Miraculous Ladybug: Arkham Rogue

Arkham Rogue Rises

The Bat-Wing zoomed high above the English Channel, heading back to Paris. Batman had to stop at his secret London Bat-Cave. It provided him the time and distance from Monarch and Mr. Freeze. While giving him the opportunity to gather additional equipment and resources. He was not sure what Freeze or Monarch could do, now that their initial plan to steal the Miraculous has failed. He had to be ready for anything.
The screen beside the yoke began to beep as the words 'Incoming Transmission' displayed. After hitting a button, the screen flickered for a moment and an older man, with hair only on the sides and back of his head, appeared on the screen. During the initial start up the man was fixing the front of his three piece suit.
"Good morning, Master Wayne," said the man. The sound came through with a bit of static, despite the video quality being quite crisp.
"It's actually the early evening here, Alfred." Batman said, taking his face cowl off. The sweat build up was all across the face of Bruce Wayne. There was a time that he use to live and breathe under this mask all hours of every day. But now he's gotten into a routine of casual appearances at many events that he couldn't stay underneath it as much.
"My mistake sir. Can I expect you back by tomorrow for lunch?"
"I wish I could say yes, however the situation has become more complicated."
"Yes, I saw it on the news," Alfred said as he poured himself some tea. "Very rare to see footage of you in the daytime sir. You handled yourself quite well out there."
"I appreciate the compliment but I got lucky. That luck will only get me so far as they plot a new scheme. I will need to prepare my own plan."
"Aren't you fighting along with someone who is the pure embodiment of luck? I believe you will do better than you expect." Bruce glanced down at his radar. It was signaling him that he would be at the Eiffel Tower in approximately fifteen minutes.
"Perhaps you are right Alfred, however I don't like to always rely on luck."
"But you do like to rely on reliable teammates." Alfred said, taking a sip of his tea. Bruce showed a small, yet noticeable, bittersweet grin. Alfred did have a point. He's seen the two Parisian heroes in action. For teenagers, they do hold up well on their own.
"That does remind me," Bruce started after a moment. "How's Gotham?"
"Much of the usual, nothing world ending," Alfred put his tea down and typed on the keyboard. "As you requested, here are all the audio and video logs of the past 14 hours since you have left."
"I'll look over them as soon as I get back to the hotel."
"If that's what you consider to be relaxing." Alfred took another sip of tea as Batman remained silent. Alfred put the tea down a second time as he cleared his throat. "You know you can always talk to him sir."
"I know I can," Bruce said dryly.
"Master Wayne, I know you said that you have to keep your emotions in check, especially for this trip to Paris. However, you will not be able to concentrate while your mind is occupied." Batman remained silent for a good while. "Please sir, you know that I am right." Bruce let out a small sigh. Deep down, he knew that Alfred was right.
For as confident as he was in the heat of battle, personal relationships never seemed as easy. He had distant himself for so long. It was only about a couple of years ago that Jim Gordon had started to trust him. Especially after he stopped the Joker that one Christmas Eve. Since then, Bruce's number of allies had grown. Including a young protégé named Dick Grayson, who was his trusty sidekick, Robin. A little while after that Barbra Gordon had took on her own mantle of Batgirl. He hadn't really planned on creating this Bat-Family, as Barbra once jokingly called them, but was glad for their inclusion in his mission.
But since, Dick grew in that time of being Robin, he wanted to spread his proverbial wings. He felt that he could do more good on his own, in his own city, without Bruce's looming watch and control. It had been a harsh separation of the two crime fighters, one that has not been repaired thus far.
"Yes, I know you are right Alfred," Bruce admitted after a moment of silence. "But Dick is busy in Bludhaven and I wouldn't want to distract him."
"Well sir," Alfred said in a matter of fact manner. "There actually is a way for you to talk to him now."
"Alfred!" A higher pitch voice came from off screen. The voice belonged to a woman, a voice of someone who Bruce knew very well. Alfred's eyes followed the person, who was behind the camera. "You promised me you wouldn't tell him."
As Barbra walked in front of the camera, Batman saw that she was dressed in her purple and yellow Batgirl outfit (minus the mask). She stood beside Alfred, his head had not turned to follow her, only his eyes did. He continued to sip his tea.
"Actually, I promised I would not tell him right this second. There was no point in hiding such a secret from a master detective. As I stated as much three hours ago."
"You called Dick to help you?" Bruce asked Barbra. Her head turned directly to the camera, signifying that she was looking at him through their screen. Barbra's face was a washed with shame and a bit of guilt.
