DCU Batman #0- Sewer Kings
-Good evening Gotham! Our top story tonight: GCPD has its hands full as a mysterious vigilante has been dispensing hard justice on Gotham criminals. Could this be the work of the supposed Batman? Or is this another crimefighter at work? We bring you-
-In the wake of the Blackgate riots not one year ago, dozens of escaped inmates have become inspired by their rescuers, and have started donning masked personas of their own. Though the majority of inmates are now back in custody, and awaiting transfer to Stryker's Island, Metropolis, police are still searching for the mastermind the media has branded "The Bloody Butterfly-"
-Jeremy Seinfeld's trial concluded today. The 38 year old calling himself Zodiac Master was arrested four months ago when he orchestrated the hijacking on flight-
-John Comet marks the fifth child to have gone missing in the past two days. The three year old was snatched from his bed between 6 and 7 pm. Commissioner Gordon has assured the families that their children *will* be found safely, warning the kidnappers that-
-After much hushed tones, The Falcone Construction company is proud to announce that Arkham Asylum will open it's doors to the public once more. The newly established warden, Charles Cavendish, has declared no case or ailment is too small to be treated and no families shall be ignored. Of course, skepticism is high, with the involvement of Carmine Falcone, not all changes are expected to be well received-
I shouldn't be here. Five children have disappeared, more have probably gone unreported but *Uhn* here I am. Martin Cole was the third victim, admitted to Gotham General yesterday to receive treatment for his hemophilia. Doctors described "A Ragdoll" crawling through the window, and taking the toddler while he slept. When I returned there to pick up any clues, this... Thing attacked me. One of Falcone's men? Or does he work for the kidnappers?
"Who are you? What do you know about the missing children?"
He's clad in black. Metal, blood soaked horns adorn his head. He doesn't speak, only growls. That's fine by me, because I'm wasting enough time. Have to end this. Fast.
"Penny One, tell me you have something on this monster"
Alfred- One moment sir.
Over Comms, at the Batcave, there's movement on the newly named Batcomputer.
Alfred- I'm afraid reports are scarce, Master Bruce, all I can find is a news report dating five years ago. "The Metalhead Murderer," they called him. He killed the Blüdhaven police chief, two of his captains, and then... Nothing. Vanished.
So our mystery man has a name...
"Metalhead, then. Falcone hire you to bring me in?"
MH- Wrong, Bat. Falcone may've wanted you alive. But my employer? *He* wants you dead.
Batman- Then he's going to be disappointed.
===The Gotham Sewer Systems===
Maxie Lloyd. Age two. Male. Catch of the day.
His captor whistles through crooked teeth, and, emerging from the broken pipes, a trail of rodents follow them dutifully. The toddler cries, of course- he's only human, but the rat-man, this sewer king, continues on his way, his soul filled with nothing more than general apathy. The Ratcatcher approaches what appears to be a dead end, only for him to locate a series of bricks in the wall, and clap them sequentially with his lantern. As if by some form of magic, dark magic, the wall gives way to the Ratcatcher's lair. Horrified by what he sees, little Maxie Lloyd lets out a shriek, only for it to be muffled by the Ratcatcher's rubber glove around his mouth. He may've learned to block out the screaming, but his rats haven't.
"Quiet."
Above them, are ten children, chained up along the walls. Puncture marks in their right arms denote where a needle has freshly pierced their skin. Along the walls are jars of spiders, snakes, snails, preserved in greenish liquids. The floors are littered with Ratcatcher's pets, feasting on victims from long ago. From his laboratory, a dark figure watches them, little more than unholy mass of rags and bones. Noticing him, The Ratcatcher mutters "Fresh meat" and hoists the child up for his inspection.
It's crying, the figure thinks. Why is it crying? Half the fun was finding out why. Hematophobia, fear of blood? Misophobia, fear of rats? Agoraphobia, fear of social embarrassment? Or... Yes, perhaps. Nick nack paddy wack, give the dog a bone.
"Yes, Mr Flannegan, this one will do nicely."
The figure leans over, locking eyes with his new patient. His eyes are red, red with a splash of yellow. His pupils are dilated, but he is unblinking. And he gives his diagnosis.
"Phobophobia. The fear, of fears. Oh, don't worry, child, it's only natural."
He leans over to the Ratcatcher, the man he called Flannegan, and whispers in his ear.
"I want him ready for the trials. Prepare test 01.11"
The screaming child is carried off, and the figure grins, a single candle illuminates his horrific visage, a visage that gives even Flannegan nightmares, let alone the children he's kidnapped. And with good reason, the figure laughed, after all, Formidophobia is remarkably common. The fear, of Scarecrows.
