Terry was on top of a building, dressed in his Batman suit. Six months since dawning the suit, Terry has been training back to back when he isn't at school. When he has been out as Batman, he has faced his own villains such as Shriek, or Inque. Now McGinnis is out waiting for crime to show. That is until he hears a scream, putting on the mask before diving for the rescue. A family was cornered by a group of gang members. When he landed the family ran away, giving the gang his attention. One of them took out a gun, but Terry's movements were quick when he threw the batarang and the guys hands before tackling him onto the ground. The rest of the gang members join in, but Terry is quick to react, so he kicks one in the face before punching the other in the gut. He turns around to the person behind him and does a double leg takedown before punching him in the face, knocking him out. Batman turned around and saw the criminals run in fear. He was about to go after them, but received a transmission throughout the cave.
"Hello?"
"McGinnis, it's Wayne. I need you at Neo-Gotham's town hall where Mayor Young is being honored. There has been an attack. Mad Stan is at it again"
Terry paused for a minute before speaking, "Uh Bruce, you know that Commissioner Gordons there. Isn't the goal not to be seen by her"
"Lives are at stake. If you don't stop Stan, then millions of civilians will get hurt, or worse"
"Alright I will go" Terry sighed before taking off to save everyone in the town hall.
At the Neo-Gotham awards Mayor Sam Young was on stage with his wife the Commissioner. The former District Attorney, now Mayor, stood up in front of everyone. He was ready to give his deliverance speech, but it was being taken over by Mad Stan. He barged it and punched a cop, who tried to stop him before he went up on stage. The man was taller than most individuals and wore his usual black shirt with his navy pants. Grabbing something out of his pocket, he threw miniature grenades at the security that was trying to apprehend him, and they exploded, sending them back. Barbara tried to fight back, but Stan had grabbed her arm, squeezing the gun out of her hand that she tried to pull. She then used his other hand to grab the emergency button before pressing it. Stan saw it before squeezing her right hand again.
"Go ahead, call your back up. I will just kill them after I have blown up this whole stinkin dump you call a town hall"
Stan was ready to go through with his threat. He stuck out his detonator with his other hand, ready to do what he was set out to do without caring if anyone got hurt. That was until it fell out of his hand. Stand looked up to see who it was, and it was Batman, who uncloaked himself, he threw the batarang.
Stan then let go of Gordon, throwing her on the ground next to Sam Young. He was about to do something, but Batman flew in, tackling him to the ground. Stan tried to fight back, but Batman was faster and kept punching him after each swing. Accidentally Stan fell next to his detonator, picking it up, he was ready to press it, but Batman threw two shock batarangs on Stan's jacker, causing it to shock. He quickly took it off and threw it above. It exploded with the rubble falling towards the way of Gordon and her husband Sam. Batman saw this and used his rockets to quickly get the two out of the way, causing Stan to run away. Batman was more worried about the Mayor and the Commissioner. He helped leave them up, "Are you alright?" he asked, but Barabra pointed something behind him, "Mad Stan is getting away"
"Don't worry I got this. Just stay here" without Gordon saying another word, Terry ran off after Mad Stan, who quickly ran through the halls. Batman wasn't too far. Stand saw this and tried to keep him distracted by throwing more grenades at him. It kept hitting the top of the floor, causing Batman to get the civilians out of the way.
Stand kept running and running until he reached the highest floor on the building, a parking garage. On it was his truck full of weapons. Stand opened the trunk, grabbing two weapons, one for each hand. When Batman finally confronted him, Stan launched rockets from his two weapons. Batman dodged each of them. He kept running until Stan ran out.
Stand was furious, he took a big bomb and jammed it into the ground, "Stand back man. I will blow up this whole floor"
"I don't think so" Batman threw a batarang at the handle, breaking it. Without it the bomb can't go off.
Stan looks at the handle, then turns his head to see Batman running towards him. Before Stan could react, he gets kicked in the chest, falling on his back. Batman picks up the broken bomb and tosses it.
Mad Stan lays on the floor. Batman slowly walks over to him, that is when Stan begins to laugh, "Go ahead man, but when I break out, I will do it again. This time I will finish the job"
"I know you will and I will stop you each and every time" Batman lifted Stand by his shirt and punches him, knocking him out"
Commissioner Gordon had just walked in ready to fight, but it was too late. Stan was already on the ground unconscious. She turned over to see Batman standing over him.
"Don't worry, he won't be hurting anyone tonight. How's the Mayor?"
"He is fine. Thank you McGinnis" Terry's face was shocked when Gordon didn't call him Batman. He was confused, "How?" Before any more words could be exchanged, more police came to take Stan away.
