The sun has begun to rise over Gotham City, marking a brand new day for this bustling metropolis. But it seems unusually busy in the streets for this early hour.. especially in front of Gotham City Bank, where a large crowd has gathered.
Meanwhile, downtown at the Police Station.. Commissioner Jim Gordon and Chief O'Hara seem to be discussing the situation.
O'Hara: "It's like I said sir.. I received a distress call from Arkham Asylum around 2am.. by the time I arrived all officers were down and cells were open. The place was an eery quiet. I called all back-up to patrol the streets and catch anyone outside within 5 miles.. nothing. I had special security check-points set up around the city by 5am, and we.."
Jim: "Yes, yes you've told me all that already! I said I want to know how they escaped? And how they were able to break into the Bank with our officers out in full force?!"
O'Hara: "I.. don't have an answer to that, sir. My men are still investigating..."
Jim: "Do you realize the position this puts me in?! They want to know how these criminally insane costumes made it out of the most heavily guarded and locked down facility in this City, and why they were able to evade an entire police force - breaking into another high security building.. in the same night!"
*he sighs taking a breath*
Jim: "Our job is to protect this City, but we're loosing the people's trust. It's time we start doing our damn job!"
O'Hara: "Well *swallows* if I may, sir.. my men are looking into it, but, what are you going to do?"
Jim: "Do you really have to ask? What I always do when you screw up! Use the Red phone."
O'Hara: "Argh no sir - you're going to call that masked vigilante again?! He's not even.."
Jim: "Until you can do your job rather than fill my room with hot air, we need him! And his friends the Boy Wonder and Batgirl.."
Just then in an upstairs apartment in Gotham City, a phone begins to ring...but that's no ordinary phone...
And that's no ordinary wall either!.. This is Barbra Gordon, Gotham City's finest librarian, and Commissioner Gordon's daughter. But what's this? It seems there is more to Barbra than meets the eye as she turns a revolving wall revealing a cape and cowl...
Dawning them quickly she transforms into the beautiful crime-fightress well known as...Batgirl!
She takes her ease on the desk, picking up the phone "Yes Commissioner? This is Batgirl."
"Batgirl, we have a very important case for you. Gotham City Bank was broken into last night...but even worse, somehow every criminal in Arkham Asylum was set loose!"
Batgirl's eyes widen as her grip tenses on the phone "Every criminal...Commissioner?"
She knew several of the prisoners at Arkham from having helped apprehend them. Some were rather difficult to catch, and swore to seek revenge on her. Now, she wondered if they would plan to follow through on their threats, and if so, what lied in store for her... but she couldn't worry about that now...
"Do you know what this means?"
"Yes Batgirl, this case will be very dangerous. Please be extreemly cautious if you decide to help us, some of these thugs may even be working together. I urge you to work closely with Batman and Robin, they are headed to the Bank now."
"You can count on me Commissioner, Batgirl out."
Hanging up the phone and leaping from the desk she strode back over to the secret wall. Pausing for a moment - she tightened her belt and adjusted her cape. (This won't be easy...) she thought (I'll need all my assets working perfectly. If I know one thing from fighting these criminals...they will take advantage of any weakness.)
With a twirl of her cape she darted into action. Reaching into a hidden pannel she pulled a switch which opened a passageway to....
A hidden garage, and her trusty Batcycle!
Starting the engine automatically opens a secret passageway into the ally...
Then out onto the streets where she rides as fast as she can...
Arriving just in time to meet the Dynamic Duo.
Batgirl: "Good to see you Batman, and you Boy Wonder. I just wish it was under better circumstances..."
Batman: "Unfortunatly Batgirl this seems to be the only circumstances we meet under...but it should come as no surprise. Only this time I'm afraid the circumstances are more grave than ever..."
Batgirl: "What do you make of it so far, Batman?"
