The Batman: Downfall Ch. 03

Harley cocked her head to one side, this floozy knew her name. Maybe Harley did know her but where from, "Do I know you?" The woman shook her head, "But you know me?"

"Samantha Kinkalow I run the security detail here and I make it my business to know all the petty criminals in Gotham." She did not want to antagonise Harley but it was too easy to slip into her old ways atleast this way she hoped it would keep them talking long enough for the news teams to turn up.

"Petty Criminal, lady you're talking to the person who is going to be running this town soon." What she did next caught Samantha off guard. Harley reached behind and pulled a revolver from where it sat in the waist of her skirt, Samantha had time to say 'wait' before Harley pulled the trigger sending her flying backwards.

The smoke could be seen high above the rooftops but Batgirl had to circumnavigate some higher roofs making her journey across town to the Museum less of a direct path. When she finally landed on the museum she was greeted to the site of twisted metal, ripped up masonry and shattered glass no one stood guard near the hole in the roof and she rushed forward stopping short as the sound of a single gunshot peeled out followed by girlish laughter. Batgirl leaned over, she made out six, no seven people now all armed. Two other men were lowering their weapons at the behest of the woman who was clearly in charge. She watched as four men broke away and wrestled the guards to the ground, it was the perfect chance.

"Watch out!" Billy shouted out, he had caught sight of someone on the roof at the last second when he looked up a figure was falling down, his shout was the last thing he said before the figure landed hard on him.

Harley turned and fired instantly missing her target by miles but putting a lovely hole into a painting hanging on the wall, she had hoped for Batman but the figure that cartwheeled away was clearly female, "well, well, well if it isn't the Bat-Bitch as I live and breathe." The figure darted behind an archway and out of direct line of site. "Come out and play with us," Harley's men began spreading out, she had chosen wisely making sure she had picked guys with brains, but even she was impressed with how they fanned out and even more impressed as two of them slipped off to get round back of the Batgirl.

Wayne Manor,

Alfred had been in the kitchen cleaning up after his supper, the television was on in the background but he was not really paying particular attention to it. At the moment he was trying to work out what Selina Kyle would do to Master Bruce's plans. The Bat cloak for the time being was hung up, the suit re-modelled but now unused and unneeded, perhaps if Selina were to push Bruce harder it would remain that way forever. Alfred could not stand the idea of standing over another Wayne's grave again.

Alfred's head flicked round at the mention of the museum, the plate in his hand slid from his soapy grip shattering on the tiled floor. His mouth opened and closed as the onsite reporter talked away about a robbery in progress, then "Oh no," Alfred muttered as a picture of Samantha Kinkalow appeared next to two images of two men.

"Sir, Sir?" Alfred called out his voice echoing around the vastness of Wayne Manor. He walked faster than his legs could manage his heart racing as the news replayed in his head. He reached the grand stairway that led up and felt relief that he would not have to climb them as he saw Bruce Wayne running down them two steps at a time.

"What is it Alfred?" Bruce checked the man over, was he having a heart attack a stroke.

"The news sir, there is trouble at the museum." Alfred led him to the study where he turned on the television. The screen filled with an aerial shot of the museum and a close up of the hole that had ripped it open. Bruce could hear the news reporter wittering on but could not comprehend what they were saying. His own heart stopped at a name, his blood froze as a picture of Samantha Kinkalow appeared in the top right corner.

Bruce walked with purpose to the fish tank. He sunk one arm in, not giving any notice as his shirt sleeve become soaked. He found the button, slimy to his touch and pressed firmly down. Behind him the bookcase slid open with a sigh.

Gotham Museum,

Harley ran her hand over the glass dome it was a rather brilliant piece of equipment blemish free and impervious...well almost. Joe handed over the small box with a cone on the front, she flipped the on switch and a high pitched warble filled the air. The glass did not even vibrate, "It's gonna get loud in here boys and girls," she turned a small dial and the warble rose higher. As she waited Harley pulled out the little clear baggie from her cleavage, she pulled it open and sprinkled the debris at her feet. She looked at it then stomped on it, making it look a lot less like it had just been dropped there.

Batgirl had slid off down the corridor, she had heard movement not far away and had decided not to play possum and wait to get caught in an ambush. With the museum closed the lights were on but dimmed down, the shadows long and deep giving her ample room to sneak through the room. She stopped as two henchmen ran in ducking here and there and whispering far too loudly.

She waited patiently, she grabbed the fat henchman by the leg pulling it up and sending him sprawling onto his back with a shout before she popped him square in the face with a punch. The second guy came running over quickly no care for his own safety and received a swift roundhouse kick to the head that sent him spinning through the air and crashing to the ground.

She made sure both thugs were out cold, noticing the white greasepaint they were wearing Joker's henchmen and no doubt on a job for him. With that Batgirl sped off, cutting into the next corridor giddy at the sight of Harley Quinn's back to her.

The dial was almost at its limit and the glass dome had yet to even start vibrating, Harley was growing impatient the museum would be surrounded by now, their only way in or out would be the roof and she'd rather be fighting up there than trapped in here. She turned the dial once more and yelped with joy as the dome began to vibrate she went to increase it again when a heavy hand landed on her shoulder and spun her around. Harley had chance to notice the woman she had shot now had one green eye and one blue eye before the punch sent her crashing to the ground.

