Project 22510

Prologue

'Ace Chemicals'

This is where our story begins. The same place where the infamous Joker was born, and where Batman had a run for his money.

Well.....not literally, but you know what I mean. Let's just say that tonight will be one of Batman's most challenging missions.

It all started at around 1:43 am[1]; when he had gotten the call about a disturbance at Ace Chemicals. The name sent chills down his spine, but he showed no fear. Only determination, as usual, to get the job done.

Breaking into the abandoned factory was like any normal day on the job. The first floor consisted of six guards,(a sure sign that the seemingly abandoned factory was currently being occupied) all armed, with two at each door. There were only two doors, so the rest of the guards were patrolling the place. At least this is what Batman thought it should have looked like. Rather, they all seemed bored.

He wouldn't take any chances; he swiftly took to higher ground. When he was about to make his first move, he stopped when one of the guard's radios went off.

"He's not here is he?" asked an all too familiar voice (at least to Batman) through the speaker.

"Uh, yeah boss, no sign of 'im. Question, why are we patrolling an abandoned factor? There's no one here." the guard radioed back. The voice on the other side made a tsk sound before replying with a snarky response of, "Well isn't it obvious?"

The guard didn't reply, waiting for an answer, but apparently the first speaker wanted him to respond.

"It's because of the Bat you idiot! If he catches word of my plans then all of my valuable time and research will have been a waste! Do you understand!?"

"Yeah boss." the guard replied, as the speaker hung up. The guard's fellow others snickered or chided him in his error. "Stupid questions like that 'ill get you no where in this business." the other patrolling one commented. "Shut up." the first muttered.

Batman wasn't paying any attention to their mindless chitchat, he was merely placing the voice he had heard to any of the criminals he had fought. Hugo Strange he thought as he swooped down from his perch.

Dr. Hugo Strange was a brilliant, yet deadly man; one of the many criminal masterminds Batman has faced in his time. Strange preferred to use his knowledge to outsmart Batman or go about and conduct experiments. He was doing the later of the two, at least trying too. Batman would stop him before he succeeded.

Back to what was going on, Bruce had successfully taken down the first guard. Although he must not have been as quiet as he thought, for another guard had heard and went to see what the commotion was all about. When the second man went to check, he merely found his unconscious teammate; warning the others on guard that the Batman had arrived. Their cocky and bored attitudes dried up then, now they were more focused, on edge, and alert.

"I thought I told you to update me regularly! What's going on!?" A radio shouted and the owner winced, keeping his eyes trained around him.

"B-Boss, i-it's the Ba-Bat. He-He took out Joey a-and now-" a shout interrupted him. The guard ran over along with the rest of his crew. Another guard had been taken out, this one crudely strung up from the ceiling rafters; he was begging for the rest of them to cut him down. However soon gravity and the laws of nature took it's toll and he was knocked unconscious.

"Find him you idiots! Find Batman before he ruins everything!" Hugo shouted. A chorus of 'yes sir' and 'yeah boss' was heard as the rest of the guards spread out. A poor decision on their part. Batman knew that they were just hired muscle, but anyone who had faced him by now should know, (and anyone who has watched a descent horror movie) separating was the worst possible decision. He could easily pick them apart; an armed group was more dangerous then an unsuspecting thug.