"We will talk later, kid. Go back to the old man"
Terry leaves, he stands on the ledge, looking back at Gordon before looking ahead. Calling the batmobile to come pick him up. It flies ahead, causing Terry to jump in before taking off to go back into the cave.
Terry had piloted the batmobile back into the cave. He steps out, removing his mask. He is greeted by Luke, waiting for him to get out. The two went forward where Bruce is sitting by the computer waiting, "I saw what you did through the security camera. You did well"
"Thanks, but we have a problem. The Commissioner knows who I am" Bruce didn't say another word, neither did Luke. Terry was confused, "Bruce, if he found out who I am, what are we going to do?"
"Why don't you ask her? Hello Barbara"
Terry turned his head around to see the Commissioner casually walking down the stairs with her hands in her jacket pocket. She walked over staring at the three, "Bruce, its been a while" she then turned to Luke, giving him a hug, "Fox its been a while. Can't say I am surprised to see you still here"
"Well someone has to watch out for the old man" Luke joked, but stayed quiet when Bruce gave him a stair.
Barbara then turned her head towards Terry, "I see you brought in a new sidekick? He talked you into this kid?"
Bruce defended Terry, "I didn't talk him into anything"
"Its what I wanted" Terry said, talking back. Barbara shook her head, then walked over to the case of suits. She opened the Batgirl display, rubbing her hand on the suit, "I see you kept it clean all these years"
"What else was I surprised to do with it?" Bruce asked her.
Terry then realized something, "You were Batgirl?"
"I was. The Joker paralyzed me. Years later, I finally got back to my feet. I then suit up not long after. Did Bruce tell you what happened to my father?" Terry shook his head.
"Mr. Freeze threatened to down this city in ice. He had kidnapped my father, who had followed him. Bruce told me to stay and I listened. By the time Bruce got there, Luke was injured and my father died frozen by Mr. Freeze's gun. That's when I suited up, confronted Frieze, nearly killed him. After that I threw away the suit and refused to return"
"And you blame me for it?"
Bararbara shook her head, "No, I blame myself for listening. Look kid, I am not going to stop you, but if I see you again, I am throwing all three of you in prison"
They all stayed silent. Barbara was leaving, but before she went up the stairs, Terry called her out, "What about Powers? He had my parents killed and is still roaming free. Where's the justice in that?" he started to get angry, but when Barbara looked him in the eyes, Terry backed off, "Look McGinnis we can't find evidence. As much as I would like to arrest him, I can't prove anything. I am sorry" she then turned around, leaving the cave, leaving the three alone.
Bruce looked at Terry, lifting an eyebrow. McGinnis signed, "Listen Bruce, I am sorry, It was wrong of me to say that"
"Its okay, I understand. Go upstairs and rest, you have school in the morning"
Terry went upstairs, going to his room. Since he moved into Wayne Manor, Terry has found it easier to navigate the place. He stepped into his room, sitting down on his bed. Picking up the picture frame of him and his family. He was feeling sad again. He missed them, that brings him back to thinking about Derek Powers. When Terry found out that Powers was alive and innocent of the incident at Wayne Enterprise, he was angry. He was angry that the man who ordered his parents' death was able to get away as a free man. Terry vowed to do everything he could to bring Powers down, but it wasn't going to be tonight. He shut the light, going to bed.
Back at school Terry was in the hall having his hands in his pocket, walking around alone. School was almost over. Most people he knew would be out, having fun, while he stayed with Bruce Wayne as his other assistant during the day and fights crime as Batman at night. While he was walking, he saw Dana by her locker. That's when he realized he forgot to call her last night, it wasn't the first time either. Terry was reluctant, but went over anyway. He went right next to her locker, "Hey Dana, sorry I missed your call"
"Let me guess, you were busy again?" he could tell she was annoyed, walking away. Terry tried to follow her, "Listen, I am sorry. I been so busy working for Mr. Wayne that I haven't had time"
"You sold your apartment without telling me. I didn't even know you were going to live with Bruce Wayne until your neighbor told me" that is when Terry stayed silent. He knew he messed up. Before he could say anything else she walked away. Max was a witness to this, "Let me guess Dana is upset again"
"Yeah. She is upset that I have been busy with work" Max with sympathy put her hand on his shoulder, "She just misses you. Give her time" Terry sighed, feeling nothing, but defeat, "Your right thank you Max" the two then decided to walk to class together.
After school, Terry went back to the mansion, only to not see Bruce or Luke. He called their names, but no one responded, so he went down the cave to see what was going on. Bruce was the only one down there. He was on the cave's computer, doing some work. Terry walked over, "Called you guys, but no one was upstairs"
"Luke isn't here. He has a life you know"
"And you? How long have you been down here" Terry gave Bruce a smirk.
"I have been investigating crime scenes that have been appearing all over the city, look" Bruce showed Terry burned marks that appeared around the city. Something burned through the craters.
