WAYNE MANOR
Bruce is holding a fundraiser for the lacking, and mostly corrupt GCPD. Gordon is with Bruce.
Gordon: "Thanks Bruce. I guess you aren't just some rich boy with a beer in your hand and a lady on your lap at all times. Thanks again."
Bruce: "Don't mention it. And no hard feelings. Half of Gotham thinks of me that way."
Woman: "Sorry to interrupt Bruce, but there's someone here that you simply MUST meet. His name is Edward Nygma."
A man walks over to Bruce. He has brown hair, glasses, and a ring on his finger that is in the shape of a question mark. They shake hands.
Bruce: "E. Nygma, huh? Is that where the question mark comes from?"
Nygma: "Well, that's one reason. The second is that I'm starting a new company. The first of many buildings will be constructed here in Gotham. It's Enigma Enterprises, in case you were wondering."
Bruce: "Well, good luck. Gotham is already home to three major companies, the newcomer may be ran to the ground."
Nygma: "Mr. Wayne, don't amuse me. I've spent my life studying foreign languages, mathematics, english, physics, astronomy, anatomy, robotics, corporatism, managing, stock, engineering. Always in the advanced classes, and never getting less than an A+. If any business is to fail, it would obviously be Thorne Enterprises. Everyone knows of his dealings with the criminal underworld, and his company has been falling behind in marketing and stocks. Soon, nothing will be left of Thorne's company."
Bruce: "Well, that's great to-"
Nygma: "And I sincerely believe that I could buy LexCorp. Luthor's trying to kill Superman will be his downfall. He will waste his money trying to best him, and when he does, I'll buy the company and raise it from corporate hell."
Bruce: "Great. I'll be seeing you Eddie."
Nygma: "Oh, you will. You'll fall, and I will profit from it."
Bruce: "He needs help."
Selina walks over.
Selina: "You don't say. He talked to me about he'll find a way to colonize Jupiter or something. He's insane."
Bruce: "His mind is an enigma."
Selina: "I'll handle the jokes. Dick doesn't seem too happy."
Bruce looked over and saw Dick with a grim expression on his face, ladies gushing over him.
Selina: "Didn't you have to do something?"
Bruce: "Fries. I have to go."
Selina: "No. No way, you can't just leave a fundraiser. I can. Bye."
She walked out of the room as Dick came over to Bruce.
Dick: "Can I go too? I think those ladies want to kidnap me, bring them to their houses, and put me in stupid outfits."
Bruce: "No. Your Gotham's newest bachelor, you can't just leave a fundraiser."
Dick: "So the bachelorette can go, but the bachelors can't? The bachelorette that the bachelor has known for years."
Bruce: "Are you blackmailing me?"
Dick: "No, I'm implying that you've known each other for years, see each other every night, and-ahem- wear spandex together."
Bruce: "Okay, time to go. Let the ladies pull your cheeks or whatever."
Dick: "I was just getting to the good part."
Bruce: "Exactly why I stopped you."
The ladies walked over.
Lady: "Excuse me Bruce, but may we borrow Dick a little while?"
Bruce: "Of course you can."
Dick looked up at Bruce in horror. He walked with the ladies with a forced smile on his face, mouthing 'No'. Bruce looked back at him and grinned.
FRIES' LAB
Catwoman walked through the door. Fries is crying over his wife, and looks up at Catwoman.
Fries: "The Batman is late. And is apparently not coming, as he sent his bitch."
Catwoman: "In case you didn't notice, I'm a cat. And second, what the hell?"
Fries: "He's using you. For two years he was perfectly capable of cleaning up this city by himself. Then he was injured, and you came along. You could have backed out after. You could have resumed your normal life. But you didn't. Why not? Because you changed too much? Because he would have hated you for it? The freedom? The sheer thrill of punching a goon in the face?"
Catwoman: "Because it made the job easier."
Fries: "Yes, but easier is relative. How much easier? Do you have as much protection as him? The same gadgets? The same training? You thought he wouldn't like it, when, in truth, he may have liked it more if you stopped. Tell me, what happens when all this is said and done, if ever? Petty thievery, advanced robberies, a new gang, the mob? You enjoy it too much to let go. That costume makes you feel more powerful than anybody, when in truth, you are nothing more than a grown woman who thinks she can make a difference; playing dress up."
Catwoman: "Be quiet."
Fries: "What if Batman told you to stop? Would you? Could you? Or would you fight him? Would you say no? Could you find the power to look Batman in the eye and say no? Or would you take off your costume, and walk away, leaving that life behind? Do you think that it would be best if you left, now that the boy has entered the picture? Or would that make you fight even harder? I think I touched a nerve."
Catwoman: "I said be quiet."