"Y-yes, but I didn't have a better alternative. You explained very clearly that you could not let Freeze get his hands on the Miraculous. But when I heard that the Penguin was staging an arms deal with several locations throughout the city, I knew that I needed help."
Bruce said nothing for what seemed to Barbra to be hours. His radar beeped at him, letting him know he had only a few minutes before he reached the Eiffel Tower for his rendezvous. He knew he had to settle this matter and fast.
"Is he there with you now?"
"No... he said he was gonna stop in at Bludhaven, to make sure everything was fine there. And then he said he would be back to bring some Big Belly Burger. I offered to pay, since he said the Bludhaven's one is much better than Gotham's." Barbra's own self disappointment was evident in her body language, even to Alfred.
"I can tell him not to come back if you don't want him here."
A frown was brought to Bruce's face. "I don't mind that he is there. He is always welcomed in the Bat-Cave."
"Then perhaps, Master Wayne," Alfred interjected. "You should let him know that yourself."
Bruce closed his eyes and accepted that he could not run away from having this discussion. "Yes, Alfred. I will call him right away. Thanks for looking after Gotham you two." Barbra's face showed a smile for the first time. Though deep down she was just relieved that she was not going to get chewed out. Alfred closed his eyes and made a slight bow with his head.
As Bruce hit some buttons on his console, his computer and took a deep breath as he waited. Many different outcomes were blazing through his head. He felt that the conversation he would have could go many different ways. Not even the Riddler has ever made a challenge as puzzling as this before.
    The computer rang for a moment longer than Batman would have expected, thinking that Dick was not going to answer. However, the screen flickered for a moment a man's masked face was brought into focus. The mask was black and angular, like that of a bird. He donned a similar colored  black armored suit but he had two blue stripes that connected in the middle of his chest, making it a V shape. The suit was constructed identically to Batman's suit, as it was made by the same person. Dick Grayson, better known by the people of Bludhaven as Nightwing, looked at the screen with bewilderment.
"Oh, hey, Bruce," said Nightwing after checking to make sure no one else could over hear him. "Wasn't uhhh... wasn't expecting to hear from you."
"I know. It has been awhile." Bruce's words, extended a sense of confident. Deep down though, he was not, and was worried he would slip up at any moment. He decided to rely on his acting skills.
"Yeah I believe it's been like four months." Dick said as he settled onto his armored motorcycle. The screen flickered as it changed from his gauntlet to the motorcycle. He was driving down the road.
"Is that so?" Bruce asked, even though he knew the answer. "I didn't mean to bother you or anything."
"No, no, it's okay. I just picked up some Big Belly Burger."
"Celebrating with Barbra on busting Penguin's operation?"
Nightwing sighed, "Alfred told you?"
"Yes, but I wanted you to know that I am not disappointed or upset."
"You... your not?" Nightwing was almost in complete shock. It was not very often he would hear Bruce state something like that.
"No, though I do wish you two didn't try to hide it from me."
"Well, Barbra felt bad that you entrusted Gotham to her, and that she couldn't handle taking down Penguin's weapon smuggling scheme. And she wasn't sure you'd approve of me helping her."
Bruce was quiet for awhile before speaking again. "I know I couldn't have been in two places at once let alone the several locations you've must have gone to."
"Yeah it was no easy thing, some were traps set in place to slow us down. You probably wouldn't have walked into them like we did the first time."
"I wouldn't be so sure," Though Batman did note that he probably would not have. "Regardless, I wanted to tell you something."
"Y-yeah?" Nightwing was not sure what Batman was going to say.
"I do want you to know," Batman's tone became a bit more serious. His confidence had truly set in. "That I am sorry for how things transpired during our last conversation. I'm sorry that I made you feel locked up."
"Bruce you didn't-" Bruce cut him off.
"You wouldn't have said it, if it was not true. And I realize that. You can't be Robin the rest of your life. Maintaining some distance has allowed me to see the man you have become. And just because I haven't contacted you in a while, doesn't mean I am any less invested in you. You've done excellent work as Nightwing. And I'm very proud of you."
Nightwing cleared his throat. "T-thank you, Bruce. That... that means a lot." The Bat-Wing's radar beeped at Bruce and from looking out the window he could see he was approaching the Eiffel Tower in less than a minute.
"Sounds like you gotta run." Nightwing said, hearing the beeping.
"I do... but when I get back, maybe you'd be ok sticking around in Gotham for a bit. Just for lunch perhaps."
"I have missed Alfred's cooking." Nightwing put one hand to his chin as he thought. "Hmmm, I guess I can hang around Gotham for another day."
