Gotham Intelligence - James Bond vs. The Batman (Completed)

[Vehrec]

Well, if you spoil the Joker's joke, he'll kill you. So you're dead either way. And putting a bullet into the Joker is, I imagine, something that other people have tried and failed to do. I mean, he gets into police custody how many times and nobody's given him a bullet in the brainpan?

Bruce Wayne already employed Reece in any case, so offering him a better job for his recent successes, and the stress he's been under would just be a nice thing to do.

[lord Martiya]

After all, I'm quite sure the first thing James Bond would do if faced with the chance would be to put a bullet in the Joker and call it 'dealt with'.

Just one?

[Mr Bean]

After all, I'm quite sure the first thing James Bond would do if faced with the chance would be to put a bullet in the Joker and call it 'dealt with'.

Just one?

He's not met him yet, he's secure in prison and even for Bond executing someone who's already in jail is going to raise some issues. There's a difference between knowing the Joker is a above average terrorist and meeting the bastard in person.

I'm interesting to read Act 4 if only to see if Batman protects his identity or Bruce Wayn steps in to protect his oh so valuable employee.

[The Romulan Republic]

A minor nitpick, but I thought Batman took the fall for five murders, not three.

[Crazedwraith]

Hmm. Interesting fic. The Prose seems slightly bare bones, but actually reminds me of Ian Fleming's writing. The plot works very well within the universe.

Bond's seduction of the Air hostess doesn't really fit with Daniel Craig's Bond, though. The only time he seduces people in CR/QoS is when he has something to gain by it. Not just for his own entertainment.

[Solauren]

Bond's seduction of the Air hostess doesn't really fit with Daniel Craig's Bond, though. The only time he seduces people in CR/QoS is when he has something to gain by it. Not just for his own entertainment.

He's in 'transition' stage to a more hybrid of the current Bond, and the classic 'Sean Connery / Roger Moore' Bond. Don't worry, it was just to show he's moved on from the 'vengence' angle and is more into 'duty'.

[Darmalus]

I think I'm having the most fun watching Batman fumble around in the dark, thinking he is fighting some sort of super mobsters. I wonder if he is going to go "Oh crap, the CIA/MI6!" or the "It's mobsters pretending to be the CIA/MI6!" route.

[EdBecerra]

I think I'm having the most fun watching Batman fumble around in the dark, thinking he is fighting some sort of super mobsters. I wonder if he is going to go "Oh crap, the CIA/MI6!" or the "It's mobsters pretending to be the CIA/MI6!" route.

Well, really, Bond really should have had his nose rubbed in the Cambridge Five the *day* he was recruited. There have been times when the intelligence business and the mob have been so closely in bed together, it's positively incestuous.

I can see it now.

Bond: I'm British Intelligence, Mr. Wayne.

Wayne: Oh? Like Anthony Blunt, Roger Hollis and Kim Philby?

Bond: *slow burn, albeit well disguised...*

You can't trust anyone in the spy business. Not even yourself. After all, how do you know you're you?

Telefon, anyone?

Ed.

(not the king of paranoia, just one of the minor knights...)

[Solauren]

Act 4 -

"Perimeter secure?" Bond asked as Felix came back into the room. On the other side of some transparent glass, the accountant that claimed to know the identity of the Batman was secured to a chair.

"Absolutely." Felix said. "No one's getting in or out of this building."

"Then let's go talk to our man."

Mr. Reese looked up as Bond and Felix entered the room. Reese was in good shape, except for some light bruising to his wrist from testing his handcuffs. Felix moved to remove them, as Bond stood, cross armed.

"Okay, I'm going to make this simple. You know the true identity of a man wanted for several murders, resisting arrest, fleeing the scene of a crime, and most recently, interfering with an intelligence operative in the completion of his duties, and assault on the same. Not to mention a slew of other charges."

"And knowing who he is, and not revealing that to the police, or us, well, you're in a lot of trouble too." Felix said into Reese's ear. “Your family too, if you get my meaning.”

"I, I want to make a deal." Reese said.

"You're not in a position to make deals" Felix said. "Right now, all co-operation is going to do is lower your sentencing as an accessory."

"Hang on now, Felix" Bond said. "We can be reasonable. Let's here what he wants."

