this case rocket.

Falling in this situation, meant eventually I was going to hit something. The speed and direction I was going wouldn't let me reopen my wings, the crash was inevitable. Alfred was screaming something over the coms, but I couldn't hear it.

First was the pain in my right leg as it was the first thing to hit the hard metal bed of a semi truck, heading in the opposite direction. Second was the shaking of my body and head as the impact rattled me to the core. Third and finally was the enlongated pounding of the edges of my skull, refusing to let me move. Had I really fallen that far, it seemed like a large drop, but for how I was, it could have only been ten to twenty feet.

"Bruce! Master Bruce!"

"I'm alive," I managed to cough out.

"You most certainly have to be alive, how dissapointed would your father be with me if he'd known I let you die, don't ever pull a stunt like that!" I cringed at his words, and the ache in my head as I sat up. Besides the small bruising and headache, I was fine, I was lucky.

"I'm fine Alfred, you should know by now that I'm not the top priority here."

"You are to me," he argued.

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I'd found myself staring at a sleeping Harmony outside of her window. Alfred had insisted that he would pick me up himself, so I sat on a quiet rooftop waiting for him and at the same time finding some comfort. She didn't deserve me, I knew it already. Smart, kind, and dedicated, all the while I could see she was broken, just like I was. For the first time in my life I felt that if I was around her I wouldn't have to put on the Bruce Wayne mask, instead I could be myself, I could be the dark knight. That's who I really am, not the pretend rich boy that I so desperately tried to play.

Harmony tossed around uncomfortably and then her eyes opened, and they latched onto me.