Bruce's face lit up in an uncontrollable smile. Small as it was for him, Bruce saw this as an absolute win.
"Thank you again for looking after Gotham."
"Any time Bruce, I'll talk to you later." A smile now on Nightwing's face.
"Talk to you soon, Dick." They both ended their communications and Bruce centered his attention back to task at hand. He put his cowl back on. Batman was glad to have that talk with Dick. He just wished it didn't take him leaving Gotham to do it, but Alfred was right, he needed that talk. More than he realized.
Batman set the Bat-Wing into autopilot as his chair moved backwards to the middle of the ship. The chair folded backwards and Batman laid down. Several mechanical arms sprouted from within the Bat-Wing and went all around Batman. The arms held pieces of thicker and sturdier armor plates, that had a honeycomb like structure underneath. The arms placed these pieces on top of Batman's current suit.
Along the arms and legs were these servos that could increase the speed and strength of Batman's punches and kicks. Though they did come at the small cost of having a bit more wear on his joints. However, when dealing with superpowered individuals, like Monarch, an added bit of sturdiness and resilience was going to be much appreciated.
As the suit came together, it had orange tubes that connected to each part of the suit and was shown through the chest, legs, and mainly the gloves. This will allow Batman to better resist the effects of Freeze's ice gun, and give him access to the Thermal Gloves and Thermal Batarangs. The last piece that went on was a face covering, to protect his otherwise exposed face. Nothing but glowing white eyes shown through the face mask.
Lucius Fox had called this suit Extreme Environment Suit. Batman had used it once before against Freeze. Though it had been a few years, Mr. Fox had made some tweaks to improve it incase Batman ever needed it.
With the Extreme Environment Suit had fully assembled, Batman's chair raised back up, and it moved to the very back of the Bat-Wing. From where the chair was in the middle, the bottom of the Bat-Wing split open. As air came rushing in, the ends of Batman's cape flapped furiously against the wind. From underneath his face-mask, Batman's face was unfazed, as usual. He unhooked the straps of his seat belts that were connected to the chair. Sliding off his seat, Batman exited the Bat-Wing as it passed above the Eiffel Tower.
Using his cape, he slowed his descent and circled the top of the tower a few times. With his own eyes he could not see them, but using the advanced scanners he could hear Ladybug and Chat Noir. They were hidden inside the room at the top of the tower. Once he was low enough, he decided to land right in front of the door.
When he landed, he noted that their talking had stopped. If it wasn't for the fact that his suit could pick up, even the tiniest of breathing, he would assume no one was in the room with him. He pushed a button on his gauntlet and it peeled back the bottom of his face mask.
"You two can definitely hide yourself very well. It is definitely impressive," spoke Batman. Ladybug was the first to poke her head out.
"How did you know we were here?" Before Batman could answer, Chat Noir popped up from beside Ladybug.
"Duh, he's a bat. Bat's have an amazing sense of hearing. Just like us cat's." Chat grinned.
"Unfortunately," Batman spoke, dappening Chat Noir's smile. "That's not the case at all. I have no bat-based superpowers, or any superpowers at all."
"How can that be?" Chat asked, completely flabbergasted. "I hear all these stories of you striking fear to any criminal foolish enough to walk in the shadows. And crumble any organized crime."
"I have my ways," Batman said calmly. At this, Chat's jaw dropped even lower than it had previously.
"Are those ways also how you found out our secret identities?" Ladybug bluntly asked. Chat looked at her with shocked eyes, his jaw snapped shut. He thought he calmed her down earlier, but figured she might still be on edge about it. Batman merely turned his head to her.
"Yes, and if you are worried about your identities; don't be. I have kept some of the biggest secrets, some even my own, from many villains that have tried to extract them from me. I have also hidden the same trail that I used to uncover your identities. So no one can figure it out like I did."
"Oh," Ladybug said as she visibly lowered her defenses, becoming less rigid. "Well thank you for that, I guess." Chat however still had his eyes wide with a sudden realization.
"Hold on," he started. "If you know our identities, do you know Monarch's?" Ladybug's eyes also widened at the thought. Batman made a small frown, so far his only expression he's made.
"I do, however I cannot disclose his identity." At this Ladybug's outrage seemed to return. Chat started to feel the same as she did. "Please know, that I would tell you. One of your friends told me not to tell either of you."
"What friend?" Ladybug asked seemingly not convinced.
"The time traveling Miraculous Holder: Bunnix."
"Bunnix told you not to say Monarch's identity?" She asked and Batman nodded.
