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Post by Glippernip on Apr 30, 2007 1:57:16 GMT -5
Batman Beyond #8 Brute Force, Part 3: And There Came a Blight on the Land... Written by Daniel Dyer Edited by Joel Sawyer The previous night, Terry McGinnis, the new Batman, set out to have a talk with Commissioner Tim Drake. The chat ended with the introduction of Brute, a metahuman with immense strength and bad social skills. Brute managed to get away. Terry managed to survive. Now Brute has resurfaced with a mad on for Derek Powers. Powers isn’t a saint, but Terry couldn’t let Brute tear him apart, so he stepped in, and he wasn’t the only one. “Hahahaha,” laughs an irradiated being. “What are you,” questions Terry. “The garbage man,” the being said, turning to Brute, “and I’m here to take out the trash.” He then blasts Brute with an irradiated ray. “You can call me Blight.” “AAAARRRGHH!!!” screams Brute. “Oracle, anything on Blight?” “Nothing. He’s the source of the rads?” “Yep,” answers Terry. “Terry,” Oracle starts, “I’m not sure the suit can handle that much radiation.” “Better make this quick then.” Terry then unsheathes another Batarang. ***
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Post by Glippernip on Apr 30, 2007 2:01:02 GMT -5
Elsewhere, as Dana and Max sit in a coffee house. “Men suck,” Dana mutters. “Uh-huh, girl. Terry?” “Yeah, I mean, I understand about his dad dying... but he won’t let me in.” Max sips her coffee. “Terry loves you. Maybe you should cut him some slack.” “I know, I know. I just wish he’d confide in me,” Dana explains. “He will,” states Max, “just give him time.” “Yeah...” ***
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Post by Glippernip on Apr 30, 2007 2:03:00 GMT -5
Commissioner Drake has ordered his men to set up a parimeter around WaynePowers. “Has the Haz-Mat team gotten here?” “Not yet,” answers a uniformed policeman. “What should we do?” “Hold your positions,” Drake tells them. “It couldn’t hurt to pray, either.” Okay, Kid, don’t make me regret letting you off last time.***
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Post by Glippernip on Apr 30, 2007 2:03:57 GMT -5
The new Batman charges Blight and Brute, not quite sure which is the greater threat. “Hey, Night Bright,” Terry states as he leaps up, “cool your jets,” and he let’s fly his batarang at Blight. “You threaten me with a disc?” Blight then turns, blasting the Batarang, but it explodes, knocking the irradiated man backwards. Brute turns to new protector of Gotham. “Little flying man help Brute?” “For now, big guy. No telling what this Blight will do.” Blight, getting to his feet. “Hahaha, fool! I have become power incarnate!” Oracle’s voice then rings in Terry’s ear. “Get out of there! These readings...” “No can do, Oracle,” Terry states. “You gave me this job and I plan to fulfill my duties.” As Terry argued with the mysterious Oracle, the grey behemoth charged at Blight. “Power?! Brute show you power!” The monster then slams his fist down on Blight, apparently smashing Blight. “Is he...?” As Brute lifts his fist, Terry sees a hole in the street, melted away by Blight. “Gone?” Brute looks into the hole, seeing Blight looking back at him. “Peeki-boo.” Blight lets loose another concentrated blast, directly in Brute’s face. “If you plan to get this job done,” comes Oracle’s voice, “we need a game plan.” “I’m all ears,” states the new Dark Knight. ***
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Post by Glippernip on Apr 30, 2007 2:05:56 GMT -5
Powers, still transfixed on the fight, speaks into a headset. “Blight, siphon off the energy from the Brute. Once Brute is harmless, kill him and the Bat.” “And what is my assignment,” questions a female voice but no one is to be seen. “I have a different job for you.” And the a dark, inkish goo oozes from the shadows and forms into the form of an attractive young woman. Inque. “I’ll do whatever... as long as your check clears.” ***
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Post by Glippernip on Apr 30, 2007 2:08:17 GMT -5