Batman: "Well my instincts tell me our old foes; the Joker, Catwoman, the Riddler, Mr. Freeze, Penguin...now out on the streets, might have joined forces...how else would they be able to escape Arkham and rob the Bank in one night?"
Robin: "Holy Petty Partnership Batman! You mean they're all scheming together?!"
Batman: "That's right ol' chum. Its just a hunch...but I don't see how any one of them could have pulled this off alone. Are you ready Batgirl? This could be dangerous..."
Batgirl sighs: "Ready as I'll ever be, Batman."
Now the Terrific Trio...Batman, Robin and Batgirl park their transports to go inside the Bank and check for clues.
But the Manager meets them at the door...
Manager: "Batman! Thank goodness your here! There was a big group of thugs here this morning...they broke in the vault and took out loads of money as you would expect...but then we discovered the most peculiar thing; they left a small pile of bills in the middle of the safe! My employees are busy counting it right now."
Batman: "Most peculiar indeed, I would suspect leaving those bills was no accident! I hope they are handling them with caution as they could be laced with some type of..."
Manager: "..poison, yes, we've taken precautions - but there doesn't seem to be any. What else would they have left it for?"
Batman: "In the minds of these criminals Mr. Manager...it could be anything. A sign, a trap, a taunt, a clue...clue...was one of them wearing green tights with question marks?"
Manager: "Why...yes I believe so."
Batman: "Riddler! This must be another one of his nefarious puzzles. Knowing him, we don't have much time left to solve it. Come Robin, lets go in and hunt for answers. Batgirl, keep watch, they may just be using this as a trap."
Batgirl places her hands firmly on her hips
Batgirl: "Now wait just a minute! I didn't dress up and hurry over here just to stand around...and don't think because I wear the bat symbol it gives you the right to give me orders!"
Batgirl: "I want to help solve this case, I'm going in with you whether you like it or not."
Batman sighs: "Very well, I know better than to argue with a woman whose made up her mind..."
Batman: "Phone the Commissioner. Let him know the details so far, and if he could head over here - we might need backup."
Manager: "Of course Batman, right away!..."
Batgirl now notices Batman's worried expression, causing her to become anxious herself
Batgirl: "I've never seen you like this before...what do you expect they are up to?"
Batman: "I don't know...I can't be certain with that many of them...I'm used to dealing with these villains one at a time."
Batman: "We better hurry up. Mr. Manager we'll do all we can to return the stolen money and bring these criminals to justice!"
Manager: "I believe you will. Thank you!"
Once inside the Bank, Batman, Robin and Batgirl approach the manager's desk where two employees have been carefully counting the money.
Employee: "Wow, Batgirl...I've seen your picture in the papers before, but your even more stunning in person."
Batgirl tries to hide her flattery from his comment, smiling confidently: "This costume isn't just for looks, but thank you. I do my best for this city, and I try to look my best doing it."
Employee: "Well that you certainly do."
Batman coughs: "Alright then, on to the matter of this money. Have you finished counting it? Did you find markings on any of the bills? How were they arranged on the floor? We need to consider every subtle detail to decipher their plan."
Empolyee: "Well, starting with the amount they left $1,700. The bills are unmarked but a question mark was drawn on the floor where they left them, and they were arranged in a circle in stacks of $100 each."
Batman: "Circle...time...clock...of course! $1,700 in military time would be 1700 hrs. Which means they are planning to strike at 5 o'clock. What time is it Robin?"
Robin: "Holy Smokes Batman! That's only 2 minutes away, it's 4:58!"
Batman: "Precisely Robin. We'll face them outside so we don't cause damage to this fine facility. Come, it's just as I feared, they must be out for...revenge."
Batgirl slams her hand on the counter: "Wait a minute, now I see why you were so tense, you knew this was a trap and you didn't tell us!..."
Batman: "It was only a hunch...I said it could be dangerous. Then again, danger is the nature of crime fighting as your well aware." he smiles starkly.