"She said that you two will find out in due time. That if I told you now, it would rupture the whole space time continuum. She even showed me the outcome personally." Once again, the two heroes calmed down at his explanation. From here on, the two decided to trust Batman as if he was one of the Holders they would intrust with the magic jewels. Especially considering that one of their own trusts him enough to reveal such events of a future that is to be avoided.
"Can I ask you something?" Chat spoke after a moment. "Did you know that Mr. Freeze was going to team up with Monarch?"
"I foresaw it as a possibility, however Freeze doesn't usually like teaming up with others. He relies on his high intellect and only himself. Which is why it was interesting to see him come here to seek out the magical power of the Miraculous."
"And to team up with Monarch, no less." Ladybug chimed in. Batman once again merely nodded.
"If we are to be successful, we need to figure out how we can combine our strengths to defeat these villains." The two heroes came out from their hiding spot and stood beside Batman.
"We will do whatever we can," Chat Noir stated.
"You two know Paris better than I or Freeze. We can theoretically use that knowledge to our advantage. All of that depends on where our battle will take place."
"Which could be anywhere, depending on who they might use as an Akumatized villain." Ladybug pointed out. "Just like how they used the Gingerbread Man to lure Chat Noir and I."
"That possibility can't be ruled out, however I think they will believe that plan failed and move to a more drastic plan."
"You think he will Akumatize Freeze?" Ladybug asked, seemingly knowing what Batman was getting at.
"I do." Batman said almost assuredly. "I'm sure Monarch will try to amplify Freeze's powers in some way. Hence why I brought this suit." He gestured to himself. "But there are too many unknown variables to what else Monarch could do to Freeze."
"Akumatized villains are our speciality," Chat said proudly. "If Freeze does get Akumatized, Ladybug and I can do what we do best. As long as we can de-Akumatize Freeze then you could come in and take him back to Gotham."
"And then Monarch would lose his leverage and hopefully back off. At least for a while." Ladybug added. Batman was quiet for a moment. The two could tell he was wrapped up in his thinking.
"I believe that is the best course of action," Batman finally said. He pushed a button on his gauntlet and pulled out two ear pieces, and handed them each one. "This will allow us to communicate during the battle. Even if he is Akumatized, he will still be Freeze underneath, and I can give you some pointers on fighting him. I will handle Monarch, if he shows up."
"What do you mean 'if he shows up'?" Ladybug questioned his choice of words.
"Meaning Monarch usually hides away and allows his victims to do his dirty work. He demonstrated that when you faced him in New York." Using his gauntlet he pulled up a video of Monarch teleporting on top of the ice dome that had surrounded Notre Dame. "He only joined when I joined the fray, and when you two were at your most vulnerable. Now that he knows I am here, and that you two will be more prepared. I almost guarantee that he will take a step back."
A loud crash resonated all the way up to the top of the Eiffel Tower. All three of them sprinted out the door and looked over the railing. At first they couldn't see anything except clouds of dark grey and light green. Out from the clouds came, not one, but three unique figures. They all resembled Mr. Freeze in terms of having his face and suit but they looked altered.
One had his face turned white, but his lips were completely covered in slightly uneven red makeup. His goggles had purple lenses with a light green strap. His suit had a purple blazer on top of his high tech suit which was colored green. His ice gun had an extra contraption on top of it, which stretched around to his back, that had a long purple bag. The bag had big green jagged writing on it that said 'LAUGHTER BOMBS'.
The one in the middle towered over the other two. He was easily two to three times their size. His whole figure was bulky and muscular, though they couldn't tell whether it was his body or suit causing the change of figurement. His arms ended with two massive blaster ends. Though they retracted and revealed he had giant hands from within. Big huge blue tubes flowed to the canister in the back. Over top of the suit was a traditional white and black luchador outfit. The goggles were on top of a similarly styled and colored luchador mask.
The last figure was covered in thick dark green vines and leaves, along with tiny light blue flowers dotting along them. You could hardly tell that the grey and blue suit was even underneath all the greenery. The ice gun had transformed to look closer to a high power watering hose, complete with an adjustable nozzle. Around the base of Freeze's glass dome, the teeth of a venus fly trap encompassed it. Inside the glass dome, the two red glass pieces of his goggles were held intertwined branches.
All three of them looked up towards the news helicopter, which had flew over seeing the clouds appear around the Eiffel Tower. In unison, they all spoke the same phrase:
"Ladybug, Chat Noir, and Batman. If you do not want the fair city of Paris to crumble underneath the power of Arkham Rogue, you must do one simple thing. Surrender and bring me the Miraculous of Ladybug and Chat Noir!"