Chapter 3 - Heart of Ice

This is how I'll always remember you surrounded by winter, forever young, forever beautiful. Rest well, my love. The monster who took you from me will soon learn that revenge is a dish best served cold. In the midst of the hottest August on record a rash of bizarre cold-related crimes have chilled Gotham to the bone. Once again, the target is a Gothcorp facility attacked by an assailant wielding what witnesses called a "freezing gun. " The attacker's motives remain unclear. We spoke earlier with Gothcorp CEO Ferris Boyle, who offered these comments: I don't know what this person has against Gothcorp. But we've always looked upon ourselves as the "people company. " If this man has a problem, we're willing to listen. A heartfelt plea from the chairman of Gothcorp, the People Company. This is Summer Gleeson for Gotham Insider. Hey, get out of here! Taking up video games, are we, sir? I've accessed police files on the Gothcorp raids. These are the stolen objects. They don't look like much alone, but in this configuration My word! They combine into a massive weapon able to generate intense cold. There's still one component missing, and only one Gothcorp plant makes it. Halt! Stay where you are! Look out! We got company. Keep your mind on your business. I'll handle this. Load those canisters. Hurry. Are you done? All set. - The Batman! - Put me down! Freeze! That's "Mr. Freeze" to you. This is a personal vendetta. It doesn't concern you. It's my concern now. Since you ally yourself with my enemies, you leave me no choice. Johnny! - Take it easy, man. I got you. - Leave him. He should have been more careful. Now he's paid the price for his incompetence. - But he's one of us. - Then perhaps you'd like to share his fate. Don't leave me! Please! Please! Come back! Help! Please! Cold so cold I must say, you're showing a surprising amount of compassion for him considering he would surely have left you to die in his place. With all the compartments on your belt, you'd think there'd be one for tissues. Thanks. He's pulling through. The hot chemical bath did the trick. You could use a hot bath yourself. I can't worry about a cold now. After Batman drops our unconscious guest at police headquarters Bruce Wayne has got a meeting with Mr. Ferris Boyle. Bruce Wayne! It's been forever. How have you been? Still the terror of the Gotham night scene? I get around. Speaking of terror, what's this about someone causing trouble for Gothcorp? You got me. Some fruitcake has it out for my company. I don't know why. Maybe it's an investor who lost money. Or an angry ex-employee. There's only one man who would hate Gothcorp that much, if he were alive. - Who? - One of our scientists. An obsessed wacko. He was caught using company equipment for personal reasons. I had to send my security men in. There was a fight, an explosion. We lost him. - What was he doing? - Wasting company money. My money! Look, Bruce. That "people company" line is great PR. But when the wage-slaves act like they own the place, it's time to pull the plug, right? - Sir, the humanitarian committee is here. - I'll be right out. We're hosting a ceremony for Gotham's Humanitarian Industrialist of the Year. - Guess who's winning. - I feel ill. Excuse me, Ferris. My cold. Congratulations on your award. I'm sure it's well-deserved. And I want to say that these unwarranted attacks against Gothcorp have in no way changed our personal commitment to the community. Inspirational words from Gotham's Humanitarian Industrialist of the Year. "Humanity. " "Compassion. " "Charity. " Where were those pretty words when she needed to hear them? Faster! The cannon must be completed tonight. I have my own warm wishes to bestow on Mr. Boyle. When Ferris mentioned that explosion, I remembered this headline from last year. Does it say what caused the accident? No. And I suspect that's the reason for the cover-up. I won't know for sure until I check Gothcorp's classified files. If you're going to go sneaking around a crowded office building, you'll need this. - Knockout gas? - Chicken soup. The only way to fight a cold. Mr. Boyle sent me to fill in. Enjoy yourself at the party, with his compliments. Hey, great. - You okay? - I'm fine. Take off. My name is Dr. Victor Fries. I am recording what I pray will be mankind's first step toward immortality. Behind me you see the CC100 a cryogenic freezing chamber of my own design. I created it expressly for freezing subjects stricken with inoperable ailments subjects like my own beloved wife, Nora. Once a remedy has been found Open this door! Open it now! Get away from that equipment! Shut this down. Stop! This is my experiment! Your unauthorized experiment. I ordered funding suspended weeks ago. I'm already 3 million in debt, thanks to you. You can't stop it now. My wife is in there. - So bring her out. - You can't interrupt the process now. - Open it. - It's her only chance! This is my equipment! Mine! I have every legal right to use it or not use it as I see fit. I say this project ends now! No! Stay away from her, murderer! Victor, I'm sorry. I lost my temper. It doesn't have to come to this. We can talk. Get out! Get out! Nora! Nora! My God. Yes, it would move me to tears if I still had tears to shed. The snow is beautiful, don't you think? - Clean, uncompromising - And cold. Like the swift hand of vengeance. I saw what happened to your wife. I'm sorry. I'm beyond emotions. They've been frozen dead in me. That suit you wear, a result of the coolant? Very good. A detective to the last. I can no longer survive out of a sub-zero environment. Tonight, I mean to pay back the man who ruined my life our lives. Even if you have to kill everyone in the building to do it? Think of it, Batman. To never again walk on a summer's day with a hot wind in your face and a warm hand to hold. Oh, yes. I'd kill for that. Let's go. Keys? Seal the building. Higher! Higher! Let the evil that walks inside be cleansed by pure, unforgiving ice. And so it gives me great pleasure to present this well-deserved award to Double the power. I will finish this. The cold eyes of vengeance are upon you, Boyle. Who? Who are you? Come, now. Surely you remember your old colleague victor Fries. No! Stop. Please. I beg you. You beg? In my nightmares, I see my Nora behind the glass begging to me with frozen eyes. How I've longed to see that look frozen on you. The advanced circuitry that powers my suit also triples my strength. Sooner or later, all who stand in my way must feel the icy touch of death. - What was that stuff? - The only way to fight a cold. It can't end this way. Vengeance No, justice. A year ago, Ferris Boyle interrupted an experiment and in the process destroyed two lives. Here's the evidence. Good night, humanitarian. I failed you. I wish there were another way for me to say it but I cannot. I can only beg your forgiveness and pray you hear me somehow, someplace. Someplace where a warm hand waits for mine.