Date: Mon, 24 Dec 2001 08:45:17 -0800 (PST) From: Author James Subject: Chronicles of a Real Dark Knight 11 Disclaimer: This story, though maybe not in this chapter but in subsequent chapters, will have celebrities in it. I have no knowledge of their sexuality and this is not intended to imply their sexuality. This is all from my own mind. Scary!! People actually get a glimpse into my mind!!! Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel and all related characters created by Joss Whedon. Copyright 20th Century Fox. Batman, and all related characters created by Bob Kane. Copyright DC Comics and Warner Bros. X-MEN, and all related characters created by Stan Lee. Copyright Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox. Talamasca, Lestat, Louis, and all related characters created by Anne Rice. Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice. I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in case, I have myself covered. In this story, which has been floating around in my head most of my life, you will find many universes merging, as the above copyrights reveal. I hope you all enjoy this. I appreciate any feedback that you may want to give. This story doesn't deal so much with sex, sex, sex, but more of my feelings that I struggled with and am starting to come to terms with. Part of his background is mine. I do hope that you enjoy it!!! Any emails you send, please tell me what chapter and story you are commenting on. Thanks. jmsotc@yahoo.com Chapter 11 Tracking Down The Hatter As I sat in the darkness watching Prince William and thinking about his predicament, I noticed a shadow move outside. I focused all my attention on it. I didn't want to move and cause whoever or whatever was outside to leave. The shadow moved to the balcony window and attempted to pick the lock. I waited. Reaching into my pocket, I found the tracking device and readied it. The window slowly opened and a leg came through the opening followed by a body. Quietly I stood up as it made it's way over to William's bed. I walked up and carefully slipped the tracking device into its belt. William woke up and screamed. I grabbed the person by the shoulders and threw him into the wall. He swung his leg in an inside-outside kick connecting with my face. He turned, ran to the window and jumped through it. "How in the hell did he get in here?" William asked. "I thought you were watching me." "I wanted to get the tracking device on him." William flipped on the light as I went to the phone and picked it up. "Get me Brian Braddock." "What are you doing?" "Getting protection for you." "Where are you going?" "To find out who this Hatter is." Ten minutes later, Meggan showed up. She shape-shifted into me and I suited up in my Bat-suit. "I should be back in a few hours, hopefully. Keep the guards at hand." "Gotcha'," she replied. "William, whatever you do, stay put." "Okay." I jumped out the window and ascended to the roof. Standing on the rooftop, I checked the monitoring device for the tracer. The perpetrator was only a few blocks away. I went into action. Pulling out a grappling gun, I shot a line to the next building and leapt. Within minutes I was close to the building housing the would-be assailant. It was a haberdashery, a hat store. I jumped to the store's roof and found an access hatch inside. Slowly, I climbed in, cautiously, not knowing who or what I was facing. The bottom of the ladder was in the middle of a corridor. I looked around and listened for any possible indication as to the attacker's location. Several rooms contained boxes and boxes of hats. Curiosity got the better of me and I opened a box. The hat inside was an ornate hat a woman of high class would wear. Peacock feather sprouted out the side. "Who would make this stuff?" I asked out loud. Pulling the hat out of the box, I looked at the inside to see the name of manufacturer. To my surprise I found a small computer chip sticking out of the band. I pulled it out and looked at it. A noise outside grabbed my attention and I placed the computer chip in a pouch on my suit. I went over to the door and listened. I heard an unfamiliar male voice come from the hallway. "What happened?" he asked. "The American was there," came the response. The voice was Joshua Jenkins, my former boss in Los Angeles. "What is he doing?" I thought. "Do you recognize this American?" "No, Mr. Tech." "Hmm, is that a note of your own will in your voice? I will have to up the frequency. I can't have my loyal thugs turning on with their own pesky will, can I?" The footsteps faded down the hallway. "Own will? Could it be this Mr. Tech has found a way to take away someone's