Tonnage

Lois Lane Reporting.

>>

Bruce walks into the dining area with an air of general irritation. He tries to not allow his nightlife to overly affect his mood when out of costume, and he is generally fairly good at it. But right now it is getting increasingly difficult to do.

Half of the worst offenders in Arkham are once more on the streets, and there have already been eleven casualties just overnight. Six were found practically weeping fear toxin from their pores. Another five with smiles that they'll wear forever in death, and the two are just getting started.

The more disquieting thought is that those two are outliers in that they never bother to hide victims unless it will directly affect current operations. The actual number of dead from last night's debacle is almost assuredly far higher.

All that is ignoring that Firefly had torched another old coastal building. This one is an abandoned fish processing plant from the late eighteen hundreds. No fatalities this time. In some ways getting rid of the eyesore was probably a good thing, the building itself was unrecoverable with any amount of money. But the fact he is acting with impunity is infuriating.

Everybody is already there. Even Oracle showed up for breakfast. He sighs as he sits down. This isn't likely to be fun. The news is already on and his timing must have been graced by some higher being because the segment concerning the escape is just going live.

>>

“… And now, we are sending you directly to Arkham Asylum. Where channel 4's friend from Metropolis, Lois Lane, has agreed to assist us with covering this catastrophic event. You might know her through her byline as an intrepid reporter employed by the Daily Planet, or maybe from the many awards that she has earned through her work. But today she is in front of the camera to tell us about this horrific occurrence.”

Lois is standing in front of the now-closed gates to the asylum. She looks as though she has been shotgunning espresso for longer than is probably healthy, but otherwise is smiling and speaks clearly into the microphone.

“Thank you for that sterling introduction, Barry. Yes, this is Lois Lane of the Daily Planet reporting. Facts are still difficult to come by, but we know a few things that shed some light on what happened here last night.”

At this point, she is moved to a smaller square in the upper right-hand corner of the screen while the rest of the screen begins showing previously filmed events that had taken place there. The first shot is a still of Tom, standing in front of Lois and simply dwarfing the woman. Short of Darkseid and Doomsday, there is almost nobody that can even compare to the sheer bulk the man possesses that has ever been on television with something for scale.

“First, I feel I should introduce the MVP of the fight against this particular riot-turned-escape. I'd like to introduce you to Thomas Wierzowski. After being struck by a reckless driver back in April, who I will add was let off criminally lightly for speeding and nearly killing a child in a school zone due to Tom's survival and the driver's own age of seventeen, his meta gene came to the fore. Turning an aspiring athlete in track and field into a behemoth that Superman has been quoted as saying would be a tough nut to crack in a purely physical contest. What does he do with this newfound strength?”

She shakes her head, the smile slipping into a look of exasperated fondness.

“Why, he works at the family business and volunteers his time with the local firefighters performing search and rescue operations for the city. While he has been known to engage the dregs of Gotham's seedier side when they happen upon him, he is well-known for saying that he isn't a hero. That he is just a guy doing what he can to make things better when he comes across things that should not be. And tonight, he came with local Gotham firefighters from Engine 14 based in the infamous 'Crime Alley' where Tom makes his home.”

Here she frowns, her lips pursing just slightly. It doesn't affect her voice though, and she continues without pause.

“But all intentions of simply being available for search and rescue were flipped on their head when Tom walked up to the gate and heard the following. Before we play this I want to warn you that it is both dark and incredibly disturbing. I also want to assure you that while the woman in question will survive with minimal complications, this was only because she was saved at the last moment by the young heroes Orphan and Spoiler. Who had been tracking the serial killer Victor Zsasz and made their move when it became obvious they could no longer stay in the shadows and await assistance. Lastly, I would like to apologize for the picture quality in this and most of the other sequences we will be showing you. They are taken from Mr. Wierzowski's numerous body cameras. This is also why the point of view is so high. His cameras are located on his shoulder plates.”

The picture on the screen goes to an earlier sequence, and Tom isn't in it. Instead, it shows Bullock, the firefighters, and the audio of Zsasz making his threats. Then she continues to play the audio, and the world gets to hear Tom's response to being told he can't help. The low rumble bursts out of the speakers in a tone that suggests clenched teeth and a will with the inevitability and chilling properties of a glacier in the process of crushing stone.

“Just got a call from Oracle. They need help in there, and that is where I am going. You can be in front of me, behind me, to my side, or in my way. Pick one, but the last won't hold.”

Lois lets that sit for about three seconds while the populace of Gotham and far beyond get their first taste of Tom in a crisis.

“Once he made it inside, he immediately followed the sound of gunfire to the asylum courtyard. Where he put down a riot of seventy-four maniacs. While there were fourteen fatalities, I hasten to add that these were all people who had been shot. Usually in the back, and by their fellow inmates. Tom himself stuck with breaking bones, which for those in the know is his general practice when dealing with this kind of thing. When asked, he has been reported as having said that it takes them out of the fight, gives them a chance to consider their career options, and makes them unable to continue to hurt people, at least for a while. It might be worth mentioning that he is slowly becoming known for this, and the local crooks have come up with a name for him. They've taken to calling him 'Mangle.'

The screen then goes to video footage of the courtyard after the battle, where Tom is seen among the many other emergency responders, attempting to assist with the cleanup.

“We may never know all the details that kicked off this particular crisis. But there are some facts known now. First, the emergency generator had been damaged at some point before things kicked off, and remote explosives were left on the power lines from the city to the island. When the riot started, the facility was on battery backups. Which left the lion's portion of the security features without power."

She shakes her head in clear disgust.