"Money, and out of the country, or at least the continental US." Reese said. "For both me, and my immediate family. And protection in a nice house."

"Do you have anywhere in mind?" Bond asked.

"Hawaii if I have to stay in the United States. If not, some place like Australia. As far from Gotham as possible. Under a new name."

Bond and Felix looked at each other. "And how much money?" Felix asked.

"Not a lot, say, 5 million, or a fixed income of $200,000 a year, with increases each year for inflation, for the rest of my life. Or at least until mandatory retirement age."

Bond and Felix stepped a few feet away from Reese.

"What do you think?" Bond asked.

"A few million to find out who the Batman is?” Felix said, shifting out of ‘bad cop’ mode. “Considering Gotham City wants to get a hold of him, the State and Federal Government wants him, you're people want him, and probably the Chinese, I think it's a good deal."

"Alright, we'll have to clear it first."

"Obviously."

Bond and Felix looked at Mr. Reese. "Okay, we'll make the offer to our superiors, and see what they say."

Two men came in with cell phones, and handed them to Felix and Bond, then drew guns and stepped towards the doors to wait. Bond and Felix stepped back into the side room.

"Hello Mum" Bond began “I’ve got good news”

* * *

The Batman finished examining the building that Reese's tracking signal was coming from. Hopefully, whoever was holding him hadn't noticed the low power, low frequency transmission it was giving off. Fortunately, it only transmitted when it received the order to do so on it's incredibly sensitive receiver.

Batman smiled. Another of Lucious Fox's ideas. A quick half second burst from the tracking device would be difficult to trace if you weren't expecting it, and might be dismissed as background noise.

The building was fairly well defended, if not well designed. Obviously, it was only converted, and not purpose built. For example, the walls could still be penetrated by heat-detection technology, and the windows appeared to be lamented bullet proof glass. Secure, but not secure enough.

Using his infra-red goggles, Batman counted 4 men on the top floor, 3 on the floor Reese was on, and 4 men in the room with Reese.

He had not doubt the man this had started with was in the room with Reese.

"Time for Round 3" Batman thought.

Batman checked his watch. Hopefully, this would work.

A moment later, the commotion below as the traffic lights started going insane made him smile. Good old Lucious.

Standing, he fired a grappling line and literally flew across the street.

A quick look around upon landing showed no one had noticed him. Not surprising given the commotion outside.

Batman examined the access door to the roof, as the traffic signals when back to normal. A moment later, they went insane again, and displayed a message Batman had suggested. Some computer hacker was proposing to his girlfriend.

A moment later, thanks to a quick application of thermite, Batman was inside.

A few moments later, four men armed with semi-automatic pistols, with armor piercing bullets no less, were down. No one had fired a shot.

Opening a window and door, Batman moved above the spot Reese was in, and put another device on the floor...

* * *

"All right, I've spoken to my superior" Felix said. "They've agreed to drop all charges and pay you the salary you want."

"And I've talked to mine." Bond said. "They've agreed to provide you with round the clock protection, a house in Australia, and relocate up to 10 family members and a few other people there."

"Can I get that in writing?"

Another agent came into the room with two faxes. One was stamped with the seal of the office of the head of the CIA and the President of the United States, the other the same from MI6 and the Official Seals of both the British Prime Minister and the Queen of England. An agent stepped behind Reese and undid all his bindings.

"Sign on the dotted line, tell us who Batman is, and you're a well-off man." Bond said.

"All right." Reese said, taking a pen and signing his name. "The Batman is..."

The roof to the room ripped open.

"right here." Bond said, as the agents drew their weapons.

Batman leapt down, using Reese as a human shield, and tossed two devices onto the ground, that began to release white smoke.

"Let's go" Batman said, grabbing Reese.

This time, Felix and Bond tackled the Batman, knocking Reese out of the way.

"You're under arrest" Felix said.

Batman suppressed a laugh, and aimed a free hand at a nearby wall, and a grappling line shot out, pulling him out from under the agents.

Out of the corner of his eye, Batman spotted the papers Reese had been signing.

"Damn" he thought to himself. "There government. That explains it. Hopefully, Alfred will recognize the seals."

That certainly explained a few things.

Bond and Felix closed, as the other three agents on the floor moved in as well. No one had their weapons drawn, there was to much of a risk of killing one of their own agents.

