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Post by Glippernip on Aug 15, 2007 15:18:11 GMT -5
Batman Beyond #10 Mad About You Written by Daniel Dyer Edited by Joel Sawyer Terry McGinnis and his girlfriend, Dana Tan, dance in a Gotham Club called the Iceberg Lounge. Years ago, the club was a front used by a crime boss known as the Penguin. When Oswald Cobblepot was finally apprehended, the Lounge was one of the many locations auctioned off by the state. Now the Lounge is an 18 and older club and the hang out of choice by most of the Kane Academy. “Glad your boss gave you the night off,” Dana yells over the music. “Me, too,” Terry replies, swaying to the music. “This has been long over...” But Terry is interrupted by the vibrations of his cell. “One moment?” Terry looks at his phone, seeing Oracle’s symbol in the caller ID. ***
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Post by Glippernip on Aug 15, 2007 15:21:30 GMT -5
“Do you time this stuff just right?” Terry asks as he flies through Gotham, decked out in his bat-suit. “Terry,” the electronically scrambled voice of Oracle rings through Terry’s cowl. “Dana and I finally got time alone, but nooo,” Terry continues, ignoring Oracle. “Terry...” “Do you get off on this? You’re probably some old hermit who gets off on...” “McGinnis!” Oracle yells, shutting him up. “You signed up for this. If it’s too much for you, you could always give back the suit.” Terry does not reply. “Good. Now,” Oracle continues, “ Stanley Lieberman, a.k.a., Mad Stan is wanted by the highest levels of the government. He’s been blowing up government installations all over America.” “Blow ‘em up!” is heard directly before the front doors to a cred deposit building are blown open. “And now he’s in Gotham,” Terry says. “I’m on it,” and Terry flies down to the front of the cred deposit. “Business hours are between 8 and 5,” Terry quips. A rather large man with a small head turns around to see the Batman. Terry notices first off the man has several explosives strapped to him. “Another government lackey tryin’ ta shut down free speech!” "Free speech,” Terry questions. “No, you have the right to say whatever you want,” he says, leaping into the air and kicking Stan in the head, “though I believe you’re overdoing your right to bare arms.” “Easy, Terry,” Oracle cautions, “don’t want to set off any of his explosives.” Stan then pulls out a grenade, yells,“Government stooge,” and hurls it at the young Batman, who barely avoids it. “Or are you just one of the Oracle’s pawns?” This stops Terry dead. “Oracle?” “That’s it, ain’t it,” questions Stan. “You in league with the Oracle? Another pawn?” “What do you know of Oracle,” asks Terry. “Terry,” Oracle buzzes in his ear, “he’s open, take him down.” “That it’s not what you think it is,” is Stan’s reply and he pushes a button on belt. Explosions begin going off up above, shattering support columns, collapsing the entire building. “Be seeing you, hero,” and Stan leaves. Terry roars out after this mad bomber, but Stan has already fled the scene. ***
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Post by Glippernip on Aug 15, 2007 15:27:34 GMT -5
Over looking the scene as the police arrive, Terry has a talk with his mysterious benefactor. "What did he mean, ‘it’?” “How should I know,” replies Oracle. “I think it’s time we had a face to face.” “Not gonna happen.” Terry’s frustration rises. “So, I’m supposed to put my trust in you, while you just hide out wherever it is you hide out?” “Terry, it’s not so simple. If you...” “Forget it,” Terry snaps. “I got classes in the morning. Batman out,” and he breaks contact with Oracle. ***
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Post by Glippernip on Aug 15, 2007 15:41:59 GMT -5
The next day, Terry spots Dana and Max in the student lounge. “Hey, Dana,” the young man calls out. “Max, I’ll see you later,” Dana says, gathering her books. “I’m suddenly feeling ill.” Terry sighs as he watches Dana leave the lounge. “McGinnis,” Max starts, “you sure do have a way with the ladies.” “She tell you about last night?” asks Terry as he sits with Max. “About how you ditched her to play errand boy?” Max says. “No, not a word.” Terry slams his head on the table. “Easy there, big boy. Dana just feels that you’re putting in too much time in with this new job.” “Yeah, me, too,” Terry responds, not lifting up his head. “Then why not quit?” “I can’t. It’s something I have to do.” Max gives Terry a quizzical look and stands up. “Well, hot shot, I guess it comes down to what’s more important to you.” She scruffs Terry’s head and says, “Things’ll get better. You’ll see,” and she leaves Terry alone with his thoughts. ***