Fries: "Would you do whatever he says? Anything? Do you...love, him? You do, don't you? You love him even though he's more dedicated to protecting Gotham than he would ever be to you. You don't care though. You keep trying to win the heart of the Batman, because you still have the schoolgirl fantasy that you can have him, and that he will love you in return. But deep down, deep down you know that was never possible, and never will be. You will blame yourself for not trying to win his heart, not trying to make him love you! And when you are on the brink of death, you will still not forgive yourself, and you will perish thinking you could have made him love you as you do him. You have a very interesting brain, Catwoman. You should donate it to me after you die. I will be here long after you have perished."
Catwoman notices a button on the wall.
Catwoman: "What does this button do?"
Fries: "Don't. Press. That-"
She pressed the button. Almost instantly the ice surrounding Nora melted. Fries rushed to her side. He stroked her hair.
Fries: "Nora. My beautiful Nora. And you. I was going to tell you not to press that button!"
Catwoman: "Sorry, I thought you would say not to press the button on the other side of the room."
And with that, she walked out of the lab, slamming the door on her way out.
LYNNS' PYROTECHNICS
Viki Vale is reporting on the scene.
Vale: It seems that Garfield Lynns has run out of luck, as his company has been burnt to the ground. The cause of the fire is unknown, but many believe it has something to do with an experiment gone wrong in the newly built laboratories, built by Wayne Enterprises. Lynns had gone missing earlier this week, after what doctors describe as a horrible lab accident. No one seems to have any leads to the whereabouts of Garfield Lynns, but if you do, the Police would like to-"
Vale was about to finish her sentence as a huge fireball appeared in the sky. The cameraman looked for the origin of the flame, but didn't see anything. He looked back at the ground, and saw fire lighting the concrete. He and Vale walked over to the fire, and saw that it spelled out a word. Viki read the word written in flame.
Vale: "Firefly."
THE BATCAVE
Bruce and Alfred are watching the news broadcast. They're at the part when the cameraman looks for the origin of the fireball.
Bruce: "And...stop. There. Now then, let's see this picture in heat signature. There. Lynns burned his own company to the ground."
Alfred: "That's the answer to one question. Of course, it raises another. Why did he do it?"
Bruce: "I don't know. An act of defying himself? To warn me of what he can do? To reveal himself?"
Alfred: "To show that he will do whatever it takes, just to hurt Mr. Fries."
Bruce: "That's not a bad name."
Alfred: "What?"
Bruce: "Mr. Freeze."
Alfred: Ah. Where is Miss Kyle. She told me she left Mr. Fries' lab an hour and a half ago. Where is she?"
Bruce: "Where's Dick? I haven't seen him since the fundraiser."
Alfred: "I think he passed out. A fundraiser can really do something to a boy."
Bruce: "Tell me about it. There was this one guy, he wouldn't stop talking. Edward Nygma."
Alfred: "Oh, him. He told me about how he would cool the temperatures of Venus."
Bruce: "He told Selina that he would colonize Jupiter."
Alfred: "Oh dear God."
Bruce: "If he ever became a criminal and had a knife to Batman's throat, he would just talk. Like 'Oh, Batman you are going to die now. I will slit your throat and you will never see my plan unfold! A ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Now Dark Knight prepare to die. Of course because you are about to die I will tell you every freakin' detail of my plan! A ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!'."
Alfred: "Master Bruce, that is just plain rude! Although it is a little funny. But rude nonetheless! But still a bit funny. Now, how are we going to find Lynns?"
Bruce: "That's the thing Alfred. We aren't. He's going to find us. I'll make sure of that."
GOTHAM STREETS
Catwoman is in the Batmobile, talking to herself.
Catwoman: "Do it for the thrill. The damn idiot. Saying I love him and that I would blame myself. That I would resort to thievery just for some damn excitement! I can't believe Fries. He deserves it if his wife dies or whatever. What I would do to see the look on the guys face when-no. No, I'm above that. Or am I? Would I become a criminal just to have a little fun in my life? Would I run a gang? No. Or would I? I HATE this. I've been driving for an hour, talking to myself about something that I'm only just thinking about, or that's been inside me my entire life! Damn it! Whatever. I'll just forget it. Or I'll try. I'll tell Bruce the whole thing, and find out what he thinks. Damn it, what if it's bad!?! Why am I even thinking this? A damn scientist, and what he thinks is going on in my head! Well now it is Fries! You happy!?!"
FRIES' LAB
He's lowering Nora into the chemical.
Fries: "My beautiful Nora. I didn't think I'd have to say goodbye again. I wish I won't a third time. I will cure you. I swear."
And that's the end of part 4! Part 5 is next week! And don't forget to vote! The choices are back in part 3, so start looking, voting, and if your just starting here, go back and read from the beginning! Until next time, Comiccow6.