will?" My mind went to the computer chip I found. "I need to get this chip back to Excalibur. Maybe someone on their team can analyze computer technology." I opened the door to leave and found two assassins in front of me. "What are you doing here?" one asked. "I'm looking for a hat to hide these ears of mine." I hauled off and punched on in the face. He clutched his nose. The other swung her leg at me and hit me in the chest. I fell back into the wall. Her foot came at my face and I ducked as it slammed into the wall. I swung my leg out and knocked the leg supporting her out from under her. She fell to her back with a thump. The man I punched recovered and came at me. I tackled me and lay on top of me. "You are pathetic," he snarled. I worked my leg between him and I and kicked out. He rolled off of me. I flipped up to my feet as he stood up. I swung my leg out to kick him. He grabbed my ankle and turned it, causing me to fall to the floor. I swung my other leg up and kicked him. He released my ankle and fell into the wall. I did a handstand and brought my leg over standing myself up. I run to the ladder and climbed up quickly. I couldn't risk the computer chip being damaged. When I reached the rooftop, I ran to the edge attempting to get my bearings. Suddenly something wrapped around me. I lost balance and fell off the building. Relaxing my molecules I slowed my fall enough so it wouldn't kill me, but it sure hurt like hell. My vision was blurry but slowly cleared. What I saw wasn't very promising. The door on the side of the building I was in opened. Two masked figures came out followed by a man in an over coat and top hat. "Ah, you must be the famous Batman," he said in a cheery English accent. "Welcome to my home." He turned to his henchmen. "Bring him inside." The two came over and picked me up. Then I lost consciousness. Not too far away, the shadowy figure materialized in Christian's apartment. He saw some books opened on the dining room table and he investigated. "Ah, young Christian is attempting to read up on me," he said with a grin, fangs showing. "Too bad he does not have the power to do anything about stopping me." The apartment door opened and Christian walked in to see Macai. "What are you doing here?" he asked the demon. "I own you, boy. You don't have the privilege to ask me of anything." "Where are my family members?" "They are fine. For now. Do anything to provoke me and they will no longer be." With that Macai slammed the book shut. "Is there something you require?" Christian said in contempt. "Not as of yet. So far things are working according to what was seen. The Council of Watchers and Excalibur are busy with other investigations. They don't have much time to deal with me." "What about the Talamasca?" Macai looked on Christian with a leer. "Someone has been doing some homework. The Talamasca has information. They know someone who has extensive information on me. However, the Talamasca is not in the habit of involving themselves. They are of no consequence to me." "If you require nothing of me, why are you here?" Christian asked. Macai shot him a reproving look. Christian quickly added, "If you don't mind my asking." "Simple. I require entertainment." "Entertainment?" "Yes. Undress." Christian's eyes went big. He did not know what Macai was going to ask of him. And part of him didn't want to know. I came to and found myself tied up in a chair. Several henchmen were in the room all looking at me narrowly. One slipped out and I heard him mutter that I was awake. He came back into the room followed by the man with the top hat. "I'm glad you are still among us," the boss said. "Thank you," I replied sarcastically. "Who in the hell are you?" "Just a humble haberdashery owner. I love hats. Don't you?" I just glared at him. "Oh, of course you don't. It's hard to find one to fit those ears of yours." He smiled at me. His smile was very large and toothy. I looked over at the wall and noticed he resembled the mad hatter from Alice in Wonderland. "Are you a mad hatter wannabe?" I asked. "What?" he said, his temper changing rather quickly. "You look just like the mad hatter from Alice in Wonderland." "How perceptive you are, Batman. Quite right." "Why him? Of all the people you could have mimicked, you decided on the crazy man." "Oh, he's not crazy." "Really? Why in the hell do you think they call him 'mad'?" "HE'S NOT CRAZY!!!" the Mad Hatter yelled. Strangely he calmed right down. "He is a master of his own destiny. He is the master of his own world. He doesn't need the rules of the world to live by. He has his own. He is the master of the tea party of life. The inhabitants