Batman Beyond: The Legacy Returns

Chapter 2 - Welcome Home Terry

The clash of thunder and lightening grumbled in the dark skies overhead, as the rain slowly came to an end. On the ground below, a pair of lights came racing around a narrow winding road that led straight to the top of a hill. The light was beginning to fade outside as the afternoon transformed into the ever coming of darkness. A futuristic hover car was now visible as the beaming headlights gave way, a rather expensive looking model that had a sliver polished appearance. On the side of the vehicle was large green letters on side doors, it read, "Gotham Budget Flyers". The hovering rental car was being used by Terry McGinnis, who pulled up to a large rusted gate sitting at the top of the hill and looked as if it was ready to fall off from it's broken, weather beaten hinges. The powerful headlights on the futuristic car beamed on the logo that was cracked and broken. Terry got out of the vehicle and walked over to the gates, with one small push he managed to send the rusted steel crashing to the ground where it nearly shattered in pieces. Neglect of the stately Wayne Manor was obvious, it seems that Bruce didn't want to keep the hired help around to maintain the building. Now Terry could finally see why he should never have left, his old mentor was just as stubborn with him as he was with the hired help. He must have disagreed with the various workers on their tasks and fired the entire lot of them. Funny, he wouldn't have talked to his friend and father figure Alfred Pennyworth that way.

Stepping through the decaying archway, the young man walked up the cracked wet pavement and looked at the overgrown verge on the front estate. As he came to the main doors, he noticed that they weren't locked and stepped in without having to use his old fashion key that many used in the previous century. As he walked down the main lobby and past the grand staircase leading to the next floor, he was amazed at how bad the housekeeping was. He knew Wayne wasn't interested in maintaining the place when he met him, but this time, if a building inspector came here the place would be recommended for demolition. As he turned into the large sitting room where Bruce often sat in front of the fireplace, he looked at the faded picture of Wayne's parents and the old photos sitting on the mantle. Images of friends and other heroes that Bruce knew in their alter egos adorned the fireplace shelf like a roster of who's who. Selina Kyle (Catwoman), Clark Kent (Superman), Commissioner Gordon, a younger image of Barbara Gordon (Batgirl) and even one of Dick Grayson and himself in happier times.

"How can I possibly live up to this?" McGinnis utters aloud. "This was his life, not mine."

The striking of the grandfather clock catches his attention and looks at the old antique with fondness. Raising his hand to it, he touches the button that activates it and stands back as the clock slides over to reveal the Bat cave entrance. The echo of the gears grinding to a halt went down the dark narrow staircase and Terry stood at the top looking into the deep tunnel leading in. With a heartfelt sigh, he walked down into the Bata cave and felt along the wall for the light switch as he reached the bottom of the stairs. As he turned on each one, the lights exposed the vast cave and all of the various levels of Batman's gadgets, labs and equipment. The lights even shone down on his museum of costumes of old villains and props they used. Terry walked over to the glass case containing the old costumes of Batman and his 'family'. The tattered, bullet hole ridden out fits were sealed in an airtight locker that preserved them from the elements. And then, there at the end of the long line was his old suit. Black as midnight with a large red bat logo, the high tech suit was one of a kind and something McGinnis found to be impressive even to this day. A true lasting testament to Bruce Wayne's superior intelligence and natural flair for technical innovation. Terry never had Wayne's creative nature, in fact he wasn't even sure how the suit function most of the times. Pressing his hand up to the glass case and looking at his old bat costume, the young man's face showed sadness.