"Second, there was an added medication to the vast majority of the inmates. By curious coincidence, the drug in question has been seen in Bludhaven as an illegal and very dangerous party drug that has taken the lives of more than thirty people in the last two months. With effects similar to PCP having the entire asylum dosed was horrific, and the only way to deal with it equally so. So much so, that we cannot show you the footage here. But, those with a subscription to the Daily Planet can find the full footage online at TheDailyPlanet.com. At the request of Tom himself, any new subscriptions for the next week and all proceeds from advertisement space on the video will have half of their fee forwarded to the Wayne Foundation to be placed towards the care and housing of orphans that have been made by the predation of Gotham's criminals.”

The picture goes back to Lois standing in front of the Asylum gate in full screen. “What I can say is that there is no doubt on the minds of anyone that this was, at least in part, organized with the assistance of one or more members of the staff. For that reason, all right-thinking people will not rest until a full investigation takes place to hold accountable anyone who through action, inaction, or base incompetence allowed this to happen.”

She manages to smile again. “However, that is something to follow up on and be assured that I will. In the meantime, be aware that I have asked and gotten permission to interview Mr. Wierzowski directly in his home two weeks from now. I am sure that such a meeting will illuminate a lot about the life of Gotham's new meta-human. Who, hero or not, is somebody that would make me feel safer in any dark alley you could name.”

She smirks. Tom won't thank her for this, but getting stuck with Mangle would have to be worse.

“Lastly, I would like to point out that what the criminal element calls him isn't the only nickname he's picked up. The firefighting crew he works with calls him 'Anchorman.' Presumably for his steadfast assistance in a crisis, coupled with his uncanny ability to adhere to the surface he's standing on. Once he has done so he becomes effectively immobile, as seen in this clip when he stopped an armored car during a high-speed chase in downtown Gotham.”

It's only a five-second clip. It makes an impression even so.

She pauses after that, and Barry raises a finger. “Where was Batman during all this?”

Lois nods, half expecting the question. “As near as I can understand, Batman spent his time fighting his way to the emergency generator, and when that was a bust, did the same to find where the power leads to the city had been breached so he could do some emergency repairs. Without power, this could have taken days to get under control. Sometimes, Barry, it isn't the one with the flashiest job that makes the biggest difference. But the fact he did his fighting outside of the light and away from cameras shouldn't surprise anybody. Batman and Tom... Anchorman... are very different people. But I'm happy to call both of them friends of Gotham.”

“Thank you for your on-the-spot insight, and do let us know how much ends up in the Wayne Foundation when the total is reached. A little good news after all of this would be just what the doctor ordered.”

Lois nods, her megawatt smile back in place. “Happy to do it, Barry. This is Lois Lane, signing off.”

Barry is now the only one on the screen, the upper right-hand corner given over to a series of mugshots.

“This is the list of inmates and their pictures so you can stay safe until these people have been recaptured. Again, these are escaped inmates of Arkham Asylum. They are to be considered armed and dangerous at all times. Do not approach them if you spot them. Call emergency services immediately.”

>>

Tom is looking at the screen in abject horror while Uncle Lou sits chortling and the names start scrolling across the screen.

“You can stop laughing anytime, Lou.”

“I guess I better follow orders. Wouldn't want to meet The Mangle.”

Joker. Freeze. Baby Doll. Amygdala. Maxie Zeus.

“That's not funny, Uncle Lou.”

“No worries, kid. Anchorman will protect me!”

Jane Doe. Roxy Rocket. Ventriloquist.

Tom scoffs. “Sure about that? Keep this up, he might let Mangle have you.”

Lou laughs at that, but it gets cut off at the next name.

Scarecrow...

“Kid... Joking aside, if you run into that asshole? Don't be Anchorman. Embrace the Mangle.”

Tom nods. “If I meet him, he'll spend the rest of his life in a chair with his off arm to learn how to wipe with it. If Dent was worth it, this asshole has to be.”

The silence stretches for a few seconds as they consider the ramifications. Then Lou stands, collecting the bowls and spoons from breakfast. “Do me a favor and put the food away. I think we can plan on being slammed today. She didn't mention it, but it isn't a secret where you live.”

Tom looks up, curious. “Think we'll make any money?”

Lou smirks at him. “Sure. But it won't be from the rubberneckers. We start work on your new digs today. I'll need you on intake and sorting as we bring in the truckloads. I'd have you on-site, but I'd rather anybody looking for you to gawk today finds you here rather than getting in the middle of a construction zone.”

Tom sighs as he stands. “Alright. I'll head over and start making room by the gates. Whole truckloads will fill the normal area pretty quick. Going to be a long day.”

“It's going to be a long few months, Tom. But it'll be good. Might even manage a Christmas bonus for the crew this year. Haven't been able to do that for a while.”

Tom smiles. “Yeah. That'd be good. I think Jerry is still worried you are going to hold him accountable for not stopping Croc. A good bonus would set his mind at ease.”

“I already told him it's fine. What the hell was he going to do beyond what he did?”

Tom shrugs. “Everybody here is terrified of this place going under Lou, or somehow losing their job. It isn't you. It's just, if they lose this where else are they going to go?”

Lou shakes his head as he makes his way to the office trailer. “Maybe I can manage to snag some more contracts when property values start going up. There'll be a lot of properties getting turned over soon if this works.”

Tom shrugs. “Maybe I can hire some of them part-time to help with security once it's done? Take some pressure off of the yard when things slow down again? Like, on a contract basis? I'll ask Fox when we get closer to the time.”

“Do that. But for now...”

“I know, I know. Get to work.”