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Post by Glippernip on Jul 6, 2007 14:36:55 GMT -5
Batman Beyond #9 Inqueling Written by Daniel Dyer Edited by Joel Sawyer See you tomorrow, Bill,” Luscious Fox Jr. tells the security guard as he passes through the front gate. It has been a long day for the president of FoxTecha. Long meetings. Long inspections. Long chats with old friends. “You sure about this,” asked Terry as he followed Luscious’s car. The young hero had activated his stealth mode, making him virtually invisible. He didn’t want to frighten Luscious by letting him know he was being followed. Terry also didn’t want to tip off the possible attacker. The electronic voice of Oracle chirps in over the communicator on Terry’s cowl, “Yes.” “And you know because...?” Terry’s question is met by silence. Oracle didn’t want the young Batman to know that the intel came from Commissioner Drake’s office. Drake didn’t come to her for help, no, he stands by his no vigilante policy. What the Commissioner did do was mention several meetings with Luscious Jr. The subject was Powers. Didn’t take much intelligence to figure that Tim and Luscious were working together to bring down Powers. And if Powers were to find out, Luscious would have a target on his back. “Great, nice talking to you,” Terry stated sarcastically. “Wait, I think I see something.” What Terry sees is a black goo forming a female figure on the roof of Luscious’s car. “Inque...” Inque then forms blades from her arms and slices through the car’s roof. “AAAHHHH!!” Luscious yells and swerves the car into a building. “Show time,” announces Terry as he rockets to the crash. “Batman,” shouts Inque. “Mr. Fox, get out of here,” Terry tells him Luscious doesn’t need to be told twice. “Not so fast,” Inque says as she shifts, flowing and moving, reforming in Luscious’s path. “I have a job to do. You wouldn’t want to prevent a working girl from doing her duty, wouldya?” Reforming her face to appear more human, she winks. “Wha... what do you want?” Inque only grins as her arms become tentacles, wrapping around Luscious. “Hands off,” Terry says, throwing twin Batarangs, each cutting through a tentacle, causing Inque to let Luscious go. Before Inque can counter, Terry blasts off, grabbing Luscious, saying “Gotcha!” Looking back to the ground, Terry finds that Inque is gone. “You’re safe, Mr. Fox.” For now. ***
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Post by Glippernip on Jul 6, 2007 14:42:08 GMT -5
After Terry dropped Luscious off and examined the scene of the attack, the young hero returns to his base. Pulling off his mask, he contacts Oracle. “He’s safe,” Terry starts, “but I can’t always be there.” “I know.” “She’ll keep coming.” “I know.” “And if I stop Inque, then Powers will just hire another assassin.” “I know.” “Well, isn’t that just schway,” Terry says. Is there anything you don’t know?” Terry asks sarcastically. Ignoring the question, Oracle says, “You get anything from the scene?” “No,” he answers, “just some of Inque.” “ ‘Some of'?” “Yes,” answered Terry, “She left a glob of whatever it is she’s made of at the scene. I figured you’d want to analyze it.” “Yes,” Oracle stated. “I’ll send someone to pick it up.” “Ya know,” Terry starts, “I could deliver it myself.” “Oracle out,” the electronic voice said as Oracle signed off. “I’ll take that as a no.” ***
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Post by Glippernip on Jul 6, 2007 14:46:29 GMT -5
“Some theories of hypnosis attempt to describe hypnotic phenomena in terms of brain activity,” states Ira Billings as he lectures to his class, “while others concentrate more on the phenomenological experience. In either case, a fundamental distinction is between ‘state’ and ‘non-state’ theories of hypnosis.”
Dana looks over at her boyfriend, Terry, sleeping. “Terry? Wake up.”
Ira continues, “State theorists believe that an altered state of consciousness is a core part of hypnosis, whereas non-state theorists believe that more mundane psychological processes such as focused attention...”
“Terry!" Dana whispers loundly.
“...and expectation are sufficient to explain hypnotic phenomena. The precise definition of what constitutes an altered state of consciousness is a matter of some debate.”
Dana throws a pen at Terry.
“Whuh?” questions Terry as he raises his head.
“Class,” she says, pointing to the lecturing professor.
“Although many people who are hypnotized describe their experience as ‘altered’, it is difficult to use these terms in the absence of a prior definition.” Dr. Billings then looks at his watch. “That is all for today. Be sure to scan your vids. Tomorrow there will be a test.”
A groan emerges from the class.
“Now, now. None of that. I will see you all tomorrow.” Billings looks up to the front row, a small student, big head, big glasses. “Oh, Willie, see me in my office, please?”
Willing follows Billings into his office and Dana comes up to the half awake Terry McGinnis.
“You were sleeping again...”
“Just... resting my eyes.”
“Yea, like a hibernating bear,” comments a jock in a varsity jacket as he passes Terry.
“Hi, Nelson,” Terry says coldly.
Nelson goes up behind a blonde in a micromini and whispers in her ear from behind. The girl laughs and they hurry out of the class.
“How’d Nelson even graduate?” inquires Terry, starting out of the class room.
“Beats me,” Dana says, following. “Help me study tonight?”
“Wish I could,” answers Terry. “I’ve... kinda got a job,” he informs Dana, but wanting to be as vague as possible.
“Really? When? What are you doing?”
“I’m sort of a... courier... of sorts. I started after... graduation.”
“Oh,” Dana says. “Is that why you...”
Terry nods.
“I’m sorry, Ter, for being...”
“It’s okay.” Terry looks at his watch. “I have a class now but maybe after we can get some lunch?”
“I have a class,” Dana replies. “I’ll call you later, Terry.”
“Sure...” Terry just stands there, alone, watching his girlfriend walk off.
