160/Be the Light You Want to See

Be the Light You Want to See
Date of Scene:	26 April 2017
Location:	Gotham City
Synopsis:	Summary needed.
Cast of Characters:	Batman, Zachary Lightwing, Jim Gordon

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Batman has posed:
Early morning in Gotham.

The sun has not yet cracked the horizon, but the darkness of the sky is just beginning to soften--before too long, its midnight blue will melt to gray.

The rooftop of Gotham Central is empty, although a few smoldering cigarette butts suggest one or two officers recently finished their smoke breaks.

Near one corner, a massive floodlight sits under a heavy tarp that's tied down at each corner.

Zachary Lightwing has posed:
Zzzt.

A small foggy white cat pops out of a light on the rooftop and lands without a sound. He had noticed the floodlight when he was doing some scouting around Gotham Central late at night. He steps right up to the tarp and uses a quick zap of electricity to just singe the ties and let the covering slide right off.

He examines the floodlight, checking to see if it's been disconnected by people not wanting someone to call Batman there.

Batman has posed:
The floodlight is definitely still wired up, although the panel where its control switch is located is padlocked shut.

Meanwhile, all around, the city prepares to wake up.

Zachary Lightwing has posed:
    "Mm."

Zach gives it a thought. He doesn't want to just break into a floodlight panel, that might be problematic for someone else later, but if it's all wired up...

Zach hops on top of the floodlight and just uses his ability to manipulate electricity to manually activate it, running electricity from the wire, to himself, to the light itself, being very careful not to fry the wiring in the process or bust the bulb. He knows enough about electrical equipment that he should be able to just skip fiddling with a lock entirely!

Jim Gordon has posed:
    Right about now, Jim Gordon walks to the top of the GCPD Building and spies Zachary working on the bat signal. Jim stands there for a moment before he finally clears his throat. "You'd have a bit more success if you flipped the switch, Spook." He says with a chuckle....and sipping his coffee.

Batman has posed:
As the two stand near the floodlight, a dark figure glides onto the roof, landing quietly enough that only the flutter of its cape makes a soft noise.

"Don't," the Batman says in a low growl. "Eyes, Jim. This is going to be compromising enough."

He steps forward, arms hidden under the drape of his cloak. "You'd be surprised how much gets discussed up here. Or maybe not."

Zachary Lightwing has posed:
Zachary gives a soft 'hah' at Gordon's words, apparently content to do this the weird way. He didn't exactly have a key, either. Where would a ghost cat keep that?

Batman arrives shortly, and the light immediately goes out as Zach ceases concentrating on it and instead looks toward Batman. The soft sound of amazement is probably more indicative of a fanboy than someone that needs to say anything serious to him, but nonetheless...

"So were you really present when Bruce Wayne was attacked?" he asks of Batman, getting down to brass tacks since there isn't much time to goof around with the police crawling all over Gotham to catch this guy.

Jim Gordon has posed:
    Gordon looks over to Batman, then Zachary and shakes his head. "Yeah, because of that post in the Bugle, Batman, I won't keep you long here. Bullock's been trying to get you in a cell for years, and this is just another opportunity." He then looks to Zach at the question, and goes to let Batman answer it before he gets to his own business.

"Here's the copied files of everything I have, Batman. Yes I copied everything because it would looks suspicious if I gave you the original files. Of course, if you need to see the originals, you know where to find them in my office. You also know where the evidence is in the evidence room, and Bruce Wayne's body is in the morgue. Batgirl knows the locker number. I'm not going over too many details, batman, but I don't think you did it. First, there's radiation on Bruce Wayne's body and I've never seen you use any sort of weapon other than your batarangs. Second, there are claw marks on Wayn's body. Unless you installed claws on your hands or boots, that rules you out as well."

Blunt and to the point. "Make it Quick, Spook, so he can get out of here before someone calls batman in and Brandon's SWAT TEAM gets up here. And I know Bullock wants Bat's head. If he comes up here though, I'm suspending his ass."

Batman has posed:
Looking into Zachary's eyes, Batman replies in a flat tone. "No. I'd ask in return, but you don't resemble my suspect." He turns to Gordon, lips closed tightly.

"The day Bullock catches me is the day I deserve to retire," Batman says, the hint of a smile creeping into the corner of his mouth. He glances down at the files and tilts his head just slightly. "Don't take this the wrong way, Jim, but I already have a copy."

For a moment, he's quiet, and then he continues. "I do need your help, though. It will sound insane ... but no less insane than any other case we've worked on together. You see, Bruce Wayne's killer is ... Batman."

Batman looks back and forth between the two of them. "A different Batman."

Zachary Lightwing has posed:
Zach's eyes take on a cheery appearance, seeming pleased by the answer. "Good. It makes me feel better to hear it from you."

Zach listens. He seems quite happy to see Gordon and Batman interact, too, their little exchange making him wiggle in place. He's got a lot of energy today.