Fortunately for them, they were prepared.

Bond slipped a pair of Brass Knuckles on and drove a fist into the Batman's stomach.

To his surprise, it didn't have much effect. Impressive armor.

Batman responded to the groups tactics the only way he knew how.

He'd been capable of engaging a dozen men at once before he'd been trained by the League of Shadows. Now, he could engage an army. Be began blocking their attacks, and maneuvering them to strike each other. A gauntleted fist drove into Bond’s jaw with a loud crack, sending him to the floor. Felix’s kick was caught, and a quick spin sent him into the wall. Felix slid down and ended up resting on Bond.

Above them, another device went off.

More gas filled the room.

Individually, each gas was fairly harmless, and only served as a distraction. They had differences however. For example, the gas Batman had first used was lighter then air, to cover his descent into the room. The new gas was heavier then air, and began sinking down the hole.

The two gases mixed, and turned into something else.

A moment later, the two agents still standing next to Reese were unconscious from the fumes. As was Reese himself.

The third anonymous agent collapsed a second later.

Bond and Felix, starting to stir from there meeting with the wall, coughed, and then collapsed.

Batman walked over to Reese, ignoring the gas thanks to a filter in his cowl. The filter was only good for a few minutes, but it would do.

Tossing Reese over his shoulder, he grapped the documents, fired another grappling line, and left the floor.

* * *

The effects of the gas were quite temporary. A reason it had never been put into full scale production as a chemical agent, despite it’s research budget. Bond, Felix, and the other agents got up less then a minute later.

"M is not going to be happy about this." Bond said, his voice as blurred as his vision. He spat blood on the floor. “And can someone get me a towel?”

* * *

Bruce Wayne watched as Reese got into the private plane that was waiting for them at the airport.

Anyone that investigated into the matter would discover that Mr. Reese had been given a comfortable job in Hawaii a few days before his ‘Batman statements’, and the flight had been planned since then. And if anyone checked into Wayne Employee locations between flight departure and Reese’s detainment, well, Wayne Enterprises was known for the pride it took in employee safety. And those training sessions were often very ‘long winded’.

Bruce hated to admit, but he was beginning to understand the usefulness of bribery over threats. No wonder the mobs used them.

"Thank you again, Mr. Wayne." Reese said. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry. I know you didn't..."

Bruce raised his hand. "Forget it. All of it. Enjoy your new life in Hawaii. I’m sure the office there will put you to good use."

Bruce watched as the airplane soared off, taking the biggest security risk to his identity as the Batman with it. One day, he might get greedy, but he'd deal with that when it came up.

However, Bruce had bigger problems at the moment. Alfred had identified the seals on those documents. Batman had 'stumbled' into something, and it was definately not mob related.

"Well sir, now that we've taken care of that problem, what are we going to do about the CIA and MI6?" Alfred asked.

Bruce considered for a moment. “What would you do?”

“I meant some MI6 men once while I was in the SAS. My advice would be to avoid them at all costs. If they decide they want to find you, believe me, they will.”

"I that case, I think the Batman needs to disappear for a while" Bruce said finally. "Maybe put in an appearance or two in Metropolis or Coast City to make them think we've moved, and then resurface here in spring. Something to make them lose interest, or at least focus on whatever brought them to Gotham in the first place."

"Very Good sir. I wasn't looking forward to the idea of you going up against either of them, let alone both."

"The only problem is, I'll never find out who that one agent was." Bruce said, turning and heading back towards the waiting car. "Let's go home Alfred."

[Simon_Jester]

I like this.

Bond's seduction of the Air hostess doesn't really fit with Daniel Craig's Bond, though. The only time he seduces people in CR/QoS is when he has something to gain by it. Not just for his own entertainment.

He's in 'transition' stage to a more hybrid of the current Bond, and the classic 'Sean Connery / Roger Moore' Bond. Don't worry, it was just to show he's moved on from the 'vengence' angle and is more into 'duty'.

Well, "duty" with a side of "do whatever the hell I feel like when it isn't critical to the mission." That was always an aspect of the classic Bond: when he wasn't storming the villain's secret lair or something, he'd kick back on the beach or seduce airline hostesses or whatever to unwind.