Batgirl tottered to a stop and watched as the shot woman got up and rushed Harley Quinn, 'Is she crazy?' Barbara thought and could not help but smile when she sent Harley to the ground with a punch. The gadget spun across the ground and Batgirl darted for it as another henchman did the same.

She collided with him at full speed and they both fell to the ground. She tried to get up but her arm was held fast in a tight grip, the punch to her side winded her instantly and the blows kept on coming. 'Don't cry out' she repeated in her head, biting back the cry that was building from the never ending punches. She swung her head round and brought it down hard onto the clown faced henchman.

The grip loosened enough and she rolled as best she could away finding her feet and springing up just as two more men came at her with guns raised high. She unhooked a smoke grenade from her belt, flicked the pin free and tossed it full force at the closest one. It landed with a solid THWACK! At the side of his head and erupted smoke as it and the man landed on the ground. The second guy came to an abrupt halt as batgirls foot connected hard with his stomach and he doubled over in agony on the floor as the hall rapidly started to fill with smoke.

'Silly girl,' Selina thought as the smoke bomb erupted not far from her, it was a silly mistake that could cost someone their life in the confines of the room. Already it was filling up and Selina made a quick dash for Harley before she was lost in the smoke. The foot caught her below the ribs and stopped her in her tracks, Harley threw a lazy punch that Selina grabbed and pulled her in close. "I shot you!" Harley spat out as Samantha brought her head forward connecting squarely with Harley's.

Selina pulled her blue blouse open revealing the body armour beneath, "How stupid are you Harley?" She spat out. The smoke was blinding her, but so were the stars that now exploded in her vision but Selina sprang like the cat of old at her dazed prey. Harley danced to the right at the last moment one arm swiping out at Selina who felt the sting of a blade as it sliced her forearm a moment later.

Harley was in a rage, she would not be outwitted by some stupid blonde bimbo in a vest and her blade would finish the job the bullet had started. Harley spun around feinting with the blade making the blonde lady move to her right with no time at all Harley rushed in with a solid punch to her kidneys, deflecting a punch to her head with her left arm then returning the failed punch with one of her own that sent the lady in a daze to the ground, the blade came down in an vicious arc.

It landed and snapped on a black, heavy armoured arm.

Harley's legs were kicked out from under her and she fell hard on her backside. The smoke was dense now, the lighting crazy casting shifting shadows. One shadow though remained solid and loomed over her. Harley scooted backwards on her backside. "How you doin' Bats?" she called out.

Batgirl found the gadget and hit the red switch cutting the whine off instantly, she looked around finding it almost impossible to see anything in the smoke, she was not certain but she thought she had seen a familiar shape. She moved forward crouching down, coughing as the smoke got into her lungs and irritated them. She almost fell over the blonde haired lady, "Are you okay?" she asked helping her to her feet noticing the nasty cut that ran up one arm.

Selina nodded, she felt okay but slow and stupid to have been caught out by such a sucker punch. She looked around trying to find Bruce through the smoke, one moment he was there the next gone. "Where is he?" Selina asked huskily.

"Who?" Batgirl asked, though she thought she knew the answer already.

Harley rushed him again, kicks flying and punches landing ineffectually against body armour or deflected by a swift hand or leg, any injuries he had sustained in the chemical blast were clearly things of the past as he deflected blows and returned his own with fluid speed. "No fair that's cheatin'!" she spat out as she danced backwards trying to get some space between them. She had gotten his attention alright but the plan was nothing if he caught her now. Harley could hear the sound of feet running down the corridors, radios booming and cops shouting as they ran, she had almost done a full circuit of the room if there were any henchmen left, they would be arrested but that was life of a henchman and if anything they would be collared as Joker's henchman confusing Batman all the more with any luck "I'd love to stay and chat Bats but I got a dinner date with Mr J." Harley felt the reassuring knot of rope hit her leg and quickly darted up it.

Bruce ran forward grabbing the rope as Harley ascended quickly, he pulled hard hoping to dislodge her but she barely paused, he could hear the cops now not more than a hundred meters from them he turned quickly and located Selina and the young woman dressed as a bat. "Are you okay?" he asked Selina and she nodded wearily. He turned to the Batgirl, "You come with me and fast."

Selina hit the ground making herself as small as possible, she covered her ears as the police crashed into the room, the gunfire made her ears ache, even with them covered. Bullets flew low then high as Batman ascended through the hole in the roof.

Above the streets of Gotham,

Batman and Batgirl were through the roof before the first barrage of bullets hit the sconces of the ceiling below them, the police helicopter was turning lazily as it buzzed off the Channel Four News helicopter. Bruce grabbed the girls arm and pulled her towards the rear of the museum. With his other hand free he pulled his grappling gun free and fired it high, he held his breath as the projectile landed and sunk in, the gun breaking hard then pulling them up and away from the museum.

