Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 10:33:43 -0700 (PDT) From: Author James Subject: Trials of a Real Dark Knight 8 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. 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. The Vampire Chronicles and all related characters created by Anne Rice. Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice. Star Wars and all related concepts created by or based on the universe created by George Lucas. Copyright 20th Century Fox, LucasFilms Ltd. and Lucas Books/Ballantine Books. I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in case, I have myself covered. This story has taken on a life of its own. From its inception a year ago, I had only thought it would last ten chapters maximum. As you can see, it has grown tremendously. Mostly due to readers emailing me and telling me they've enjoyed it or have received help due to certain issues addressed. I've enjoyed writing this story but it would not have been written without men and women reading it and telling me they've enjoyed it. I do hope that you continue to enjoy each new chapter as our hero lives and grows. 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. Please note, my email address has changed. At the end of July, my previous email address will no longer be active. Thanks. authorjames2002@yahoo.com I also have several online messenger services. If you want to chat with me in real time, email me and tell me the services you use and I will tell you my screen name. Chapter 8 Detective Work I arrived at the roof of the building the Huntress told me to meet her on. The night was cool and clear with a blanket of stars covering the great dark expanse. My mind went to Lance and my heart sank again as I thought of the person he was with now. Who was I to interfere with him continuing his life? Yes, he loved me and I loved him. But he believed me dead. His heart, no doubt, hurt for a long time. But eventually he got over me. He must have or he wouldn't be with anyone else. And he deserved to be happy. If I were to show up, it would only cause turmoil in his heart and life. I refused to cause any more pain to him. A thump from behind brought my attention back to the moment. I turned to see the Huntress standing behind me. "Hello," I greeted. "Hi." "I'm glad you showed up." "Me, too." The Huntress walked forward and handed me the tape. "Look, Eric, I want you to know something. I hope you do find something in this tape to help you clear your name. I hope there is solid evidence to prove me and everyone else wrong." "I'm glad to hear that." "But I don't have to tell you my position if you did kill Dr. Israel. There have been too many deaths caused by heroes who weren't paying attention or who let their anger take over. It happened to you once when you were raped. I stopped you before you killed someone. The seed is already planted in my mind that you could do it again." "I understand your concern and appreciate your position. Trust has to be built on both sides if we are to have our friendship again. I am willing to do whatever it takes to prove to you that, even in my anger, I have control, that I won't kill a human being." "I hope so. Good luck with the tape." "Thanks." I watched as the Huntress turned and jumped to the next building. I watched her for a while until she was out of sight and turned to go the other way. To my surprise, a skinny, scrawny person in a scarecrow outfit stood in my way. "Can I help you?" I asked. "Not really," he replied. His voice was distinguishable enough to be a male's voice. He ran past me in the direction of the Huntress. `Oh well,' I thought. `Crazier things have happened in this city.' I pulled out my grappling gun and shot a line to the nearest lamppost. Then I swung down to street level and ran to the shadows. I headed back to my motel room to view the tape. As I nestled in, a knock came at my door. I couldn't figure out who would know where I was staying. I got up and cautiously approached the door. The last motel I stayed at was shot up by a group of mutant haters. That was all I needed now. To my delight, it wasn't anyone against me. It was Brian. "Hey," I said after opening the door. "Come in." "How are you?" he asked. "It's good to see you." "Good to see you, too. What brings you here?" "Came to see you, Eric. I've missed you." I closed the door and invited him to sit on the only chair in the room. "What are you up to?" he asked. "Jessica gave me a copy of the tape of Dr. Israel being killed. I'm trying to clear my name." "I hope you are successful. I don't believe you could kill anyone. I don't think there is a murdering bone in your body." "I appreciate your support. Would you like to watch the tape with me?" "Sure," he said. I sat down on the bed and pressed play. The tape opened with static and then a black and white image appeared. It was the lab the psychologist was murdered in. After a few moments, what appeared to be Batman climbed in the room. A fight ensued with the ending of the footage being the lab going up in flames. "I wasn't there," I mumbled to no one in particular. I rewound the tape and played it again. This time, I focused my attention on the window. Batman was out of sight until coming through the window. "What was that made out of?" I asked referring to an object in the corner. The black and white footage made it difficult to ascertain what it was exactly. "That was one of Dr. Israel's machines he used for rehabilitation." "So it was made out of metal?" "Yeah." "And the machine is facing the direction Batman came from." I rewound the tape and played it again. "Too bad I don't have a computer to magnify the image." "I have access to one at the campus. We can use it tomorrow if you want." "That sounds good. I have an idea about this machine. What time do you want me to show up at the campus tomorrow?" "Eleven would be fine. My last class ends around ten fifty." "Okay." At eleven o'clock the next morning, I arrived on the campus. It felt strange to see a place I was familiar with but hadn't been to in such a long time. As I walked