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Post by Glippernip on Jul 6, 2007 14:51:49 GMT -5
WaynePowersOffice of Derek Powers: “What happened?!” Derek screams. “Batman interfered,” replies the dark figure called Inque. “And you just ran?!” “I wasn’t prepared,” Inque says and then adds, “Sir.” “My dear, Miss Clay...” Inque flinches at the mention of her name. Years of being Inque with no one discovering her true identity and then Powers came along. It really irks her to have this shark know her true identity. “...you are the best. World renowned, and you can’t stop the Bat.” “I wasn’t payed to get rid of ‘the Bat’,” Is Inque’s response. “Ahh, I see. Fine. Kill Fox. If Batman interferes again, kill him and you get double. ” Inque grins and forms and morphs, slithering out of the office. Mr. Fix asks, "Sir?" “Yes, Fix?” “If Inque can’t do it,” starts Mr. Fix, “why not use Blight?” “Ah, yes, Blight. Mr. Fix, Inque is a wanted felon. Interpol, CSI, FBI... they all want her,” Derek states. “Blight, however, was only seen trying to stop a rampaging beast. Trying to ‘protect’ people. Not to mention, Blight will be used to persuade the Pentagon to sign with WaynePowers. If Inque fails, she’ll go down... alone. If Blight were to be caught, he goes down with all of us. Do you understand?” “Yes, Sir.” ***
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Post by Glippernip on Jul 6, 2007 14:55:37 GMT -5
“Oracle,” Terry asks as he sits at the computer in his Batcave, “You there?” “I’m here, and the test results are laying on your workshop table, along with a special gift.” “Gift?” Terry goes over to the table, seeing a box with a print out on top. He reads it and says, “You suggest freezing her?” The electronic voice replies, “It’s one of the better options I came up with. Her molecular structure is very fluent. Like water.” Terry pulls out a light blue and black Batarang from the box. “It releases a freezing agent on contact,” Oracle answers an unasked question. “Be careful, it was no simple feet whipping that up.” Terry stashes it with his other Batarangs. “One Inque-cicle coming up.” ***
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Post by Glippernip on Jul 6, 2007 15:04:25 GMT -5
It has been another long day for Luscious Fox Jr., this time looking over his shoulder, expecting his own shadows to come alive to get him. His phone rings; answering it, he says, “Hello?” “Luscious, It’s Tim.” “Any new information on my attacker,” asks Luscious. “We have an I.D. A meta-for-hire called Inque,” answered Tim, “Looks like we’re getting to Powers.” “That’s great, Tim. Are the officers in place?” “We have plain clothed officers watching you around the clock.” “Good, good.” Hanging up the phone, he hears, “They’ll never see her coming.” Luscious scans the room, seeing no one. “Who are you? Where are you?” Suddenly Batman comes into view, having turned off his stealth mode. “If I could sneak by them, you can bet your fortune Inque can.” “Batman?!” “I’ve got a plan...” ***
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Post by Glippernip on Jul 6, 2007 15:05:31 GMT -5
Later in the night, the lights in the penthouse having been turned off long ago, and Luscious slumbers in his bed. The shadows shift and dance in the moonlight. One particular shadow morphs into the shapely Inque, standing over Luscious’s bed. “Easiest job yet.” Inque morphs her arm into a sledge hammer and pulls back the covers on the bed. “Morning, retred,” states Batman, laying in Luscious’s bed. As Inque brings the hammer down, Batman rolls out of the way. “You were expecting someone else?” Inque grins. “You’ll do in a pinch,” she says as she brings back her arm, then swings it, flinging out three darts at the Bat, formed from pieces of her own body. Terry flings two Batarangs, each hitting a dart, and he barely ducks the third. “That the best you got?” “Oh, I have much more,” and the villain beginning to grow, though she seemed to be getting thinner the bigger she grew. “Uh-oh, she’s growing.” “Negative,” came Oracle’s voice through the cowl receiver. “She can’t gain mass, only rearrange it.” “Stretching yourself a little thin, eh?” questions Terry as he flings a bolo at Inque’s legs, tripping her up. Inque seeps through the bonds and oozes closer to the Dark Knight. “Funny little man.” She then wraps herself around the hero and squeezes. “Ugh!” screams the dark adventurer. “Hands... ugh... off!” As he fires up his boot thrusters, blasting upward, hitting the roof, and knocking Inque off him, Batman shouts, “Fox! NOW!” “Huh?” Inque questions. That’s when Luscious emerges from a closet, freeze-Batarang in hand. Before Luscious can throw it though, Inque gets hit from behind and hears a hissing, and sees a light blue fog. “What...? What’s happening?” “I’m putting you on ice,” answers the Bat. The blue fog engulfs Inque. Ice begins forming a solidifying wherever the fog touches, until Inque becomes an ice sculpture of the villain. “Thanks for the decoy, Mr. Fox.” “No, thank you.” Luscious hands Terry the false freeze Batarang. “Here.” “Keep it. Call it a souvenir.” ***
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Post by Glippernip on Jul 6, 2007 15:13:26 GMT -5
Not long, Terry stands on a roof, watching the Commissioner and his officers take away the iced over Inque. “That was a risky play, McGinnis,” states Oracle in the hero’s ear. “Maybe,” Terry replies, “but it worked. So, what now?” “Ti... the Commissioner will try to get some kind of testimony out of Inque to try to shut down Powers. I doubt he’ll get it.” “So, what’s next? We go after Powers directly?” “I have some insiders. This will take time, Terry.” “S’okay. I have all the time in the world.” Terry spreads his bat-wings. “If it’s the last thing I do, Powers will go down,” and Terry flies off into the night. End...
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