Batgirl: "You could of at least warned us!...Perhaps we could have taken a more stealthy approach...now they know right where we are!"
Batman's stark smile turned into a stern scowl: "As long as you wear that symbol you follow MY lead. And don't forget I've had A LOT more practice at this than you. We will be fine as long as we work together. I see Gorden and O'Hara outside, they can help us..."
Batgirl: "Against what? We don't know how many are coming, what they are planning...if they are indeed working together we'll be severely outnumbered!"
Employee: "I don't mean to intrude but, Batgirl has a point. You don't know what your getting yourselves into -"
Batman's gaze turns at the man: "I think we are perfectly capable of handling this situation without your opinion. Lets go, Batgirl. Leave it to us, boys."
Batman and Robin walk out quickly as Batgirl reluctantly takes a few steps forward, but the employee grabs her shoulder
Employee: "Remember...he's just a man. Under that costume he feels he has power, but you can make your own decisions. I worry for you, Batgirl, and the situations he puts you in. I don't know who you are, but I know you are a young, pretty woman. I wouldn't want to see anything happen to you."
Batgirl turns taking his hand from her shoulder
Batgirl: "Sir, thank you, I know you don't want to see me hurt...but I wouldn't be much of a crime fightress if I backed down now. I'll be careful."
Employee nods slowly: "I understand. I'll be watching from the window...and no matter what Batman says if your in danger, I'm coming out to help."
Outside Batgirl joins Batman, Robin, the Commissioner and Cheif O'Hara
Batman: "Thank you for coming O'Hara, Commissioner...we deciphered the riddle to mean there will be a group of thugs coming at 5 o'clock - any moment now. We will take care of them, we just need you to apprehend them."
O'Hara: "..5 o'clock you say?" he looks down at his watch "If they're punctual, that means they have 15 seconds to be here.."
Batgirl rolls her eyes: "Right, I'm sure being criminals they wouldn't want to be tardy...and how do we know we can trust that riddle? They're criminals! For all we know this could be an ambush! Or they could be off committing another crime!"
Batman mutters: "...sometimes I wish I could gag you..."
Batgirl raises an eyebrow: "What's that Batman?"
Batman: "I said!.. Sometimes I think like you...but we have to wait to make sure..."
O'Hara: "There! They're coming right at us! You were right Batman!"
Robin: "What do you know, they did make good on they're threats!"
Batman adjusts his belt confidently: "Of course, ol' chum. I knew they would."
Batgirl wrinkles her nose in a huff: "Lucky guess..."
Robin puts his fist in his hand: "...and who else but predictable Penguin, right on time!"
Penguin: "Nurgh nurgh.. thats right Boy Wonder! NURGH! And like fools you took the bait like Riddy said you would!"
Batman: "All you will be taking is a trip back behind bars, Penguin."
Penguin: "Nurgh! I think not Bat bafoon! Take em down boys!"
Batman: "Commissioner, O'Hara get back! We'll handle this!"
Penguin's thugs run at the Terrific Trio!
A brawl breaks out in front of the Bank!
POW! BAM! WHACK! KAPOW!
Robin knocks a thug over with a jab to his side, then turns to face Penguin. Penguin presses a button on the handle of his umbrella causing a knife to spring out from the top waving it back and forth at Robin. The thug starts to get up as Batgirl notices him. Batman turns putting his hands on her hips.
Batman: "I got you, Bat kick now!"
KASMACK! Batgirl leapt at him extending her heel into his face. Batman lifted her into the air by her waist delivering a more powerful kick, which sent him flying into a parking meter. They both smiled and nodded at eachother briefly as he set her down, turning to help Robin.
Penguin snarled angrily, going over and grabbing the thug by his hair: "Nurgh! Don't let her get away with that! Go get her!"
Penguin shoved the dazed thug at Batgirl. He stumbled into her, bumping her into a wall. He tried to grab her but she ducked and slipped away, jumping onto it. She turned placing her hand on top to pull herself up out of his reach, but he managed to get ahold of her feet before she could climb up further. He twisted her legs back and forth causing one of her heels to loose balance.