toward the fountain where I was to meet Brian, an old friend saw me and called out my name. "Eric! Eric McCoy!" I turned to see skinny Alan running toward me. "Hi, Alan," I said as he approached. He held out his hand and I shook it. "How have you been?" "Busy with classes. What about you? It's been nearly a year!" "I've been busy in Orlando and England. I traveled over there for some business and such." "Wow. You're a world traveler now." I smiled. It felt good to talk to my first friend from college. "What brings you to the campus? Are you back for good?" "No. I'm meeting Brian for something. He's going to help me with a technical project." "He's a good one to go to. If you need any help with chemistry, call me. Technical help, call Brian." We both laughed. "Hi, Alan. Hi, Eric," Brian said as he approached. "Hi." "How did class go?" I asked. "Okay. I reserved the room for the next hour and a half. That should be enough time for what you need." "Thanks," I said. Turning to Alan, I added, "it was good to see you. Maybe later we can hang out or something." "That would be great. It was good to see you again." Alan turned and walked away while Brian and I headed off in the other direction toward the building the computer lab and computer equipment was in. "How has the crime fighting been going?" I asked. "It's going okay. We haven't had any major trouble except for the Scarecrow." I stopped in my tracks. "The Scarecrow?" "Yeah. Some guy in a Scarecrow outfit has been infecting people with some type of fear toxin. We've been after him for several months now. Jessica and I think it may be the work of a college student but, with vampire activity and the touch-and-go activity of the Scarecrow, we haven't been able to obtain much evidence to figure out who he is." "Oh," I replied rather sheepishly. "What is it?" Brian asked. "I saw the Scarecrow last night. I didn't think anything of it, though." "Oh," Brian replied. "How could you know, right? We'll catch him." I followed Brian into the room and sat down at the computer terminal. Brian placed the tape in the VCR and sat down at the keyboard. After beginning the tape, I asked him to pause it at a certain time, just before Batman came in through the window. "Focus on the machine near the window and magnify." Brian typed in a few commands and the area enlarged. "Again," I said. After the image was enlarged, I asked him to play the tape frame-by-frame. As it moved along, I noticed a reflection in the machine. Slowly it took shape of Batman and then Batman entered the lab. "Can you enhance the image, clear it up?" "Sure," Brian answered. Brian rewound the footage, typed several commands into the computer to clear the image, and played it again, frame-by-frame. I watched as a climbed up to the fire escape and onto that floors platform. "Oh my goodness," Brian replied. "Enlarge the head area and focus." Brian did and I could see more detail. There was definitely a person there not dressed as Batman. As the footage continued, the face actually morphed before our eyes into Batman. "A shape shifter," Brian stated. "Is it possible to colorize this picture?" "Yeah. Give me a few minutes to access the program and to let it analyze the tape." Brian typed in a few key commands and the machine analyzed the tape. I had a feeling who the shape shifter was, but I wanted to be absolutely certain before I jumped to any conclusions. "When are you going out after the Scarecrow?" I asked. "Tonight. There have been some clues as to his next attack. He hits people either involved with the college itself or people in the college area." "I can help you and the Huntress if you want." "Sure." The machine beeped telling us the colorization was complete. Brian rewound the film to the very beginning and played it. I watched as my suspicions became fact. A blue-skinned, red haired figure climbed up the fire escape and shape shifted into Batman. "That blue shape shifting bitch," I stated. "I take it you know who this is?" "Yep. I met her last year before I moved to Orlando. She is a mutant. Her name is Mystique." I stood and left the room. I had to see the X-MEN. If anyone would know her whereabouts, the X-MEN. About an hour or so later, I arrived at the California campus of the Xavier Institute. I walked up to the door and rang the doorbell. A mutant I had never seen before opened the door. "Can I help you?" he asked. His voice had an Irish accent to it. "Hello. My name is Eric McCoy. I'm a friend to Professor Xavier. I need your help." "Come in," the man invited. "My name is Sean Cassidy. What is your trouble?" "I need to locate a mutant who framed me for murder." "Really? Who would this mutant be?" "Mystique." "Oh. Come in and have a seat." Sean took me in to the sitting room I remembered from long ago. He disappeared out of the room leaving me behind. Sean Cassidy, also known as Banshee, approached the computer and connected with the Institute in Westchester, New York. "I need to speak to Professor X," he said. Within moments, Charles Xavier was on the screen. "Yes, Banshee. What is it?" "A fellow by the name of Eric McCoy is here looking for Mystique. Do you know him?" "Eric McCoy? Are you certain he said that name?" "Yes." "That's...impossible. The last I heard, Eric was dead. Keep him occupied. It could be an imposter...I'm coming out." "Understood," Banshee replied. He turned off the computer and headed back to the sitting room. I sat admiring the familiar items I had seen before when Sean came back in. "Professor Xavier will be here in a few hours. He said he will be able to help you." "Thank you." An Asian young man entered the room and looked at Sean. "Who is this?" he asked. "This is Eric McCoy, friend of Professor Xavier. Eric, this is Shiro Yoshida, a student at the Institute." "Pleasure to meet you," I said, sticking my hand out. He took my hand and shook it. "I can't find Thunderbird," Shiro said. "Do you know where he is?" "He went into town, I believe," Sean answered. Shiro nodded and left. Sean turned to me. "Make yourself at home. Professor X is on his way." To Be Continued...