But then the suspect's identity is revealed, and Zach blurts out:

"You're being framed," pretty much immediately.

"The footage being leaked the way it was pretty much proves it. The only reason someone would do that would be to create more pressure for you to deal with. The methodology, frankly..." he glances at Jim somewhat... apologetically, "That won't matter, because of the footage. People are already frothing to see him locked in a concrete box without knowing what really happened."

"I want to help," Zach adds.

Jim Gordon has posed:
    "Bullock and/or Brandan is usually the cause of it. They're both great officers, but they're in the pocket of just about every crime gang there is. Bullock probably sent it in so he'd have a reason to put Batman behid bars, if he ever caught him. Brandan's still seething over the fact that there was a bounty on Bat's head a number of years ago and he couldn't collect, now he just wants Batman dead." Gordon then looks to Batman. "And before you ask, Batman, before this little meeting, I've called in a little bit of help myself." He then holds up a 'pager' type device. "From someone who also doesn't believe that you did it."

Batman has posed:
The dark knight furrows his brow, looking at the device. "What is that?" he asks. "I don't mind being believed or not. The truth will out. But it's good to know that there are those who recognize it when they hear it."

He steps forward to Gordon and the device. "Jim, there's something you need to know. This other Batman ... I don't kill. If he does, then your people need to understand the level of danger they're in. I've injured some in the past in order to protect them from greater harm. This won't be like that."

Zachary Lightwing has posed:
Zachary frowns somewhat as he hears about the corruption of Gotham authorities, his eyes lowering and his ears drooping. He is a cat, so he emotes like one.

"He can't kill someone that's already dead," Zach points out, "If he shows up I'll show him what kinda juice the Gotham power grid can crank out. He won't be cavorting around as you for very long after that."

Jim Gordon has posed:
    "We kinda need the power grid, Spook." Gordon says before putting the copies at Batman's feet. "if you don't want them Batman, I'm gonna burn them. Bullock has been following me like a hawk when he's on duty, and that one rookie seems to be trying to work with Bullock to get on the case, which is why I took it personally. I'll put it out that if they spot batman, to not engage and to call the Justice League in on it. As much corruption as there is in the GCPD, they're still human beings. And if he's willing to kill, I'm not going to risk it."

Batman has posed:
Retrieving a small object from his belt, Batman drops it on the files. It begins to hiss and smoke, a tiny incendiary. "No need for that," he says.

"For help, though...that will quite possibly be necessary. I'm not entirely sure just how dangerous the Batman will be. But 'very' is at least an accurate qualifier." Batman looks back to the large signal mounted nearby.

"Jim. Spook." The vigilante nods to each one slowly as he says their name. "The signal should be left off. The next time it's shined...it'll need to be a beacon for everyone, because a veritable war between Batmen will be occurring. Can you hold it in reserve for that contingency, for now?"

Zachary Lightwing has posed:
Zach offhandedly retorts to Gordon, "Power lines can be fixed. If I get a shot, I'm gonna take it."

Being called Spook again, but now by Batman, has him laugh a little to himself. He thinks it's funny, apparently, and makes no apparent objection with the name. "You got it, Batman!"

Jim Gordon has posed:
    "Done. if it's turned on, the Batmen are going to war.....and we'll have to figure out which is which too." Gordon looks to Batman. I'm sure you're the only one of the pair who knows who I am. Meanwhile, I think I'll make a trip to the Hall of Justice to talk to Superman about this. Who knows, maybe some of the other groups will get in on this too. I don't think the Avengers would wish to hurt you either."

Batman has posed:
"It'll be clear very quickly," Batman says. "I'll be the one trying to keep people alive."

He steps toward the edge of the roof. "Still ... that's not a bad idea. Being around an indestructible force of nature tends to keep one pretty safe. As for you," Batman says to Zachary, "don't make yourself a target."

Then, he raises an arm, grappling gun in hand. The line fires off in the distance with a soft *paffff* sound, and then Batman flies away, soaring through the gray morning sky until he arcs off around a building.

Zachary Lightwing has posed:
"So cool," Zach says after Batman's already gone.

"... well, I got myself involved in this mess," he realizes, remembering that he really didn't have to be. "I've done what I can do so far, at least until this goes down. Thanks, Commissioner!" And then ghost cat leaps into a nearby light and is just gone, going back home so he can get ready to go to work. He's got a day job, too, and it's already getting to be daylight.

Jim Gordon has posed:
    Gordon simply watches them both disappear and chuckles. It's THEN Bullock decides to appear. 'Hey Commish. Whatcha doing up here? And whatcha burnin'?" Gordon looks down, then back to Bullock as he starts for the door. "A small vigil....for a friend. Now stop following me around." And he slams the door shut.

Batman has posed:
Meanwhile, half a block away, near the opposite side of the building where Batman had departed, a dark figure glides through the skyline, its black cape stretched out behind it like a pair of leathery wings.