I think that's critical to the character: the way he blows off steam in glittering gambling halls and resort towns is his coping mechanism; it's what he does instead of getting emotionally involved in his work. Craig-Bond hasn't quite learned to do that yet; I think Solauren's Bond is starting to get the hang of it.

[Crazedwraith]

Hmm. Interesting. Batman just quiting for a while seems a bit extreme but obviously Bruce's resigned himself to the long haul on his Gotham crusade.

You used the exact same Batman is... right here, gag. Again. Was that intentional? Poor Bond's really getting his shit ruined in this story.

[Mr Bean]

You used the exact same Batman is... right here, gag. Again. Was that intentional? Poor Bond's really getting his shit ruined in this story.

The first time it was Batman, second time Bond.

“All right, I’ll co-operate. The Batman is…”

Reese was interrupted by the sound of glass breaking.

“Right here.” came the gravelly voice. Batman reached over and grabbed Reese by the back of his pants.

"All right." Reese said, taking a pen and signing his name. "The Batman is..."

The roof to the room ripped open.

"right here." Bond said, as the agents drew their weapons.

As for Bond getting his shit ruined. He's been pure 100% gun to this point against Batman. It's time to start breaking out the gadgets because Bond is going to obviously lose any hand to hand fights they have. And the PPK can't penetrate Batman's armor. You'll note Bond is almost infamous for solving many problems by shooting them. If that fails, it's gadget time.

*Edit PPK can't penetrate Batman's armor. Unless Bond is lucky enough to get the giant Robocop like vulnerability point that is Batman's chin and put a bullet in it. Bat's suit can shrug off 9mm rounds like rain for the most part.

[Simon_Jester]

You used the exact same Batman is... right here, gag. Again. Was that intentional? Poor Bond's really getting his shit ruined in this story.

The first time it was Batman, second time Bond.

Also, both characters, Bond especially, are fond of one-liners. The result is inevitable.

As for Bond getting his shit ruined. He's been pure 100% gun to this point against Batman. It's time to start breaking out the gadgets because Bond is going to obviously lose any hand to hand fights they have. And the PPK can penetrate Batman's armor. You'll note Bond is almost infamous for solving many problems by shooting them. If that fails, it's gadget time.

Unfortunately, Craig!Bond is very light on the gadgets... but yes, I think they need help from Q.

Or do they call the new guy R...?

[KlavoHunter]

Or, if Batman plans to leave Gotham for a while, it sounds like Bond and Bats will be deprived of any further re-matches in the near future.

[Solauren]

Act Five -
"Who the hell is this man?" M said, examining the damage to the safe house. "How does one man break into a CIA safe house, and take out 9 of the best agents in the CIA and MI6, without so much as getting a runny nose, and escape undetected? And worse yet, he left nothing traceable! Even his computer sabotage of the transit lights is proving as anonymous as he is. He even took the contracts that accountant was signing!"

"We don't know ma'am" Bond said.

"We'll find him" Felix said. "I don't care if I need to bring a hundred agents in, we'll find him."

"Only If he hasn't gone to ground" M replied. "I still can't believe this. How can he have armor that can stop our best armor piercing handheld weapons? It boggles the mind. And did you get your face checked Bond? You look like raw hamburger."

"Yes ma'am"

M sighed, and after a moment, managed to get a hold of herself. "All right, what do we know about the accountant?"

"He's a consultant." one of the agents said. "We've obtained a list of his clients."

M took the pro-offered list from the agent, and skimmed it over. "None of these corporations are associated with Quantum. Quantum has had an interest in several, but nothing direct."

"As far as we know" Felix said. "Our source may not have known all the details."

"Which puts or right back at square one." M said.

"Not necessarily" Bond said. "Felix, do any of these businesses do business with the US government?"

Felix examined the list. "Just one; Wayne Enterprises."

"And we had reason to believe Quantum had been trying to take over Wayne Enterprises. Then Batman shows up and indirectly causes Quantum problems by destabilizing the mob. Interesting that this should happen right as Bruce Wayne shows back up and moves to take back control of his families company."

M looked at Bond. "What are you saying Bond? That the Batman is backed by Wayne Enterprises? By Bruce Wayne himself? And not by Quantum?"

"Why not?" Bond said. "It would explain some of his resources. The cost of equipping Batman would pocket change to someone like Bruce Wayne."

