Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2001 16:18:32 -0700 (PDT) From: Author James Subject: Adventures Of A Real Dark Knight 5 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. Star Trek and all related characters created by Gene Roddenberry. Copyright Paramount Studios. 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!!! This section of chapters is a continuation of my first story "Tales of a Real Dark Knight". I have received many emails from people who have enjoyed it and some from those who do not. I would enjoy hearing from you. Any emails you send, please tell me what chapter and story you are commenting on. Thanks. jmsotc@yahoo.com Chapter 5 Changing Investigations I went to work the following day excited about the prospect of seeing Lance that night. Since taking a chance to let my feelings out for a while, I have become a bit more relaxed not so uptight. I was meeting him for lunch and was looking forward to it. I picked up the phone and called the hotel. There was no answer. As soon as I hung up, though, the phone rang. "Hello?" "Hello, Eric." "Hi, Lance." "Listen, I'm down the street from your office. I could bring something in for lunch, if you like." "It's a beautiful day. Could we meet outside the office and go to the park?" "Sounds good." I hung up and gathered my things. "Have a great day, Debbie," I said as I entered the elevator. "Bye, Eric." I walked out the doors and found Lance waiting for me. "Wow, that was fast." "What can I say? I said I was down the street." "How far down?" "About three blocks." "And you got here in just a few minutes! What, did you run?" "No, I have a secret for you." Lance leaned in close and in a conspiratorial tone said, "I'm Batman." I leaned back in mocked shock. "But you can't tell anybody," he added with a grin. "Okay. It's our secret." I said with mock seriousness. "So what would you like to eat?" "How about a hot dog and lemonade?" "You sure?" "If you want something else we can get something else." "No, that sounds good." Lance and I walked to the famous hot dog stand I go to most of the time. We bought our hot dogs and lemonade and walked toward the park. It didn't take long to find a bench that was unoccupied. "So how was your day, so far?" Lance asked. "It was busy. How about yours?" "Busy, too. We have these dance steps we have to learn. We have to go to Orlando before Christmas for a concert. It's a benefit concert. A bunch of artists will be there." "Like who?" "Celine Dion will be there. Backstreet Boys, Savage Garden, Aaron Carter, a bunch. It is going to be one unbelievable concert." "What's it benefiting?" "You'll like this topic...children." "Really? Wow! Sounds exciting!" "Any chance you would be able to get away to attend?" "It's over a month away. I could probably put in for some time off." We sat and talked about all kinds of stuff. Then I had to take my leave to go to classes. Lance had to go as well to get back to work. As I walked to campus, I met up with Brian, Hailey and George. Brian was quiet, though it was to be expected. He had an alter ego that no one knew about. His mother was the famous Mrs. Freeze and he was her protégé. His mother was not very fond of organized higher education. She had attacked the college he attended several times. His anger toward her actions made him rather distant from everyone, except for a mutual friend. Hunter was a good friend to Brian. I can only guess how much Hunter and Brian confided in each other. The only evidence of their closeness came when Hunter killed himself. Brian went over the top. He lashed out and tried to kill Dr. Israel, the psychologist who attempted to cure Hunter. Dr. Israel escaped Brian's vengeance and has eluded the police for several weeks and is still at-large. "Good afternoon, everyone," I said cheerily. "Hi, Eric," Hailey replied. "How are you?" "I'm okay. How are you three doing?" "Good." "I'm okay," George answered. Brian just kept walking. "Brian, can I talk to you?" I asked. "Hm? What?" "Can I talk to you?" "Sure." "We'll catch up," I said to George and Hailey. "What's up, Eric?" Brian asked. "That's what I'm wondering about you. You have been awfully quiet. I know how much Hunter meant to you. You two were very close. But it's been a month. It's time to move on. Hunter would want you to." "Would Hunter want to be dead, though?" he asked rather coldly. "It seems he did. He's the one who took his own life." Brian hauled off and punched me. I tend to provoke that sometimes with people. "I didn't want to say it, Brian, but you have to face the truth. Hunter took his life. Yes, he was pushed over the edge. He couldn't take any more. If I had been in the same position, I might have done the same thing. But we can't die with him. We have to take the reasons he ended his life and help change the way people think so that no one else ends their life for the same reasons." "How can I do that? All I feel is anger and contempt." "You have to focus that anger and contempt to a more positive use." "How, Eric? How can I when all I've ever been taught is to lash out in vengeance?" I was the only person who knew Brian's secret. He wanted to know a way to have a more positive outcome of his anger. I know the dangers of allowing hatred to envelop you. It had me and I became a rather dark person. I sought vengeance. I had an idea on how to help Brian. "Meet me at the Iceberg Lounge tonight after 10:00 in the back. Wear your Freeze suit." "What?" "Just do it. Now let's get going before we're late for class." Classes seemed to drag by, but eventually I got through it. After class I rushed home. As soon as I walked in the door, the phone rang. It was Jessica, aka the Huntress. "Eric, we have a problem. Suit up and meet me around 10:30." "Okay. Where?" Jessica gave me directions that I quickly wrote down. I had time before meeting her to meet with Brian. And I was already planning on wearing my Bat-suit. At 10:00 I watched from the shadows as Brian, or should I say Freeze, appeared. He looked around. By his body posturing, I could tell he was apprehensive about being here. I didn't blame him. Wearing that suit in this town was bound to get some attention, mostly negative attention. Freeze looked a bit making sure he wasn't being watched or followed. I decided to make my presence known. I emerged from the shadows quickly but tried not to show any hostile motives. "What are you doing here?" Freeze asked. "Because I'm supposed to be