Chapter 6: Problems Develop and Happiness Begins
Everything was going great for Bruce Wayne. He had a beautiful girlfriend and his latest project was already generating millions of dollars for the company. Oh, and he had found out that Commissioner Gordon was partly responsible for his parent’s death and his alter-ego Batman was a wanted criminal. That wasn’t good. On the other hand, he was going to meet Harold Stapleton today, and from what Lucius had said he had previous experience working on construction sites and was a good leader. Bruce was sitting at the breakfast table in Wayne Manor with Alfred pouring a glass of orange juice.
“Alfred, Gordon told me something interesting last night.”
“What did he tell you Master Wayne?”
“That you, Lucius and Gordon were assigned by my father to protect me from the Batman legacy.” Alfred stopped serving breakfast and looked at Bruce long and hard.
“Master Bruce, I...”
“Just explain it to me Alfred.”
“Ok. Your father was afraid of the villains that would go after you. But I let you take on the role because maybe you could be the one to defeat crime in Gotham City once and for all.”
“Gordon said something else...”
“What did he say Master Bruce?” Bruce looked like he was about to cry.
“That... That he was responsible for Chill escaping from prison. If he had payed attention and kept everything under control then my parents would still be alive.” Tears rolled down his face.
“Oh no, no! It wasn’t his fault. It wasn’t your fault and it wasn’t your father’s fault. It was that man’s fault. Him alone and nobody else. Now chip chop, time to get ready to meet Mr. Stapleton!”
Bruce was sat in his office inside Wayne Tower. Harold Stapleton was 5 minutes late. He then entered through the door and introduced himself.
“So, you’re a friend of Lucius Fox?” Asked Bruce.
“Yes I am, he was a friend of my father’s. I’ve worked on many different constructions of famous buildings, to many to list them all!” He was bald and wore old spectacles. He had hair on the back of his head and sideburns and was wearing a black suit and tie, the same as Bruce’s.
“Ah yes Lucius told me about that. So I think that because of all your experience and-“
“I have also worked for Wayne Enterprises before.” He said this with a grin on his face.
“Really? How intriguing! Where did you work here?”
“I worked in Lucius’s department, as one of the board members. Did you know that he used to be the head of the design and technology department?”
“Yes I did actually! So you worked in the technology board and moved up to the board for the entire company when he became CEO?”
“Yeah. But shouldn’t we be getting back to the interview?”
“Well I believe that we just covered it! Welcome aboard!”
“Great! When does construction start?”
“First various different power stations will be built around the city along with some tunnels leading to the site of the power storage and then building will begin on that so the whole process should take about a year!”
“Great!” Bruce and Stapleton continued talking for around 45 minutes about their personal relationship with Wayne Enterprises. Although it would break Bruce’s heart if he knew who Stapleton really was...
Alfred was preparing the table. Vicki Vale was coming for their first date tonight and it was soon. Bruce was nervous as he hadn’t had a real girlfriend in years. He entered the dining room.
“Alfred what are we eating tonight?” Asked Bruce.
“Roast dinner. I decided to go traditional!”
“Ah I’m sure she will enjoy whatever you cook. You are a great chef Alfred!”
“Thank you Master Bruce.” The doorbell rang as Alfred went to answer it. He opened the door and Vicki was standing there wearing a low cut silver dress, triangular earrings and a small amount of make-up.
“Hello there. And you might be...?” Bruce walked to the door.
“He is my butler Alfred. He cooked our dinner for tonight.”
“Oh hello! I didn’t know Bruce had a butler!”
“Well Miss Vale, he is a billionaire.” Bruce laughed.
"Oh Alfred! Time for you to leave now. Vicki would you accompany me to the dining room?”
“I would be delighted to!” Bruce took her hand and walked her to the previously mentioned room.
“Alfred, this is amazing! Some of your best food yet!” Said Bruce.
“I agree, this is really delicious! So Bruce, tell me about yourself!”
“Well there isn’t much you need to know really! I own Wayne Enterprises, and I don’t do much else really! What about you?”
“Well I’m a news reporter for The Gotham Chronicle and I work in the business section. I’m thinking of becoming a vegetarian as well.” As soon as she said this, Bruce stared at the untouched Roast Beef on her plate. “I like going to the movies, going out with friends and from a young age I have always been interested in Business which is what motivated me to apply for a job in The Gotham Chronicle as they had a space for a reporter. But what I have always wanted to do is work in the business section for your company.” Bruce was taken aback by this statement.
“Really? Well if you decide to apply anytime in the near future we will be happy to accept you.” He smiled and leaned back in his chair.
Down in the crime underground, Black Mask was holding an emergency meeting. He paced back and forth across the room and then slammed his hands down on the table.
“Right, I don’t know why I called you all here because I only need Blackjack.” Blackjack stared at him fiercely, rubbing a burn mark on the front of his neck.
“Whadda you want you black masked fricker?”
