I knew Batman

Chapter 5 - Police action

After my visit to the mourge, I had a hard time falling asleep. Around dawn, I slept a few hours but went back to read the research material right away. As an emergency doctor, I was sort of used to sleep deprivation. My next shift at the hospital only started late in the evening, I had almost a day to do some more. 

It wasn't so hard to find the link between Gravitation Tech Company and the cryogenic research at Gotham University now that we knew that the company was involved. There was only one researcher who continued his work at the Gravitation Tech Company after cryogenic research at the Science Faculty was banned. His name was Victor Fries. He worked as a researcher at the University and he was fired based on ethical reasons. But it seemed that the Gravitation Tech was willing to finance his research further. But the exact nature of his research was officially an "industrial secret". 

Batman kept his promise, and he informed me about his findings. We talked via the secure line several times that day. I had access to university archives and hospital files but Batman somehow had access to business files of the company, and he found some classified blueprints Fries was working on secretly. I'm not an engineer but as a doctor, I'm quite good at chemistry. I managed to find out what the blueprints are about. And it wasn't too reassuring...

Our last conversation via the secure mobile phone was right before my shift started at the hospital. I shared with him my thoughts on the blueprints.

"I know what the blueprints are about. It is indeed some kind of chemical weapon. If this really works then this can freeze things in an instant. Like some sort of freezing blaster. This could explain the strange hypothermia cases. Probably he killed the people with that weapon. But why? What was his reason?"

"Maybe he was just experimenting. Improving and perfecting his device... Such a weapon - if it works reliably - could be worth billions on the illegal weapons market."

"There is something else. Maybe it's nothing. I was looking through the hospital records. Fries had some minor flu cases through the years, but nothing special. But I found his wife as well. Apparently, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis several years ago. She was at the hospital several times for treatment but her illness was improving very quickly. But after some time, she just disappeared from the system. Nothing from further treatments, nothing about her death, nothing about moving her to a private facility. And the date of her disappearance is around the same time when the first victims were found... Maybe it's just a coincidence. I don't know."

"Hm. Interesting. ... Anyway, I'm going to visit the company's perimeter tonight. See what I can find." said Batman.

"Be careful. This can be dangerous."

Batman was silent for a moment. "I know," he said then hung up the phone.

I felt confused a bit. "Why did I say 'be careful' to him? We don't even know each other, then why I am worrying about his safety? But this is something colleagues tell each other normally, right?  And after all, we are partners."

The evening at the emergency department was busy. We were flooded with sick people and some gunshot victims came in. Just a usual night in Gotham... Between the patients, I hardly had time to think about the Gravitation Tech Company but I kept my mobile device Batman gave me in my pocket, in case he calls me during the night.

But the night didn't remain usual. I was doing some paperwork at the nurses' station when a call came in on the radio. A police action required the presence of a trauma surgeon. It was not unusual but it happens only 3-4 times a year that the field units, police officers and ambulance units need someone with more medical skills on the field. As chief of the emergency department, it was my duty to assign someone to those cases. 

I asked the nurse who took the call. "Where is the case?"

"At the perimeter of the Gravitation Tech Company on the outskirts of the city. Four police officers are down. The helicopter will be here in 5 minutes. They said something about freezing but I didn't understand correctly."

My heart sunk to my stomach. The police AND Batman are there as well? What is happening? In an instant, I decided to go. I took my 'flight physician" jacket, grabbed my medical bag and equipped myself with warm saline and anything else which a hypothermia case could need.

One of the doctors asked me. "Are you sure you want to go? You are the head of the department, you should stay here."

"Yes, I need to go. I am the only one with field experience." It was not just about my field experience but my worry about Batman and the serial killer as well. "I need to go."

The helicopter took me from the roof of the hospital at the edge of the city in 10 minutes. The perimeter of the company was huge even from the air. I saw four police cars and two ambulances before a hangar. The pilot landed not too far away and I ran to the police immediately.

The commanding officer was Detective Jim Gordon. I didn't know him in person but I heard about him both from my brother and from Batman as well. They described him as an honest and incorruptible man. A rare kind of man nowadays at the police department.

Gordon welcomed me. "We are happy that you are here but we cannot go in yet. We have a serious situation and waiting for the backup, the SWAT team."

I looked around. The police put up a cordon and the officers and paramedics were waiting outside.

"What happened?"

"The security alarm went off at the hangar. Police were called to check it out. Two units were sent here and they found some lunatic with an ice weapon and with a bunch of thugs. We don't know what happened, we lost contact with them." He lowered his voice. "Batman is also inside."

I got angry. "You all are just sitting here with your hands folded and waiting for the salvation army to deal with this?"

"I appreciate your enthusiasm but I cannot put my man in direct danger. It is protocol. We have to wait for backup." Gordon tried to calm me but I got even angrier.

"I go in. Whoever is inside, won't hurt a doctor."

"I cannot allow you to do that!"

"You cannot prevent me. But don't worry, I take full responsibility."

Gordon got angry as well. "It's not about the responsibility it is about not losing anybody else!" He continued. "There is something else you should know. Your brother John is one of the officers inside."

My blood run cold in my veins. It cannot be. My little brother...  The only family I have. 

Gordon saw me becoming pale. "Are you sure you want to go in?"

"Yes. More serious than ever."

They gave me a bulletproof vest and a radio. I grabbed my medical bag and went past the cordon in the direction of the hangar.