Phase 2. | Forum

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Phase 2. Jul 22, 2015 2:15:01 GMT Anarky likes this

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Post by Bruce Wayne - The Batman on Jul 22, 2015 2:15:01 GMT

After the little encounter with John Blake in the dining room, a lot of what happened next would speak volumes regarding who he was and what he was capable of accomplishing as a guardian of Bludhaven. I had no idea where he had gone, I didn't even know if he was still on the premises but that didn't stop me from reaching The Cave and sitting before the computer that had alerted me of the insanity that had come up regarding 'metahumans' across the world. Reclining back slightly, I cleared my throat-

"Computer- pull up any investigative reports on Oswald.. Chesterfield.. Cobblepot."

>Search analysis complete; Bludhave Police Department files loading...<

"So there was a formal investigation after all..."

Things were complicated with Cobblepot and I. Much like the relationship with Roman Sionis, both men were extremely jealous of Tommy Elliot and I. We all grew up together, all of around the same age with Cobblepot being the oldest of us all. At what parents would call "play-dates" in 2015, Cobblepot and Sionis would go to their own corner and create havoc, wrecking their surroundings all as Tommy and I would engage in more mental games- chess, checkers- even Connect 4 when needed. There was distance between us four, Cobblepot's mother was a drunk, he lost his father at an early age. Sionis was neglected, I overheard the stories of how his parents only had him to compete with mine, it was tragic, but Roman had the ability to change it all- instead, he remained to stay pat in the life that came easy to him. I hadn't talked to Tommy in quite some time, I knew he was bound to return to host the grand opening of The Elliot Family Memorial Hospital, I'd definitely alert the world of my 'status' sooner than later, it'd be great catching up with him again..

"Read it when loading is complete."

>Written report prepared by Officer Charles Lyle, a fourteen year veteran of the force<

"What year was the report compiled?"

>2012<

"Right around the time I disappeared, it's like Cobblepot knew with The Bat absence, he could bleed places dry.. Why wait though? He knew that I didn't guard over Bludhaven, maybe he was afraid of the attention it'd bring?"

>Report includes details such as possible money laundering, racketeering, prostitution, drug smuggling and organizing a highly structured prostitution ring<

"Why wasn't the report filed? Any information regarding that?"

>No information available<

"He must of had a connect within the department that either put the report off as long as possible or had it thrown out.. Cobblepot has evolved from low level theft and being a bookie for the families."

>Report also includes a hypothetical organizational structure, listing Oswald.. Chesterfield.. Cobblepot as Head of the crime family with Roman Sionis as Underboss<

"The more things change, the more they stay the same apparently. Computer- run current status of Officier Charles Lyle, maybe a meeting with the man would be a good idea."

>Charles Barnabus Lyle, 52, was pronounced dead at Bludhaven General Hospital. An esteemed member of the Bludhaven Police Department with a fourteen year career behind him. He is survived by wife, Denise and son, Slyvester<

".. that answers that question. There's gotta be something on Cobblepot, he's gotta have a loose thread somewhere. Sionis won't talk, they've been friends for years- I've gotta keep digging until something comes up, Penguin of all people can't become Mayor of Gotham, that's the LAST thing the city needs.."

I'd sit there and continue running searches, hoping that something.. anything would come up that I could use on Cobblepot to thwart his effort to become Mayor of Gotham City. I knew that when I went public with being alive, that'd be a nice little boost to whoever would oppose Cobblepot- whether it was current Mayor Matthews or another candidate, it didn't matter. No-one could do as much damage to Gotham as Cobblepot could- but information seemed to be lacking, especially when the only cop that seemed to have the guts to start any kind of report was killed..

John Blake - Nightwing
Heroic

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Phase 2. Jul 23, 2015 20:40:07 GMT

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Post by John Blake - Nightwing on Jul 23, 2015 20:40:07 GMT

I had thought about what Bruce talked about. I did have a cocky who cares attitude but I had to have it when he left. He told me to go down and meet him in the cave. He needed me for somethign. I wasn't sure if I should but I knew that there would be some sort of regret if it didn't happen.

"Alright, I thought about it and I'm here. What do you need."

I walked around the cave waiting for him to happen. For him to call me down he really needed me.

Bruce Wayne - The Batman
Heroic

Posts: 24

Phase 2. Jul 24, 2015 3:35:55 GMT Anarky likes this

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Post by Bruce Wayne - The Batman on Jul 24, 2015 3:35:55 GMT

Allowing a smile to creep across my face with my back faced to Blake, I was pleased that the mental task I put before him didn't break his will. In order to be a guardian of a city, he needed to be tough and despite the greatness heard from Alfred regarding Blake's approach, I needed to see it for myself. Looking up at the computer's massive screen I once again cleared my throat.

"Well.. I'm trying to see what Cobblepot has been up to these past years. He's managed to keep his nose clean except for this one report but the cop who prepared it died. A.. Charles Lyle, Bludhaven PD. The only way I can really look into possibilities is to figure out what Cobblepot's next step is, we've gotta be three steps ahead of him at all times. He's smart and manipulative, but we can't fall victim like the general public. We know what he's up to and it's our job to put a stop to it before he's able to fully take control of the Mayorancy."