Barbara had never felt so alive, she had gone to war with a real bad guy, had fought side by side with The Batman and left in a hail of gun fire she had never felt so alive or turned on as she did that moment. She followed close behind The Batman matching his jump and speed, proving that she was easily his equal if it needed to be proved after tonight. The sound of helicopters grew further away as they headed south to the lower slums of Gotham, after almost a mile they came to a stop.

"You need to quit and go home." Batman said as the grappling gun line reeled back in. He looked at the girl, her make shift outfit was actually pretty good, armour in the right places if a little over padded, her frame was muscle and curves the sort of body that would have Bruce Wayne's attention if it were in a cocktail dress. The red hair was a little distracting; she had obviously gone for leaving it loose rather than cutting it short. He had hesitated going into the museum when he had seen Selina fighting as well as Batgirl he only intervened when she had gone and thrown the smoke bomb that had been crazy.

"Like hell I do," she responded back, "If it wasn't for me they would have taken that diamond and disappeared into the night before you got your lazy old backside there."

"Human life is worth more than any diamond, gold bars or Jewellery." He almost towered over her but she refused to flinch or back down, "What you did was reckless and could have cost an innocent woman her life." He was angrier than he should have been, but this girl was stupider than she should be. "This is not a game there are no second chances or replays." The anger in her eyes was astounding and almost familiar the thought flittered through his head then disappeared. "You have guts but you need to use your head."

The high of the moment was fading rapidly, "I use my head just fine, so I made a mistake I will learn from it and be better next time." She puffed out her chest, there was no way she was going to let Batman berate her for a tiny mistake.

"There won't be a next time," He turned his back on her and before she could stop him he had dropped from the roof. She ran to the ledge and looked over, nothing but the city streets and oblivious pedestrians could be seen, Batman had vanished.

Gotham Museum,

Jim Gordon had to look twice at Samantha Kinkalow, even dishevelled she was stunning and he found himself blushing. A paramedic was stood over her sewing up a nasty cut in one forearm, he watched as the needle pierced skin, pulling the wound closed as it travelled in and out she hardly seemed to notice, shock perhaps. His officers were loading six rather dazed and bruised individuals into the back of a police van, there grease paint told him all he needed to know the Joker was showing his hand early after all. Gordon motioned for one of the Captains to come over, "Captain Rodgers, I want every man here to hand in their fire arms at the end of their shift and those found to have been used I want those officers suspended."

The Captains mouth dropped open, "Sir if I may that seems a little harsh,"

Gordon rounded on him with all his fury, "Three men have died in the last two weeks because of this damn warrant and a lady almost got riddled with bullets tonight for no other reason than the Batman may have been in there. I want them suspended with no pay for two weeks, maybe then we will get some order to my police force once more." The Captain nodded and sped off to pass the message on.

Gordon leaned his head back and rubbed the nape of his neck, his eyes landed on a figure hidden amongst the gargoyles on the museums roof he swallowed hard finding his breath and trying to hide the relieved smile that had started to creep onto his weathered face "When is forensics due?" He asked another junior officer as he hurried on by the Commissioner.

"On their way, maybe ten minutes." He replied quickly with a shaky voice.

"Fine, I don't want any flat foot, swat member or John Q Public in there until they turn up." The officer nodded and grabbed another couple of officers to help stand guard. Gordon strode up the steep steps and went into the museum.

Jim Gordon surveyed the room, his mouth open in horror at what he saw. Not a single wall had survived the onslaught of officers as they unloaded their revolvers at a moving shadow. Officers milled around cordoning off the room and Jim shooed them off, he walked the scene slowly trying to get his head around the craziness of over fifteen officers opening fire at the same time. Paintings hung in tatters, plaster board was ripped apart but in the middle of it all the biggest diamond he had ever seen sat gleaming beneath a glass dome that hardly showed a mark.

"You took your time," Gordon said, he looked through the dome as one shadow attached from the others and approached him slowly, "Just me here now."

"I'm not sure that's reassuring." Batman said stopping on the other side of the glass dome. He looked in better condition than he had outside the chemical factory. That seemed like years to Gordon now so much had happened in such a short space of time.

"I doubt you'd let me arrest you even if I tried," Gordon replied. "It was not my idea you know, damn mayor pushes hard when he wants to."

"I know," Batman replied then began to walk the scene slowly. Bullet casings were everywhere, trace was smeared from different shoes and soles. It was a total mess if there was useable evidence it was more than likely lost. Gordon stepped back silently and left him to his work. He found heel marks, light dust, some blood 'Selina's' he thought. Then he noticed a boot print, an ace of spades clear in the centre, he knelt down inspecting closer, the dust was not plaster board without looking he reached to his belt and opened up a small compartment pulling out a vial and tweezers. He worked quickly, gathering the trace evidence.

He finally stood up and looked about, finding Gordon leaning in one archway, "It's good to know your still on my side."

"I'm not the only one you know, on the law enforcement side atleast. And that Batgirl seems to be pretty handy." Batman responded with a gruff laugh, "I see she's not with you, she miss her curfew?"

Batman fired his grappling gun upwards catching the roof easily, "Something like that," and then shot upwards before disappearing into the night.