here." "And I'm not?" "I didn't say that. I heard a rumor that you wanted help." "Maybe." "The question I have for you is help for what? Help to change or help to kill?" "I'm not here for you, Bats. I don't know why I'm talking to you." "Then why are you here?" "Because a friend of mine said he could help me channel my anger. If I would have known you were going to show up, I would not have come." Freeze looked away, "Damn, Eric. What is your plan?" "To help you," I replied. Freeze looked back at me. "What did you say?" "My plan is to help you." "You mean..." I stepped closer and my hand went up, removing my mask. Gasps came from Brian. "Oh...my...God," Brian said. "I don't believe this." "Believe it, Brian. Believe it." "But...what are you...going to do to me? Beat me up?" "No. Like I said twice today, I'm going to help you. I want you to join me. Together we can focus our anger to a more positive outcome." "I don't know. This seems pretty intense." "Please. Please, Brian. I don't want to lose you to the darkness. And I don't think you want to be lost in the darkness." Slowly Brian shook his head. "No...I don't." "You'll help me? You'll join me?" Brian stepped up to me. "Yes." He reached out his hand and I took it. Then I returned my mask to its rightful place. "You realize one thing, though," Freeze began. "What's that?" "If my mom finds out, she's going to kill me." "It will be okay. One thing I've learned in my life is that people must find their own way in life. Sometimes their choices are not very good, or safe, or even sane, but people are responsible for their own lives. No one can and no one should decide it for them. "Now, we must get going. I have an appointment to keep." "With who?" "The Huntress." Around 10:30 I saw the Huntress arrive. I turned to Freeze. "Stay here. I want to talk to her first." "Okay." I stepped out of the shadows. "Huntress." "Oh, good, you're here." "What's up?" "There was a fire last night." "Was anyone hurt?" "Yep." "Who?" "Dr. Isaiah Israel and police lieutenant Harrison." My mind swam. The man responsible for the death of one of my friends perished in a fire. I took a deep breath. "Are there any leads as to who did it?" "No. The police didn't find anything. But that's why you and I are going. We're going to check it out." "What a time to bring this up, but, I found someone to add to our group." "Really? Who?" I turned back toward the shadows Brian was standing in. "Come on out." I saw the look on the Huntress's face when she saw Freeze. "You can't be serious?" she said. "Why not?" "Because he's a criminal." "Sure he's made some bad decisions in the past, but most of it was his mother's doing. He can't be responsible for her actions." "What about his own actions?" "I can be responsible for them," Freeze said. "Like the time I saved Eric's hard work in the school. Like the time I went after the guy who led my friend to suicide. I am responsible for those choices." "He wants help and guidance in his anger, Huntress," I replied. "You and I can give him that guidance. Until now, all he's had, and please excuse my words, Freeze, was a mother hell bent on revenge. We can be a deciding factor in the direction his life goes. Let's do something to help." "All right. You're on probation, Freeze. Any funny business and I will be the first to stop you. Got it?" Freeze nodded. "Now let's get to work." The three of us arrived at a burnt out building. Most of the structure stood sturdy, but the windows had scorch marks around them and the insides were turned black by the fire damage, not to mention a bit damp by the water used to put out the fire. In one room I immediately recognized the equipment. I had seen it before in one of Dr. Israel's clinics when I saved the life of a Native American. Unfortunately the Native American was one of the many willing participants in Israel's treatment programs. The equipment was almost completely destroyed. As was any kind of evidence that would be in the room. "You two look around up here," the Huntress said. "I'm going to look around the rest of the building." "We could all spread out," I replied. I turned to Freeze. "Anything you find of significance, get the Huntress or myself." He nodded and went out the door. Huntress followed. I looked around and decided to check for files. Perhaps he had kept extensive records on the premises that might not have been damaged. It was my hope that I could get a list of his patients. With any luck, my alter identity could rehabilitate those whom Dr. Israel destroyed. Not too much later, the Huntress and Freeze returned. "Find anything?" Freeze nodded. "Nothing of consequence." "You?" I said to Huntress. "Maybe. I'll have to do some computer work. I found some surveillance equipment that was damaged. With any luck and computer ingenuity, I may be able to restore some of the video footage. We may have our culprit caught on tape." "I hope so," I replied. "As much as I'm glad Dr. Israel can't hurt anyone any more, I don't think anyone should die by fire." We left the scene of the crime and Freeze and I went our separate ways. I knew the Huntress could handle what was on the tape. I was going to talk with Brian and find out what was going through his mind. I had work to do with this friend and I was not about to give up. We stopped at the Iceberg Lounge and settled down for a few minutes. "So what did you think?" I asked. "About what?" "About helping the Huntress and me? Did you like it? Would you like to continue working with us or never work with us again?" "I enjoyed it. For once I found a purpose that gave me something more than revenge. That's all I ever got with my mom, act on revenge, act on anger, let them control you. I can't keep operating like that." "I know it eats you from within." "I guess you saved me just in time. Do you think you could help my mom?" "Only if she wants it." "That's not possible," a new voice said. We turned to see Mrs. Freeze. To Be Continued... Brian is changing! Yes! Batman has been able to reach someone on the opposite side of the law! But what will Brian's mom do? What influence do you think she will have on Brian: will he continue with Batman or go back to his mother's view of thinking? You tell me! I tend to do out of the ordinary things, don't I? And what about what's on that tape? Who do you think was responsible for starting the fire that killed Dr. Israel? Who do you think killed him? I'd love to hear your thoughts on these matters!