I allowed my tone to slip, I didn't have to bark at Blake like I was earlier. He showed a lot by not disappearing back to Bludhaven, he was down here with me and it showed that he was open to learning more about what we did. While I didn't doubt the job he did cleaning that city up, I would need to have him on the same page as I if we were going to put a permanent dent in the crime in Gotham. It wasn't expected to see him leave everything he's got going on in his city but Gotham was a priority, especially with how bad things has spiraled out of control.

"I understand that you had your own investigation on Cobblepot- didn't you hit a few of his weapon caches and clear out some of his shipments? What do you know about him? I want details, Blake.. I know the man as I grew up with him but I don't know the criminal. You shook him to the point where you had him leave Bludhaven and not attempt a second term as Mayor.. impressive. But I've been gone, you've gotta fill me in on what he's become."

Spinning in the leather seat as I put my hands behind my head- I reclined back and looked off in his direction, waiting to see what Blake could inform me about. There was more to the job then being physically gifted and stealthy. Another crucial aspect of the job was being a detective, managing to pick up any clues- accidental or on purpose- by GCPD. This would be another test, while not as strenuous as earlier, still.. it'd continue to show me what he could do on the job.

John Blake - Nightwing
Heroic

Posts: 6

Phase 2. Jul 26, 2015 1:14:20 GMT

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Post by John Blake - Nightwing on Jul 26, 2015 1:14:20 GMT

Him asking for my help I had to laugh to myself as I looked at him. The big bad Bruce Wayne needed help with something and here I stood.

"Well, look he is very cunning and you know that. But you have to be two steps ahead of him at every turn. Now that is harder then it sounds but I have seen him work. I know what he can do. I know where he is going to do it and I have a feeling I know how he is going to do it. He is going to try to take us down piece by piece. Not at once because that would be to easy. But if he slowly breaks us down he will be happier."

I started to walk around the cave I could feel his eyes on me. I turned back around.

"Look, this will take time. But I know we can stop him."

Bruce Wayne - The Batman
Heroic

Posts: 24

Phase 2. Jul 27, 2015 23:24:18 GMT

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Post by Bruce Wayne - The Batman on Jul 27, 2015 23:24:18 GMT

"Vague answers don't help me much, Blake. You ever heard the saying 'the devil is in the details?' That's that this case entails.. Oswald is the devil. The guy is planning on destroying Gotham from the inside all in a way to get back to the city and it's people for what happened to his family. I don't expect you to know it at all John, I know there's a lot that happens in the background that you don't know about but trust me when I say.. what you've seen from Cobblepot during his time in Bludhaven is just the start. The money laundering? The gun running? The contracts on people and murder? It's just the start, he can gat worse.. I know he can. This is why I need examples, I need you to sit down- tell me everything you know about him so I can see if there's a pattern I can detect to interrupt his momentum. I could easily say, 'to hell with this' put the cowl back on and head straight over to his residence and knock him down.. but you think it'd stick?"

The tone I had gotten from Blake was different than I had expected- I knew that arrogance was a key of his, but not to that extent. I wasn't sure if he thought that Cobblepot was some lowly thug that was operating a bunch of misfits in his criminal organization.. it was deeper than that. Blake might of been both in Gotham, but he didn't come from the same generation I did- where I had to share school and company with the likes of Oswald Cobblepot and Roman Sionis.. Kate Kane and Tommy Elliot. With the good was the bad- and Cobblepot and Sionis were definitely the bad. I figured they'd grow up, maybe shed their criminal image but they didn't and Blake needed to see there was no times for jokes and games.. this was serious.

"'Thinking' we can stop them is a nice show of optimism, I need concrete proof that we can. I complimented what you've done in Bludhaven, I'm amazed as I compared crime rate percentages and the hit it took since you've been there but Gotham is a much bigger, much tastier piece of pie. You control Gotham City, you control the import/export game at the docks.. you can bring in or stop whatever you want from coming in. You think Cobblepot isn't using this to his advantage? The guy has the Dock Union on his payroll, I'll assure you that. For all we know he's bringing in more than just semi-automatic weapons he supplies his people with.. Think bigger Blake, think explosives. I don't know about you but I'm not wanting a repeat of the incident three years ago. I can only pretend to come back to life so many times before they're onto it.. there's no more resurrection games.. no more Lazarus. We've gotta sit down and hatch something out before it's too late."

Speaking as sternly as I could- dropping the facade of an ego that I put up earlier, I wanted to let John know that this was an extremely dangerous game he was in the center of. Standing up, I cocked my head back a bit with my arms crossed over my chest and nodded in his direction once more.

"Now like I said.. I need examples of the crimes he's committed- seen through your eyes. I know what he's capable of, but I want to know what he's already done- what line he's blurred as he continues to move forward and make Gotham.. hell, probably the entire Eastern Coast of the United States his personal playground. I want crimes, Blake- I want names.. I want locations, I want details.. think.. you've gotta remember information, it's part of the job we're set out to do."

With a sharp exhale, I dropped my hand and put my cards on the table. This wasn't so much asking for help as it was trying to figure out if Blake was more brawn than brains. Being an investigator was important.. figuring out patterns was a key piece in the puzzle to putting criminals down. Blake needed to think bigger.. think of this all as abstract, he's seeing just a small little red circle in a painting the artist originally intended to showcase a universe.. Until John was able to do that- until he could see the bigger picture I'd be skeptical of calling him a guardian.. hopefully he could provide me with relief so I didn't need to pull double-duty to make sure I didn't have to clean up a mess in Bludhaven.