of Wonderland call him mad because of jealousy. They don't appreciate his own strength of will to live his own life. He uses those who cross his path for his own enjoyment. So you see, he's not crazy. He's the sanest one of all." "You are mad," I whispered. "I beg to differ, Batman," he said as he approached me. He pulled out a walking stick and hit me across the face with it. "I don't get mad. I get even." He smiled really big and left the room. I tasted my own blood in my mouth from his assault. I knew I would have to find a way out of the predicament I was in and get the computer chip back so it could be analyzed. Serena decided to go check on Eric. Harry was fast asleep and there were already several guards in the area. Her leaving him for a few moments would not be a problem. She made her way to Prince William's bedroom and knocked softly. She knew she wouldn't have to knock too hard because William's protector would be wide-awake. After a moment's hesitation, the door opened. "Hi, Eric." "Hi." "How is the little prince sleeping?" "Very sound." "Really? Did you and he...? No, you couldn't possibly have... Did you?" "Did we what?" "Have sex?" "No! Of course not! I wouldn't do anything like that with him!" "Calm down," Serena said. "After all this time, how could you suggest something like that now?" "Eric, I've been suggesting it to you the whole time here." "Oh," Eric replied. Serena read a look on his face of embarrassment. "Is everything okay, Eric?" "Yeah. Fine." "Let me in a minute." "No, things are okay." "Meggan? Who's here?" William asked groggily. "Meggan?" Serena repeated. She pushed past 'Eric' and entered the room. "Who is Meggan, William?" William looked at Serena in surprise. "Oops." "Oops? Who's Meggan?" "I am," replied Prince William's protector. Serena turned around and saw 'Eric' turn into Meggan, the mutant from the group Excalibur. "What the hell are you doing here? And where is Eric?" "There was an attack," William said. "William," Meggan said loudly, trying to prevent William from sharing the information. "It's okay, Meggan. I trust Serena." "What happened?" Serena asked sternly. "There was an attack," William continued. "Eric put one of the tracking devices on the masked figure. He followed after them." "When did this happen?" "About a half hour ago." "Have you heard from him at all?" "No," replied Meggan. "Great. Contact your friends. We may need some help here." "Okay." Meggan left the room. Serena turned to leave as well. "Where are you going?" William asked. "I'm going to find Eric. And help him if possible." "But, he wore his suit. If you show up like that, they may figure out who Batman really is." "Don't worry. I have my own disguise." Nightcrawler, Colossus, Psylocke and Pete Wisdom stood in the foyer with Prince William and Meggan. Meggan was telling them Serena's plan. "Where is she?" Nightcrawler asked. "Right here," Serena replied. All eyes went up to the second floor balcony. Serena stood in her purple Cat suit with whip in hand. "Like it?" she asked. "Wow!" Pete replied. "Thanks. Listen up. Kurt, I want you to contact the Watchers' Council. Let them know what is going on. Tell them who is here to protect the Princes. No need to get Christine and Jessica out of bed for this." Kurt disappeared. "Then I want all of you to keep an eye on the Princes. No telling who may try to attempt harm with us gone." "If anyone shows up, they will find a pleasant surprise waiting for them," Pete said with a grin. Several of his fingers turned into hot knives, and then reverted back into fingers. "Where are you going?" Psylocke asked. "I'm going to find Eric." "But you don't know where he is." Kurt reappeared. "The Council said they would stay alert if needed. They also gave me the frequency for the tracking devices. You should use a monitoring device to follow Eric's path." "Good idea. Let's stay sharp tonight, folks. There's trouble brewing." Serena, now Catwoman, walked to William's room and over to the balcony. William followed her in. "Serena," he whispered. She turned to him. "Be careful. Bring him back alive. I'd hate for someone to be dead because of me." "I will, William. I promise." Catwoman climbed out the window and leapt into the air using her whip to swing to a nearby roof. She pulled out the tracking monitor and turned it on. Tuning it to the frequency Kurt gave her she found the location. "That looks like the haberdashery." She attached the monitor to her belt and headed toward her destination. To Be Continued... I have begun another story on Nifty in the Celebrity section. It takes place in the same world as this story. It's called "The Punisher".