Batman Beyond: The Legacy Returns

Chapter 5 - Shattered Meetings

In a very large room filled with seated individuals, Terry and Jason Smythe sit beside one another on a large stage with other businessmen. The obvious morning meeting of the shareholders has come, the loud chatter among those invested with Wayne and Powers have waited this day for many years. The clear plastic podium in front of Terry has a scrolling logo of both companies in its liquid crystal screen built in. All of the top company officials are on stage with Terry and Jason, all of whom are riding on whatever the two have to say in this important event. The soft chime rings out in the large gray and blue room, the talking dies down and the people take to their seats quickly. Jason Smythe stands up and approaches the podium with a smile.

"Good morning everyone. My name is Jason Smythe and I'm the president and CEO of Powers Incorporated. Friends...we've brought you here today to discuss a bold new change...a change that could see the merging of both Wayne Industries and our parent company once again."

Terry shifts in his seat as he looks at the many Wayne supporters glancing his way.

"But this of course resides all on you..." Jason continues to speak. "Bruce Wayne, a very honest and loyal friend to many of you, has passed on with no one to take charge of his company that he fought so hard to take back from Powers grip. I don't blame him of course, my predecessors were very shifty and dishonest businessmen that sent his good name down into the mud. They mismanaged his company and took away what was once decent and trusting about the name Wayne. I took the burden of being hand picked by Wayne himself to run Powers as a separate entity, I restored our investments and worked hard to bring Powers up from the slime it was built on. Now the two major and...shall I say...competitive..."

The people all snicker at that bit of humor he tires to interject, Wayne Industries and Powers Incorporated always tried to out do one another when it came to stocks and product lines, it was a healthy venture for both companies that saw their profits triple during their years apart. With the businessmen having a good snicker about that fact, Smythe once again continued his speech.

"...Companies of Gotham City have finally come full circle and now have the chance to renew a united industry under one banner again. I for one will accept whatever way you choose...but the one person who can really say what will happen to this company merger is sitting right here. Ladies and Gentlemen...the appointed air of Wayne Industries and loyal friend to Bruce himself, I give you...Terry McGinnis."

Smythe begins clapping at Terry as he rises out of his seat and motions him to come to the awaiting podium for his talk as well. The people all stand up and clap in unison, a show of support and a sign of respect for the young man who now owns Wayne's company.

"Thank...thank you." He stutters in a shy manner. The sound of his voice echoing over the room from the built in microphone signals everyone to slowly end the applause and sit back down. Terry clears his throat and nervously tweaks his collar.

"Thank you all for coming. Thank you Mr. Smythe for agreeing to arrange this meeting of our shareholders. As you know, Bruce Wayne was one who literally made this company what it is today, he gave Gotham as much as he could and even beyond what was possible. He was there to rebuild the city after the major earthquake, he was there to serve the community in any cause, and he was the one man who knew when to draw the line when push came to shove."

Looking out into the sea of faces, Terry suddenly saw the press core at the back of the room; one face stood out more then the others as he stared right at them. Clark Kent, the news director of Daily Planet, was looking right back at him in a curious manner. They've known about each other for years now, they even know one another's secret identities having digged into each other's pasts. Wayne had told Terry about Superman after they tried to recruit him into the Justice League, but much like Bruce did back then, Terry refused to join the group. Clark tired many times since then to bring him in to the superhero society, but Terry was much rather happy being as solo as Wayne ever was. Terry kept his eyes locked onto this man of steel as he continued his talk with the shareholders.