Fade open to Arthur Reeves is walking briskly along the sidewalk, overtaking other pedestrians and avoiding puddles from the night before.
The camera follows him for a beat. Suddenly, he stops dead as a black limo screeches into view right in front of him, emerging from an alley and cutting him off.
A rear window slides down to reveal a much older-looking Sal Valestra, beckoning to him. No cigar smoke this time. Reeves steps into the shot, approaching the car.
Valestra: Get in.
He looks around to make sure that no one is watching, then Reeves crawls inside warily and sits beside Valestra, as the unseen driver pulls away from the curb.
Valestra: All I want to know is, is it true? Is the Batman and his costumed freaks really hitting our people?
With a grim expression, he nods.
Reeves: There are eyewitnesses of Nomad on the scene.
His features contort into a mask of fury.
Valestra: Beautiful. That's just beautiful. Why? They never leaned on us before. I'm too old for this!
He gives Valestra a withering look.
Reeves: I suppose you could demand police protection.
Through the following he begins to gasp, spittle forming at the corners of his mouth.
Valestra: What are you, a comedian? This is the Batman we're talking about here! And Nomad who hits harder than the Bat! Two freak jobs, they'll crucify me—
He breaks down into wheezing, racking coughs. Wider shot to include a portable oxygen tank leaning against the seat back. Valestra lunges forward and grabs the mask, clutching it to his
face as he frantically plucks at the valve, cranking it up full as oxygen is pumped.
Valestra hungrily, wheezes and gasps. Reeves leans forward toward the partition separating the back seat from the driver, knocks.
Reeves: Pull over.
Giving the O.S. Valestra a sidelong glance, clearly unnerved.
Reeves: It's not very healthy in here.
Wipe to the Batcave, where Nomad sits at a keyboard, inputting data. Then:
Mason: O'Neil Funding Corp...Adams Tool and Die... I should've known.
Alfred: Sir?
Nightwing: Found something?
Mason: Chuckie Sol and Buzz Bronski... they have some history together.
In the weapons area. He is polishing the fencing foils with an oilcloth. He looks up, cocking an eyebrow in keen interest. While Nightwing was working on his sticks.
Mason: They were partners in dummy corporations set up over ten years ago.
As Nightwing and Alfred steps toward him. During the following, the screen shows a database with a highlight moving down a list of names to hold on the name Valestra, Salvatore.
Mason: The third director was one Salvatore Valestra.
The name gives him pause. In his expression we see a flicker of recognition. Nomad rises, turns to go. Angle adjusts to include the Batmobile, waiting on its turntable.
Mason: Sal's having company tonight. Don't wait up. Go back to searching for Bruce, Dick.
Nomad strides toward the Batmobile, Nightwing and Alfred — still with the foil in hand — steps back into the weapons area.
YOU ARE READING
New 52
FanfictionMason Woods, eldest adopted son and former sidekick of Batman must help his father battle Deathstroke and the might of the League of Assassins upon learning that Bruce has a violent and unruly son with Ra's al Ghul's daughter, Talia. But the pint si...
