Batman : Of Moth and Men

Chapter 5- The Fight

Early the next morning Bruce Wayne awoke to Alfred's voice.

Excuse me Master Bruce, but Doctor Cleer is here to see you.

What time is it, he asked.

It is 8am, sir.

Bruce Wayne rose out of bed. He painfully stretched as he was not used to the rise and shine routine. After a few moments, he met Dr. Cleer in the formal living room.

What a pleasant surprise Doctor. Honestly, what brings you here bright and early?

Pleasant is hardly the word I would use Bruce Wayne. Somebody broke into the Gotham Science Museum last night and completely ruined the exhibit.

Oh Cameron I'm so sorry, why would anyone break into a museum just to trash an exhibit?

Funny, that's what I was going to ask you.

I don't understand. Are you accusing me of destroying your exhibit?

The way I see it Bruce, after I left here, you used your million dollar connections and somehow got into the museum. You destroyed it in some sort of retaliation towards how I acted at dinner. After all, we are dealing with Moths, are we not?

Cameron, I understand dinner did not go exactly as planned, but I would never do anything to deliberately hurt you. Why would I destroy an exhibit, yet one I funded and believed in the first place?

I figured you'd throw the money part back in my face, but I propose the question to you Mr. Wayne. What is money to you anyway? You have everything you want in life, fame, wealth, love. And what do I have? A trashed exhibit by someone I used to call my friend.

Cameron, please listen to me.

I'm through listening to you Bruce. I'm through listening to everybody. In fact, I'd watch my back if I were you. Otherwise, you might find yourself in the wreckage of something you love that's been destroyed.

Cameron kept a stare on Bruce for about 20 seconds before he decided to leave for the door. He reached for the handle and managed to just get the door open, before Alfred stepped into view.

Sir, I'm sincerely sorry for what had happened, but to accuse Master Bruce...

Cameron's eye's turned red and he threw his hand towards Alfred. GET BACK!

Just then, dozens of moths flew through the opening of the front door and covered Alfred. They lifted him into the air and carried him across the living room and dropped him onto the marble floor. Then, the moths returned to the side of Doctor Van Cleer. Cameron readjusted his glance from Alfred to Bruce. He reached behind him and pushed the front door closed.

Moths, bring me Bruce Wayne! The moths darted towards Bruce in a stream line fashion. Bruce disappeared around the corner and went into the kitchen.

Dr. Cameron Van Cleer's eyes were still a crimson red. They continued to glow as his face slightly began to change form. His cheek bones began to crack and stretch vertically. His mouth widened as nose flared.

He screamed, "You can run but you can't hide Bruce Wayne."

Bruce slipped through his kitchen and went into his walk in pantry. He reached up and pulled one of the box dinner meals and it opened the wall behind the can goods. Bruce took the entrance to the Batcave.

Dr. Van Cleer made his way into the kitchen and noticed Bruce was nowhere in sight. He began to destroy the kitchen, smashing everything in sight. Then, he saw the pantry. The moths were gathered on the door. He snarled and opened it the door to the pantry, but Bruce was nowhere in sight. He went to turn away, but something caught his eye. There was a mysterious outlining on the wall that didn't perfectly match the pattern of the sheetrock. The change in his eyes wasn't only the exterior color, but he had developed his ability to see extreme detail in the dark. He thrust into the wall and pushed open the secret door to the Batcave.

Doctor Van Cleer crept down the stairway into the darkness. He could see the outlining of the stairs and feel change in the temperature. His breathing became heavy and had more of a snarling effect. With each step he took, he noticed an outline of a platform getting closer. He focused on what was beneath him, so much, that he failed to see what was coming at him.

He was drop kicked off the stairs and landed on the runway below. All in all, it was about a 15 ft. drop, so he was merely dazed. He laid on his back and gazed above him. His eyes widened when he saw something in the form of a Bat.

Dr. Van Cleer raised his legs and thrust the figure off of him and over his head. He stumbled to his feet and to his amazement, he was face to face with Batman.

Batman? Here, under Bruce Wayne's House? That could only mean that, You are Bruce Wayne and Bruce Wayne is Batman?

Get yourself together, Cameron. You need medical help. Look at You ! You're changing and the side effects are destroying you.

Destroying me? That's where you are wrong Batman. The side effects aren't destroying me; it was you that destroyed me. I'm simply upgrading in species.

Cameron, please.

The name is not Cameron, Bruce. Call me Killer Moth!

Killer Moth ran towards Batman and pushed him into the Bat Computer. The strength that Killer Moth possessed was truly overpowering Batman. He held Batman beneath him, crushing his face into the floor with his knee. He snarled and leaned towards him as he applied more pressure.

Looks like you won't be needing this anymore, Bruce.

He reached down and ripped half of the Bat Cowl off of his face. His menacing red eyes dawned right into the pupils of the millionaire playboy. He had him right where he wanted him.

Batman moaned as he desperately tried to reach down towards his Bat Belt. The pressure of his skull began to intensify and he was losing sight. If he could just reach his Bat Belt.

Just then, the pressure stopped. Killer Moth looked down at him and he began to drool blood. Bruce Wayne's eyes locked on to Killer Moths. Then, they both were fixated on the large knife that was impaled through his back and out of his chest. Bruce pulled himself out from under Killer Moth and saw Alfred standing right behind him.

Shall I make that another Moth I killed this week, then? Alfred stood there, shaken up, but relieved to have defended his Master Bruce.

Thanks Alfred.

I'm just glad you are ok Master Bruce. That was quite a creature.

That was no creature, Alfred. That was my friend.

Indeed, said Alfred.

Batman and Alfred turned to exit the Batcave, but Killer Moth landed right in front of them. He stood before them with giant wings that had burst from the hole in which he was stabbed. He screeched with a violent and piercing sound. He reached out and snatched up Alfred in one hand and Batman in the other. Batman stared into his eyes and smiled.

What are you smiling at? Did you think I was through with you, Bruce Wayne?

No, I just remembered something I learned from your exhibit.

Oh yeah, and what might that be?

Bruce Wayne's eyes squinted as she smiled and said, " Bats eat moths!"

Batman reached down and pressed a button on his bat belt that he could not reach before. The button released hundreds of Bats from the depths of the Batcave and they all flew directly towards them.

Killer Moth dropped Batman and Alfred onto the floor and stared in horror. The Bats injected their teeth deep into his skin and his blood began flowing. He screamed and wailed in pain as they began ripping him apart.

Batman and Alfred stared at the demise of Killer Moth. Soon, the screams faded and the bats flew away. All that remained were pieces of Dr. Cameron van Cleer.