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Post by Glippernip on Aug 15, 2007 15:43:21 GMT -5
That night, Terry, in full Batman uniform takes the Batmobile out around Gotham. The Previous night’s fight is weighing heavily on his head. Mad Stan seemed to be rambling like, well, a mad man, but is there something to what he said? What do I truly know about the Oracle? Wasn’t it this Oracle that Dad was trying to help? That got him killed? He... er... she... I don’t if know if Oracle is a man of a woman, yet, “it” knows everything about me. When this case is over, I need to get some... Interrupting Terry’s thoughts, there’s an explosion in the distance. “Show time.”***
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Post by Glippernip on Aug 15, 2007 15:45:22 GMT -5
The scene is one of total devastation. Mad Stan, wired to blow at the push of a button, scared civilians, and enough plastique on the walls of city hall to take out a city block. Yeah, it’s bad. “Government lapdogs!” Stan yells at the hostages. “You support this city’s corrupt bureaucrats! You all deserve to die! Filth!” and he spits towards the cowering hostages. “Lieberman!” a voice echoes from outside. Mad Stan looks through a window to see Commissioner Drake speaking through a handheld miniature electronic speaker. “Let the hostages go!” “Hostages?!” Stand laughs. “They are part of the problem! As are you!” Stan looks back at the group. “Blow ‘em up!” “I won’t let that happen,” a voice comes from the right of the Commissioner. Tim looks to his side and sees no one there, but knows who’s speaking. In a low voice, the Commissioner says, “Stay out of this, kid. The last thing I need is a hot shot vigilante escalating things.” There is no response, signaling that Terry has already gotten in. Tim sighs and under his breathe says, “Good luck, kid.” ***
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Post by Glippernip on Aug 15, 2007 15:47:55 GMT -5
Inside, Stan looks from his prisoners to the window. The cloaked Batman crouches beside the prisoners and whispers, “Relax, everything will be okay. I’ll stop this get out quickly when I distract him,” while he unties their bonds. After Terry finishes untying the last hostage, he moves away from them and drops his cloak. “Stan!” Mad Stan turns to the hero suddenly. “You?!” “Easy, man,” Terry says. “I only want to talk to you.” “What would one of the Oracle’s puppets want to talk about?” he asks, as he steps forward. Terry, watching the hostages move quickly and quietly pass Stan’s back, replies, “About the Oracle.” “Ah, the pawn questions its master. Terry sees the last prisoner get out and says, “Not really,” lying as he blasts towards the terrorist, knocking Stan against a wall. “Fool!” Stan shouts. “I just have to push this button and...” but when he pushes the button nothing happens. “What?” “Trade secret,” Terry states as he decks Stan, knocking him on his back. “Stay down.” Actually, a localized EMP wave, steadily emitting from the suit, taking out the electronics which would spark the detonator, but no need telling him that. ***
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Post by Glippernip on Aug 15, 2007 15:51:02 GMT -5
Later, as Tim returns to his dark office in Police Headquarters.
“What ya want, kid,” Tim asks to the darkness.
In the shadows, the darkness begins to take shape and a big blood red bat becomes visible. “Information.”
“Information?” Tim asks skeptically. “I should run you in and you want my help?”
“You should, but you won’t.”
Tim has nothing to say to this. “What kind of information?”
“Info on our mutual... friend.”
“On Oracle.” It’s not a question, but a statement. “Oracle’s not too forth coming about... itself.”
“I need to know who Oracle is,” is all Terry says.
“Can’t help you,” Tim says.
“I know you know who...”
“I. Can’t. Help. You,” Tim repeats.
But Terry’s already out the window before Tim even finishes. Landing on the roof of Police Headquarters, Terry thinks, Well, guess I only have one option left. New Bludhaven, here I come...
Continued...
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