DCU Batman #0- Sewer Kings
-Good evening Gotham! Our top story tonight: GCPD has its hands full as a mysterious vigilante has been dispensing hard justice on Gotham criminals. Could this be the work of the supposed Batman? Or is this another crimefighter at work? We bring you-
-In the wake of the Blackgate riots not one year ago, dozens of escaped inmates have become inspired by their rescuers, and have started donning masked personas of their own. Though the majority of inmates are now back in custody, and awaiting transfer to Stryker's Island, Metropolis, police are still searching for the mastermind the media has branded "The Bloody Butterfly-"
-Jeremy Seinfeld's trial concluded today. The 38 year old calling himself Zodiac Master was arrested four months ago when he orchestrated the hijacking on flight-
-John Comet marks the fifth child to have gone missing in the past two days. The three year old was snatched from his bed between 6 and 7 pm. Commissioner Gordon has assured the families that their children *will* be found safely, warning the kidnappers that-
-After much hushed tones, The Falcone Construction company is proud to announce that Arkham Asylum will open it's doors to the public once more. The newly established warden, Charles Cavendish, has declared no case or ailment is too small to be treated and no families shall be ignored. Of course, skepticism is high, with the involvement of Carmine Falcone, not all changes are expected to be well received-
I shouldn't be here. Five children have disappeared, more have probably gone unreported but *Uhn* here I am. Martin Cole was the third victim, admitted to Gotham General yesterday to receive treatment for his hemophilia. Doctors described "A Ragdoll" crawling through the window, and taking the toddler while he slept. When I returned there to pick up any clues, this... Thing attacked me. One of Falcone's men? Or does he work for the kidnappers?
"Who are you? What do you know about the missing children?"
He's clad in black. Metal, blood soaked horns adorn his head. He doesn't speak, only growls. That's fine by me, because I'm wasting enough time. Have to end this. Fast.
"Penny One, tell me you have something on this monster"
Alfred- One moment sir.
Over Comms, at the Batcave, there's movement on the newly named Batcomputer.
Alfred- I'm afraid reports are scarce, Master Bruce, all I can find is a news report dating five years ago. "The Metalhead Murderer," they called him. He killed the Blüdhaven police chief, two of his captains, and then... Nothing. Vanished.
So our mystery man has a name...
"Metalhead, then. Falcone hire you to bring me in?"
MH- Wrong, Bat. Falcone may've wanted you alive. But my employer? *He* wants you dead.
Batman- Then he's going to be disappointed.
===The Gotham Sewer Systems===
Maxie Lloyd. Age two. Male. Catch of the day.
His captor whistles through crooked teeth, and, emerging from the broken pipes, a trail of rodents follow them dutifully. The toddler cries, of course- he's only human, but the rat-man, this sewer king, continues on his way, his soul filled with nothing more than general apathy. The Ratcatcher approaches what appears to be a dead end, only for him to locate a series of bricks in the wall, and clap them sequentially with his lantern. As if by some form of magic, dark magic, the wall gives way to the Ratcatcher's lair. Horrified by what he sees, little Maxie Lloyd lets out a shriek, only for it to be muffled by the Ratcatcher's rubber glove around his mouth. He may've learned to block out the screaming, but his rats haven't.
"Quiet."
Above them, are ten children, chained up along the walls. Puncture marks in their right arms denote where a needle has freshly pierced their skin. Along the walls are jars of spiders, snakes, snails, preserved in greenish liquids. The floors are littered with Ratcatcher's pets, feasting on victims from long ago. From his laboratory, a dark figure watches them, little more than unholy mass of rags and bones. Noticing him, The Ratcatcher mutters "Fresh meat" and hoists the child up for his inspection.
It's crying, the figure thinks. Why is it crying? Half the fun was finding out why. Hematophobia, fear of blood? Misophobia, fear of rats? Agoraphobia, fear of social embarrassment? Or... Yes, perhaps. Nick nack paddy wack, give the dog a bone.
"Yes, Mr Flannegan, this one will do nicely."
The figure leans over, locking eyes with his new patient. His eyes are red, red with a splash of yellow. His pupils are dilated, but he is unblinking. And he gives his diagnosis.
"Phobophobia. The fear, of fears. Oh, don't worry, child, it's only natural."
He leans over to the Ratcatcher, the man he called Flannegan, and whispers in his ear.
"I want him ready for the trials. Prepare test 01.11"
The screaming child is carried off, and the figure grins, a single candle illuminates his horrific visage, a visage that gives even Flannegan nightmares, let alone the children he's kidnapped. And with good reason, the figure laughed, after all, Formidophobia is remarkably common. The fear, of Scarecrows.