Felix seemed to consider. "We should make a few phone calls. And let's see what we can do with that voice recording of the Batman."

* * *

"It looks like you were right, James." Felix said. "Look at this."

Bond looked up from the computer screen he and a techie were working on the voice recording on, and took the photo from Felix.

"That's the tank Batman drove until recently, isn't it?"

"Actually, no, it's a military contract called the Tumbler, just photo shopped Black. It was intended to jump rivers during combat engagements and drag a inflatable bridge across it. It was contracted out to Wayne Enterprises. They never got the bridge to work, but the vehicle, by all reports, does."

"Just like his armor" M said. "I just got off the phone with our contacts in Washington. Batman’s armor displays all the properties of NOMAD advanced survival infantry armor. Light weight Kevlar Bi-weave, flexible, and able to stop every hand held firearm we know of, up to sprayed shot. It should also be able to stop the newest MI6 AP rounds as well. Brass Knuckles would also be useless against it."

"So, we’ve got proof that someone connected to Wayne Enterprises is backing the Batman" Felix said. "Now what? Do we go and arrest Bruce Wayne and demand to know who the Batman is?"

"I don't think we have to. Just where he is." Bond said thoughtfully. He turned to the techie at the computer, an agent named Q. "Is it ready?"

"Yes sir." The techie said. "It occurred to Mr. Bond that Batman sounds like he's speaking with a sore throat. So we've been using voice samples from us both talking like that, to make a filter. This is what Batman should sound like in a normal speaking voice."

"Do you think I’m turning myself over to the mob?" came the recording, the voice of the Batman now sounding very familiar to anyone that knew Gotham City.

M, Felix and Bond looked at each other. "Play that again, Agent Q."

"Do you think I’m turning myself over to the mob?"

"It can't be." M said.

"I think we should be going to Wayne Enterprises after all."

[Solauren]

Author's Note: Once the story is wrapped up (next Act), I'll happily discuss things with people.

[Simon_Jester]

Ohhh, great. Now I've got "you know my name" from the Casino Royale theme stuck in my head, from the whole unmasking thing.

[grumbles]

[Solauren]

"Good Morning, Jessica" Bruce Wayne said, heading into the office. "Wait, you're not Jessica."

"Good Morning Mr. Wayne. I'm a temp, Jessica called in sick this morning. You're 9 o'clock is waiting for you in the board room."

Bruce glanced at his watch. "I'm.. early. Is Mr. Fox here yet?"

"Yes sir, he's on his way up now."

"Okay, send him in when he gets here. I'll keep them entertained until he gets here."

A moment later, Bruce stepped into the board room. Four people in business suits were there, staring out the window, backs to him. Three men, 1 woman.

"Good morning. I'm Bruce Wayne."

The people in business suits turned. One of them, Bruce recognized as the black agent from the safe house. Another was an older woman he didn't recognize, but with an air of authority to her.

The final two surprised Bruce. Next, looking defeated, was Mr. Reese. Last to turn was..

Police Commissioner James Gordon.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Wayne." Gordon said.

The door closed behind him.

"Good Morning Mr. Wayne." Came a familiar voice from behind. "I don't believe we've been properly introduced. My name is Bond. James Bond, of Her Majesties Secret Service. My friend over there, who you’ll recognize from the safe house, is Felix Leighter, CIA."

A moment later, Lucious Fox and Alfred came into the room through the far door, hands in the air, with two agents covering them with guns.

M looked over at them, and suppressed an uncharacteristic smirk. “Hello Alfred, it’s been a while. By the way, it’s M now.”

Alfred nodded a greeting at her. “M. It has been a while. Are you still with him?”

“Do you think I’m honestly going to answer?”

“Do you know this woman, Alfred?” Bruce asked, slightly confused.

“Yes sir, I do. From a long time ago, near the end of my service in the SAS. Let’s say we have a history.”

"In the meantime, don't worry about your secretary." Bond said. "She works for us."

"You don't know what you're doing." Bruce said, finally raising his hands.

"Really? According to what we've dug up, what Mr. Reese has told us, and matching your voice to a recording I took during our fight at Mr. Reese's apartment, I'm arresting the Batman."

