Beyond The Web

Chapter Two

MEANWHILE IN GOTHAM CITY.

"Terry did you stake out the local Jokerz hangout by downtown gotham?" asked Bruce. "Yeah I did and by the time I got there the place was deserted and trashed. It's almost like they knew I was coming. Slag it, I'll get them next time." replied Terry.

"You better hope you do, this is the third time this has happened. Terry it's important that we find out what the Jokerz are planning to do with everything that's been stolen, this is serious, this is-." Terry cut Bruce off in mid sentence, he could see Bruce was getting too worked up and at his age he had to take it easy, he was on medication for his heart. "Relax old man, they're sure to slip up soon, they always do." Terry answered.

Bruce scowled at Terry, he was always bringing up his age. As if he didn't know. "You know your face can get stuck like that." Terry laughed. Bruce stayed silent and wheeled himself over to his computer. It's been almost 30 years since the great Bruce Wayne retired as Batman. Facing off against the most vile of villains and escaping perilous danger eventually took its toll on the caped crusader.

The only thing Batman could not defeat nor escape was time. It finally caught up to him. It was then Bruce knew he had to find a successor. His successor being Terry Mcguiness. Although young and still somewhat naive. Terry had proven his worth and ingenuity countless of times to prove he could handle taking on the title as the dark knight of Gotham.

The two had met when the jokerz chased Terry to Bruce's mansion. Terry had also saved Bruce's life. Bruce booted up the batcomputer. The screen showed a map, it highlighted a couple of buildings in the city that the jokerz has stolen from. "Wait a minute you mean to tell me they've been casing....make up factories? I don't get it." Terry asked. "Well it's to my knowledge that a new product has recently been shown to the public. It's called retrogena. An anti aging cream. It's not available yet but they are claiming that this will revolutionize the industry.

So we have to-." So the Jokerz are stealing a bunch of lotion to make a quick buck. What's the big deal?" Terry said. "Could be but I don't think so. It's something more, something else. At any rate we have to get to the bottom of this, people are getting hurt over it. So take this serious Terry." Bruce replied.

"Now suit up, I'm sending you the locations. When you get there speak to the head C.E.O. He won't be expecting it but I'm sure he won't mind if you dropped by." Bruce continued. "Got it, hey you look like you could use some of that anti-aging cream, I'll be sure to grab you some." Terry laughed. Bruce groaned and motioned for terry to leave. Terry suited up, spread his bat wings and jet packed out of there. First stop, retrogena. The city of Gotham seemed quiet right now which was strange but not for long Terry figured. The city was home to some of the most dangerous criminals ever. Some that even terry hadn't faced and yet..everybody knows of Batman.

The retrogena was just on the outskirts of the city. Pretty small for a makeup factory thought Terry. The factory was no bigger than his high school. Terry swooped down and onto the roof. He scaled his way down till he reached the CEO's office window. Luckily the window easily slid open.

He made his way in and up towards the ceiling. The CEO had just walked in. Mr.Mabel, an awkward but smart business man. He didn't look much older than terry. Just as he sat down, Terry swooped down in front of his desk. "AH BATMAN, WHAT IS IT, WHAT DO YOU WANT, GUA-." Just as Mr.Mabel was about to alert the guards, Terry quickly reacted and tossed a batarang rendering the security alarm on his desk useless.

"Relax Mabel I'm not here for you or should I be?" "No, no please. I have kids. I don't trust anyone, not even you Batman. I'm on the verge of losing everything right now." Mabel blurted out. "I'm here to help Mabel, I need to see that security footage. All of it." Terry replied. Mabel grabbed a remote off his desk and pressed a button. The wall behind his desk slid into the floor revealing a wall of tvs. " Camera 6, bottom left." Mable pointed.

On the screen were two girls, twins both dressed with a white hat, white face, red crop top, white shorts and long red boots. They headed towards the back of the factory where shipping was located. They split up. They hid behind an 18 wheeler making its delivery. Two guards came out and greeted the driver. The twins helped each other up onto the truck with ease.