"What is with the holes in the walls?" Terry asked, analyzing the pictures as Bruce had taught him.
"I don't know, but it's all connected to one thing. Wayne Enterprise"
Terry blinked, "Your saying Powers hired some super villain to burn locations that belonged to your company to steal from himself. Why can't he just take what he needs for himself? Most specifically what is it"
"I don't know, but its all tech hidden in storage by the company.
"So you think that Powers is trying to make something by using those parts?"
"I don't know, but I planned to go meet with him. If you want to come"
Terry said yes to Bruce's offer, "Of course, I would like to see Powers in person. He seemed fine after I threw the gas at him. I want to know if he is really fine" the two went in the limo, where Terry drove Bruce to Wayne Enterprise. He had mixed emotions, not sure how he was going to react to seeing the man, who had ordered his parents' death, but thanks to Bruce's training, Terry learned how to control his emotions better. They pulled over to the building. Bruce was let out in front, while Terry found a place to park. He wanted to come in, but Bruce told him to meet him in the hallway. He wanted to argue, but understood why he had to.
Bruce went up the elevator, looking around, he saw much has changed since he gave the company to Powers years ago, something that he regrets. Entering the office, he sees Powers staring at the window. Powers turns around, smiling, "Why Bruce, glad to see you here" he stretched a hand, but saw it was towards the direction of the cain, so he pulled it back, "I have to say, I am surprised you're taking an interest in the company after all this time. What made you change your mind?"
"Just making sure everything is alright. From what I heard this company had a few accidents recently"
"Oh you mean the break in through the tech you stored"
"I stored it for a reason" Bruce said sternly. Powers knew Bruce was being serious, but he kept an appearance, "I have no idea who would do such a thing" he said innocently.
Bruce walked over by the desk, then back at Powers. The two started to walk towards the elevator, going downstairs, "Have you spoken to the police about this?" Bruce asked.
"I have and they have not have the slightest clue, who it was"
The two got off to see Terry waiting, he was calm and so was Powers. Bruce just looked at them, waiting for something to happen, but it wasn't. Powers just spoke to him normally, "Mr. McGinnis, I am surprised to see you here"
"I work for Mr. Wayne now"
"I heard you're living with him too. I guess without your parents, you have to have someone to go to" Terry was outraged by these comments, but Bruce stepped in to stop him, telling him that they are leaving. Powers said goodbye, but the two didn't answer. They just went into the elevator.
"Find anything?" Terry asked.
Bruce shook his head, "No, but he does know something"
"Maybe, I should pay him a visit?" Terry suggested. Bruce laid out a nod in approval. The two went in the limo, but not before Terry gave the building a stare, before he got in.
Later that night Terry went out as his persona, flying around the city. He reached Powers office. From a distance Terry saw Powers arguing with someone, a staff member. He could tell it was not good, he also noticed there were sunglasses on his face. Batman flew in, breaking the window. He threw batarangs at the security, who were about to take out their guns. He then turned his attention towards Powers, pinning him next to his desk, "What do you think you're doing!" Powers asked, trying not to get angry.
"The break in at Wayne's warehouses, what do you know?"
"I don't know what you are talking about" Batman held him by the shirt, showing off one of his claws. Suddenly he turned his head, and more security arrived, shooting at him. He takes out smoke repellents and throws them on the ground. Without a second thought, Batman used this opportunity to jump out of the building, getting away.
The security guards ran towards Powers, who had dropped his glasses. Before they could ask if he was okay, Powers stared at them with green eyes, scaring them. Powers got up and walked out of his office like nothing happened.
Terry was flying through the city, when he called Bruce through the comms, "Bruce, I assumed you heard what happened through the cave?"
"That you broke into Wayne Enterprise and attacked the man in charge?. Yeah, I heard about it"
"What should I do?"
"Nothing. Likely Powers won't call the police. He knows they are onto him from the incident months ago. Lately he hasn't been keeping up appearances. He is hiding something"
"I did see him wearing sunglasses, yelling at an assistant"
Bruce thought deep on this, not sure what to say, "Strange. Just come back to the cave. We will have to plan our next move"
Terry was flying through the city, ready to call in the batmobile, until he saw a figure stand on the rooftop. He looked closer to see who it was, but he couldn't tell. It was only a figure with a green skeleton for a head. Before he could react, Terry is hit directly in the chest by an energy blast, causing him to fall down. His mind was spinning so much that he couldn't think. Terry breaks his fall by landing on a dumpster bin, then hitting the ground hard. He tried to move, but eventually gave up.
Bruce knew something was wrong with Terry's heart vitles moving on the screen of his computer. He started to get concerned, calling his name, "McGinnis are you there? Terry? Terry?" Bruce kept calling him, but no response was given.