“The sniper’s are ineffective, Sir.” A seasoned detective, with a complexion as dark as night, approaches the Commissioner. “Can’t get the shots off, Jake,” asks Tim. “No, Sir,” answers the Detective, “the bullets can’t make contact. “That... Blight... he’s irradiated the entire area, melting the bullets before they can make contact.” “Damn it!” ***
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Post by Glippernip on Apr 30, 2007 2:09:20 GMT -5
Blight, climbing through the hole in the street, continues to blast Brute. Brute, however, keeps chugging alone, forcing through the blasts. “Right, boss man,” states Blight and then something changes. The power seems to have changed. Brute seems to be getting stronger. “What’s happening?” questions Oracle’s electronic voice. “Blight... he’s somehow draining Brute.” “Brute could receive his strength through radiation,” Oracle offers. “Thanks. If I ever need the obvious stated I know where to turn.” Terry then yells, “BLIGHT!” Blight turns to see Batman, sending a radioactive blast towards the hero. The Bat-suit begins ripping, tearing. Wires and circuits become visible. “ENOUGH,” yells Blight, “The legendary Batman has returned to save the city!” The blast starts intensifying. “Well, I have news for you, the city doesn’t need a savior!” “Bright man... no hurt... tiny flying... man.” The Brute barely managed to get out the words before he swung his massive fist at Blight. The fist connected with the irradiated man and Blight went flying through the air, far into the distance. Terry watches the man flying through the air and then turned to Brute. The monster had changed. He was now smaller and tan. And also unconscious. As Terry began to approach the man, a uniformed cop yells, “Freeze!” Terry turns back. “Not likely.” The Bat then runs for the man who was once Brute, cops firing at him. While Terry grabs the unconscious man and blasts into the sky, Tim Drake only stands and watches. He still doesn’t want a vigilante operating in his city, but is the Batman needed again? ***
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Post by Glippernip on Apr 30, 2007 2:12:10 GMT -5
Mike Stevens begins to stir. He wakes on a rooftop, the Batman (his tattered and torn uniform still displaying its inner workings) sits on the ledge. “He’s gone?” “Yeah, you knocked Blight right outta the park.” “Blight? No... the Brute.” Terry’s confused at that. “Aren’t you...?” “Yes... but I have no control.” Sitting up, Mike puts his head in his hands. “Powers did this to me.” The puzzle pieces begin to come together in Terry’s mind. “Revenge doesn’t solve anything.” "I won’t lie,” Mike tells him. “I want Derek to pay. I do want revenge, but I’m not a killer. Brute, though...” “Will do whatever it takes,” Terry finishes. “Batman,” Mike says as he walks to the ledge of the roof, “I don’t want to hurt anyone. I hate Powers.” He turns back to look at Terry. “But I don’t want him dead... not at my hands.” Terry looks into the man’s eyes. There is true sadness there. True sorrow. Terry doesn’t know this man’s story. He has no clue what led to Brute’s creation. But he is certain this man is an innocent. “Leave Gotham.” “What,” both Mike and Oracle say in unison. “The city. Put distance between you and Powers.” Oracle’s voice then chimes in. “Terry, you can’t just let him go.” Terry ignores Oracle. “If you stay away from Powers, maybe you can restrain the Brute. Just don’t make me regret my decision.” Terry then blasts into the air. “You let him go?” chimes in Oracle. “He’s innocent.” “He’s dangerous,” Oracle counters. “Some would say the same about a certain vigilante loose in the city.” Silence is all that is heard. Then it is broken. “Don’t let me regret my decision. Oracle out.” And as Terry continues on, he grins beneath his cowl. Oracle may have been here longer, but this is his city. The Batman’s city. That means it’s his call and as tough as the decision was, this one decision feels right. Let’s just hope Stevens can tame the Brute within... End.
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