They let the guards speak a while longer and then struck. It was almost like it was a choreographed dance, each blow complimenting the other. One of the twins would kick or punch the guards towards the other to land the next blow and so on. The guards never stood a chance. Now that they were handled, the girls waved and a van drove up to the back, They loaded up the car with crates as many as they could fit.

Terry couldn't make out the driver even with enhancing the video. Though he knew the twins. Acrobatic, deadly and downright annoying? The Dee Dee Twins, Granddaughters of the infamous Harley Quinn and members of the Jokerz. Terry couldn't help but laugh a bit. The twins were stealing make up as if they didn't have enough. "What's so funny?" Mabel yelled. Terry quickly stopped laughing. "Sorry, anyways. Mabel I was wondering if you could tell me more about this new product of yours."

"I can't do that Batman." Mabel scoffed. "Why not? Not to sound pretentious but I don't need retrogena." Terry chuckled. "I'm already on the verge of losing my company, you think I'm just going to simply hand over my product's formula?!" Mabel cried. "In fact I do. There are lives at stake. I need to know what's in that formula to figure out what its being used for. Now you can either hand it to me or I can "simply" take it from you. Painfully." Terry rebutted.

Mr.Mabel sighed. He reached into the drawer of his desk and pulled out a USB containing the file. He lobbed it at Terry who caught it with ease. "Please, just fix this". A defeated Mabel spoke. He slumped down in his chair and reached in his desk for a bottle. Terry softened his look at Mabel. "I will fix this, you have my word." Terry replied. He then made his way out the window and started his jet boots.

He quickly phoned Bruce. "Bruce I'm sending over the formula. Right now I'm heading towards one of the usual Jokerz hangouts. One of them has to have heard something. "Alright, I'll let you know what the computer finds. So far I'm seeing nothing out of the ordinary." Bruce replied. "Okay, talk soon old man." Terry replied. This whole situation was confusing to him. Just how on earth could make up become the source of the jokers next nefarious plot? It blew terry's mind...but not as much as the rocket that was heading towards him would! Out of nowhere it appeared.

Terry quickly swooped down and swiveled around buildings and alleys but it was no use. It was a homing missile and it wasn't letting up. He was flying down an alley way when he soon realized it was a dead end. "Maybe if I'm fast enough I can make it crash into the wall when I change the direction." Terry thought. He wasn't sure if he would be able to make such a sharp change in direction but he had to try. He slowed down quickly and then started up his boots again. His body just barely scrapped the wall. He did it! Unfortunately.. so did the rocket.

"Slag this rocket!!! only one thing to do." Terry thought. He'd have to shoot it down and hope the explosion wasn't huge. The rocket was right on him, he did a quick 180 spin in the air and aimed down his hand blaster. Just as he was about to shoot, the rocket shot first. The rocket exploded into small pieces and a net sprung forth from within. It took him by surprise quickly electrocuting him and rendering his jet boots useless. The suit started to shutdown altogether. He couldn't phone Bruce. He was tangled up and couldn't free himself. He felt the air rushing past him. It wouldn't be long before he hit the ground. The body suit was designed to absorb impacts. How much though Terry did not know. The buildings started look as they were suddenly sprouting from underneath him. It was seconds now.

Terry closed his eyes and braced for impact. His body hit a few clotheslines on the way down which slowed him just a bit but not enough. His body met the ground with a sickening thud. He felt his ribs crumple like a piece of paper. His lungs desperately trying to breathe back all the air that was violently ripped from them. He turned onto his back. His vision was getting blurry. Then a shadow creeped into his vision followed by another. They stood over him for what felt like forever. Then he heard the laughter. "We got em boss! We're such good girls arent we?" They cackled in unison before smiling down at Terry. It was the last thing he heard before everything faded to black..