“I need you to do a task for me. You are good at killing people, and the Batman is somebody who needs taken care of. I have a source who is feeding my info directly from Wayne Enterprises and I know who the Batman is. So Blackjack can go and kill him.” He threw a scrunched up piece of paper at his face containing the location of the Batcave. He read it and put it in his pocket.
“When do you want me to leave?” Black Mask looked at his watch.
“Well... He should be having a date in his house with that news reporter Vicki Vale right now so going in the cave will cause some commotion. Go. Now!” Jack leapt up and left the room as fast as he could. Just then, another criminal stood up from the table.
“Um sir, Blackjack’s shit at fighting. I would know as I remember beating the crap out of him a few weeks ago!”
“I know he is and he pisses me off. That’s why I sent him. Do you really think that he’s gonna kill the Batman? No, the Batman’s gonna kill him! I have common sense, and that sense is telling me that you are pissing me off right now.” He whipped out a gun from his jacket pocket and fired it twice at the criminal’s heart as he collapsed to the ground.
Bruce and Vicki had finished eating dinner and had moved onto desert. Alfred had delivered strawberries and whipped cream half an hour ago. They had finished it in a matter of minutes and the rest of the time they had been kissing passionately. Alfred was stood in the doorway watching them happily. Suddenly he heard a loud commotion downstairs. Bruce pulled away.
“What was that?” He asked. Vicki smiled and stared at him.
“Who cares?” She said whilst grinning and dragged his lips back to hers. Alfred left to check it out. He didn’t know where it was coming from, so he went to the door opposite Bruce’s bedroom. He lifted up a wood panel next to the door handle. It was revealed as a keyboard. Alfred typed in the word ‘Chill’ and the door lifted upwards to reveal a bright white elevator. Alfred entered and the doors closed. They re-opened to show the Batcave in all its might. Standing in the middle on top of the Bat mobile was Blackjack sent by Black Mask. Alfred smiled awkwardly.
“Hello... Who might you be?” He glared at Alfred and spat on the Batmobile. Alfred laughed very lightly.
Bruce’s mobile phone rung in his pocket. His eyes went wide. He was still kissing Vicki, but had to withdraw.
“Um, Vicki. Could you please excuse me for a moment?”
“Of course. I’m saving something ‘special’ for when you get back.” She said this with a wide grin on her face. Bruce smiled uneasily and backed out of the room. That wasn’t his normal ringtone. It was a special ringtone to notify him when something was wrong. He entered the same elevator Alfred went in and looked worried. He exited the elevator and saw Alfred tied up in a chair grinning at Bruce. He then looked at Blackjack rigging explosives around the cave. He then saw Bruce and slowly pulled out a gun. He leapt off of the platform and glided down to the Batmobile. Blackjack was firing furiously at the air in the vain hope that he would hit Bruce. He landed on the Batmobile, grabbed the gun and threw it far off to the right. A fist fight then ensued between the two. Bruce then kicked Jack and he was thrown off the roof. While this was going on, Alfred was slowly managing to get out of the ropes. Bruce was winning by miles. Blackjack was on the floor coughing up blood. Alfred escaped and grabbed a shotgun off the wall. He fired it in the air as Bruce and Blackjack stopped fighting immediately.
“Now. I don’t know what your name is but I know you’re a criminal! I’ve never killed anybody and I don’t want to start now so just get out of this bloody house!”
“Yeah, that’s not happening.” He grabbed the gun and fired it at Alfred.
“ALFRED!” Yelled Bruce. Luckily Alfred dodged the bullet and fired one back at Blackjack and hit him in the shoulder. He screamed loudly. Bruce then punched him in the face and he fell off of the Batmobile. Alfred quickly sat down at the Batcomputer and phoned the police via Skype. Commissioner Gordon was on the other end.
“Ah hello there! Its Alfred here, we have an intruder in the Batcave. Can you see him in the background? He’s the one lying on the ground after just been defeated by Bru-Batman!” Gordon winced his eyes and then leaned back.
“Ah yes. I know him; he’s been on the most wanted list for a year now. We’ll be around as soon as we can.” He smiled and then went offline.
“Right, I’ll go and talk to Vicki while you tie him up Alfred.” Bruce left Blackjack on the ground and then rushed into the elevator.
“Yes but- Oh well.” Blackjack sat up and looked at him. He then proceeded to escape. Alfred walked down the steps, grabbed his cane and hit him around the head with it. Blackjack lost consciousness. “Right then, let me get that rope.”
The police had arrived and were arresting Blackjack. Vicki had left and Bruce had said that there was a problem in the boiler room. Jack was being dragged away and trying to speak through a bloodied mouth and many lost teeth.
“HE’S THE BATMAN! HIM” He pointed at Bruce. “RIGHT THERE, I SAW EVERYTHING!” The policemen stared at Bruce strangely.
“What’s he talking about?” One of them asked.
“He’s crazy. I mean I have a company to run and parties to go to; I don’t have time to go out every night and dress up as a bat so I can send criminals to jail. That’s your job!” Both the officers looked at each other, then back at Bruce. “Partially your job.”