M stepped forward. "Mr. Wayne, we're no longer interested in you, or your alter ego of the Batman. Where after something much more important."

"Why not?" Bruce said. "Didn't the Batman killed several people?"

"No, you didn't." Gordon said. "When they came to my house this morning, and they told me who you were, I told them the truth about what happened with Harvey Dent. The warrants out for your arrest are being cancelled right now, by Federal order."

"You what?" Bruce said, taking a step towards Gordon despite the 8 guns on him. "We agreed, I'd take the fall to protect Harvey's reputation! Gotham needs a shining hero, and Batman can't be that! The people need to believe in Harvey Dent, what he stood for!"

" I'm not going to let protecting Harvey Dent bring down Wayne Enterprises and Gotham City with it!" Gordon said. "Do you have any idea what your arrest would do, especially for being the Batman and committing multiple homicides? The DA and Federal prosecutors would tear this company apart, and put thousands out of work! That would sent the crime rate in the city soaring, and make things worse then before you got here! We'd have dozens of Falkonies and Jokers within a few months, and Gotham City would tear itself apart. I couldn't let that happen, even to protect Harvey!"

"So, what are we going to do now then?"

"Now" Bond said, holstering his gun. "We're going to have a little talk. Since last night, we’d done a little digging into your company, and you used to have a man working for you of interest to us. Let’s start by talking about William Earle. We have reason to believe he’s working with an organization we’re working to bring down."

* * *

It was quite the press conference. Comparable to the one where Dent turned himself in as the Batman.

Hopefully, this would turn out better then that one had ended up.

"Good Afternoon, and thank you for coming." Gordon said. "I'm about to read a prepared statement."

Gordon drank a glass of water, cleared his throat, and began.

"In the course of the investigation by the Gotham City Police Department into the recent chemical and drug explosion in a warehouse in Gotham's manufacturing district, the Gotham City Police Department, in co-operation with Federal Authorities, as well as members of the international intelligence community, have uncovered evidence that clears the Batman of all charges against him as it relates to the homicides he was accused of.

An international cartel, which I am not at liberty to divulge information on, in an attempt to infiltrate Gotham, had an impersonator disguised as Batman commit those crimes, in order to divert attention away from their operations, and to use the threat of a more aggressive Batman to convince the various criminal elements of Gotham City to co-operate in exchange for protection, while at the same time, focusing police resources on capturing the Batman..

Two nights ago, the Batman impersonator was taken into custody, following the explosion of a chemical warehouse in Gotham's industrial quarter, and made a full confession to these crimes, and a number of other crimes, as part of a plea bargain with Federal Prosecutors, the details of which are classified at this time.

As such, the Gotham City Police Department, and Gotham City District Attorney have dropped and cleared the Batman of all charges related to those crimes, including the homicides for which he was wanted for."

* * *
Bruce Wayne watched the press conference on television, annoyed but understanding the necessity of this. He'd been willing to accept the role of a pariah as the Batman in order to give the city something to rally against, as they were unable to rally behind Harvey Dent. That had been replaced, again, to protect Gotham City, by an unnamed, unknown contract killer attempting to destroy Gotham. Unfortunately, while this protected Gotham City, it didn't give them anyone to rally behind, or against.

He wasn't sure if that was a good thing, or a bad thing.

"Contemplating something, Mr. Wayne?"

Bruce turned to regard the man standing in the doorway to his office.

"I'm just wondering what to do now." Bruce said truthfully. "Harvey Dent was the bright light of Gotham, and with that gone, the citizens needed something. They don't have anything left now."

"I don't think that's true" Bond said. "They have you."

"The Batman can't be the kind of rallying point they need." Bruce said.

"I wasn't talking about the Batman." Bond said.

Bruce looked at Bond.

"You've proven, at least to me, that you're a man of principal, like Dent before the Joker destroyed him. We both know the Billionare playboy routine is just an act. Maybe it's time to drop that act. You believed in Harvey Dent? Then act like it."

"What would you have me do?"

"What you need to do, as both the Batman and Bruce Wayne." Alfred said from nearby. "As Batman, be the Dark Knight, and protect Gotham from it's underworld. As Bruce Wayne, be the example for the citizens to look up to. Give to charity, lead and organize events to help Gotham. You can be that light."

"I don't know Alfred." Bruce said. "I don't think I can do that.