Batgirl started to slip: "Ieeek...why...you..!" she yelled.
Letting go of the wall she jumped down on one leg, bringing the other up to meet the thug's face. KERPOW! He fell down unconscious.
Batgirl: "Hah! Take that." she brushed her hands off "And don't forget to tell your friends you were beat by BatGIRL!"
Robin took a step back avoiding Penguin's blows: "Batgirl! Be careful, Penguin has a knife on the tip of his umbrella!"
Batgirl looked around quickly, she picked up a box full of newspapers by the building "Well I have something for him, bring him this way...I'll make that bird sing!"
Batgirl hid behind the wall
Robin turned waving his arms at Penguin. Penguin took several jabs, then lunged at Robin. As Robin jumped out of the way, Batgirl came out from behind the wall and popped Penguin right over the head with the heavy box.
Penguin: "Gurghhhh!! Ooooff!" he fell down.
Batgirl got behind him and grabbed him by the shoulders
Batgirl: "We have you now Penguin..." she said reaching for the Batcuffs in her untility belt "Looks like your plan to catch US backfired on YOU."
Penguin's snarl slowly turned into a smirk: "Actually my dear...you've played right into my trap, it worked perfectly."
Batgirl paused a moment, puzzled by his remark: "..and just what makes you think tha-"
Penguin: "THIS!"
Quickly shoving her away, Penguin turned around pointing his umbrella at her and releasing a huge cloud of purple gas. Batgirl coughed from the fumes waving her arms back and forth and backing away. Penguin's thugs got up shaking their heads.
Penguin: "Grab her! Grab them all!" he barked.
Batgirl coughed again her head in a daze (..what is this?..) she thought. She only had time to turn away from it and take a deep breath before two thugs jumped behind her - quickly grabbing her arms and steering her back towards it. Anticipating this from hearing Penguin's orders, she reacted just as quickly, thrusting her elbows back with a powerful jab. To her surprise, he moved aside keeping his hands on her shoulders letting her fall back, then moved his grip up her arms pressing her forward toward the gas.
Batgirl: "Errrmmm, hey! Let...go!"
Penguin: "Nuuurgh nurgh, I think not my pretty purple pet! Soon you will be under the effects of my purple sleeping gas, NURGH! My thugs have already taken an antidote so all they will have to do is watch you squirm into a deep slumber! Nar Nar!"
Batgirl tightened her lips as the gas rose around her face (..sleeping gas?! What a coward! I have no chance unless... the gas repellent in my utility belt!...I just need to...reach it...)
She struggled to tug free, jolting herself anyway she could, as she slid her arms behind her back. Continuing to struggle, she managed to open the pouch on the back of her belt and grab hold of the repellent (..got it!..mmurph..now to point it at the fumes!..)
The gas started to make her eyes water, she was almost out of breath (..this is it, it had better work..) As she pulled her hand out of the pouch, the thug noticed the small bottle repellent. Right away he grabbed her wrist with a strong twist. Her arm flinched as she dropped the bottle (EeermMMMmmuph...NO!)
Batgirl couldn't hold her breath any longer. She took in a small sip of air, then suddenly everything started to spin (UuuuHHhh...nooo...I can't go to sleep!...what will they...do to me?...) she thought, trying desperately to stay contentious.
From the Bank window, the Employee she had talked to earlier was watching through the shades. He let go of them with a snap running for the door. "Hold on Batgirl, I'm coming!"
She held her breath...but she was so exhausted, she knew there was no way to resist. Suddenly her vision began to blurr...her head started to spin...
And she fell to the ground, subdued by the sleeping gas.
And whats this? Batman, Robin, and the Commissioner too! Who will stop Penguin and his thugs now? And what is going to happen to our heroes? Look forward to the next chapter: part-2-stranger-danger.php!