"If you lead Gotham as Bruce Wayne half as well as you punch as the Batman, you'll do alright." Bond said. "Try."

Bruce sighed. "I guess I have no choice."

"There's always a choice" Bond said. "You just have to have the courage to make the hard one."

Bruce turned and looked out a Gotham. “We’ll see.”

With that, Bond turned and left. Batman had his mission, and he had his own. And now, his missions would be supported by the new ‘Q’ branch, headed by Agent Q, with a co-operative research agreement with Wayne Enterprises. Odds are, MI6 and the CIA would have all of Batman’s gadgets, and some of their own, very quickly.

Besides the connection to William Earle, the former CEO of Wayne Enterprises, the CIA had gotten some interesting information from the Quantum agent Felix had helped pick up. He'd revealed some interesting things happening in Metropolis. As it turned out, Quantum had an interest in several LexCorp projects….

[Simon_Jester]

Good ending, though you might want to trim out the doubled-over part of the post.

The one thing I will say about this is that it felt a little too quick in the resolution: it took them one scene, with no supplementary research shown in earlier scenes, to identify Batman. That made it seem, well, "too easy."

[Solauren]

Good ending, though you might want to trim out the doubled-over part of the post.

The one thing I will say about this is that it felt a little too quick in the resolution: it took them one scene, with no supplementary research shown in earlier scenes, to identify Batman. That made it seem, well, "too easy."

Compare the resources the CIA and MI6 could bring to bare to sort through US military copies of Wayne Enterprises contracts, to one accountant checking into a book keeping anomaly and coming up with the fact Bruce Wayne = Batman, based on the Tumbler alone.

Combine that with the voice recording.

Quite frankly, I don’t see how anyone couldn’t figure out that Bruce wayne = Batman in the ‘nolanverse’, with access to the right information.

[Simon_Jester]

I suppose you're right. The problem is one of genres. In the "spy thriller" genre Bond comes from, you can usually figure out anything about anyone, given even a smidgen of useful evidene, and it doesn't take long. In the comic book genre Batman comes from, learning a secret identity is extremely difficult because, well, it just IS!

[Mayabird]

But that's because people get really stupid in comic books. "We have the Batman captured and we stuck mind-control stuff on him to break him, or something. But we're not going to remove his mask, for whatever reason, even though that's the very first thing we should do." Plus the whole "we can't figure out that Clark Kent - glasses = Superman" stuff. I don't care how convincing his act is or if he has super-hypnosis. None of that bullshit is going to work if random people compare photographs.

[Solauren]

Exactly. Bond doesn't win by 'out-cooling' Batman, or 'out-smarting' him.

He wins with good old fashioned, well, detective work. And common-sense.

And I tried to make it close to real life.

"Hey, this guy has military grade toys."
"Okay, so we figure out which toys they are, and who makes them as a start"
"Hey, those are Wayne Enterprise prototypes that never went into production."
"Really? Time to go talk to Wayne Enterprises."

I was, initially, going to Bond + co figure that out, then monitor various Wayne Enterprise people for a bit, and have another encounter or two with Batman. Eventually, they spot the accountant in Haiwai, figure out the deal, and come to the right conclusion. Some tailing of Alfred to the current 'Batcave' in that factory area, and bam, busted.

However, I realised that when he was getting the confession from the accountant, he'd want a voice recording of it. or at least, open line to people outside the building, who could immediately act on it. Also, if things went to court, and something happened to the accountant, they have his testimony on tape.

The second I realised that, bame, Voice analysis. Batman is screwed.

[Simon_Jester]

Presumably. Unless Batman has some kind of really weird scrambler on his voice that does funny things to the analysis; he's clearly not using a vocalizer Stephen Hawking style or anything.

But I think the other option would've been more entertaining, because the transition from Bond thinking "Damn, this guy is a badass, he's going to be hard to bring down" to "I know who you are and where to find you, you are mine" wouldn't have been so abrupt.

[Mr Bean]

Agreed the ending was rushed as hell, and lacked any kind of climax. Things start well, we have an interesting angle in the accountant and then... piff story is over nothing interested happened. Your tale lacks a nice bang up ending. As it is Batman and Bond fight once or twice, Bond loses and loses again. But wait I know who you are batman the end.