Date: Mon, 24 Dec 2001 08:45:17 -0800 (PST)
From: Author James <authorjames2002@yahoo.com>
Subject: Chronicles of a Real Dark Knight 11

Disclaimer: This story, though maybe not in this chapter but in subsequent
chapters, will have celebrities in it.  I have no knowledge of their
sexuality and this is not intended to imply their sexuality.  This is all
from my own mind.  Scary!!  People actually get a glimpse into my mind!!!

Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel and all related characters created by Joss
Whedon.  Copyright 20th Century Fox.

Batman, and all related characters created by Bob Kane. Copyright DC Comics
and Warner Bros.

X-MEN, and all related characters created by Stan Lee. Copyright Marvel
Comics and 20th Century Fox.

Talamasca, Lestat, Louis, and all related characters created by Anne Rice.
Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice.

I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in
case, I have myself covered.

In this story, which has been floating around in my head most of my life,
you will find many universes merging, as the above copyrights reveal.  I
hope you all enjoy this.  I appreciate any feedback that you may want to
give.  This story doesn't deal so much with sex, sex, sex, but more of my
feelings that I struggled with and am starting to come to terms with.  Part
of his background is mine.  I do hope that you enjoy it!!!

Any emails you send, please tell me what chapter and story you are
commenting on.  Thanks.

jmsotc@yahoo.com

Chapter 11 Tracking Down The Hatter

	As I sat in the darkness watching Prince William and thinking about
his predicament, I noticed a shadow move outside.  I focused all my
attention on it.  I didn't want to move and cause whoever or whatever was
outside to leave.
	The shadow moved to the balcony window and attempted to pick the
lock.  I waited.  Reaching into my pocket, I found the tracking device and
readied it.  The window slowly opened and a leg came through the opening
followed by a body.  Quietly I stood up as it made it's way over to
William's bed.  I walked up and carefully slipped the tracking device into
its belt.
	William woke up and screamed.  I grabbed the person by the
shoulders and threw him into the wall.  He swung his leg in an
inside-outside kick connecting with my face.  He turned, ran to the window
and jumped through it.
	"How in the hell did he get in here?" William asked.  "I thought
you were watching me."
	"I wanted to get the tracking device on him."
	William flipped on the light as I went to the phone and picked it
up.  "Get me Brian Braddock."
	"What are you doing?"
	"Getting protection for you."
	"Where are you going?"
	"To find out who this Hatter is."

	Ten minutes later, Meggan showed up.  She shape-shifted into me and
I suited up in my Bat-suit.  "I should be back in a few hours, hopefully.
Keep the guards at hand."
	"Gotcha'," she replied.
	"William, whatever you do, stay put."
	"Okay."
	I jumped out the window and ascended to the roof.  Standing on the
rooftop, I checked the monitoring device for the tracer.  The perpetrator
was only a few blocks away.  I went into action.  Pulling out a grappling
gun, I shot a line to the next building and leapt.

	Within minutes I was close to the building housing the would-be
assailant.  It was a haberdashery, a hat store.  I jumped to the store's
roof and found an access hatch inside.  Slowly, I climbed in, cautiously,
not knowing who or what I was facing.  The bottom of the ladder was in the
middle of a corridor.  I looked around and listened for any possible
indication as to the attacker's location.
	Several rooms contained boxes and boxes of hats.  Curiosity got the
better of me and I opened a box.  The hat inside was an ornate hat a woman
of high class would wear.  Peacock feather sprouted out the side.
	"Who would make this stuff?" I asked out loud.  Pulling the hat out
of the box, I looked at the inside to see the name of manufacturer.  To my
surprise I found a small computer chip sticking out of the band.  I pulled
it out and looked at it.  A noise outside grabbed my attention and I placed
the computer chip in a pouch on my suit.
	I went over to the door and listened.  I heard an unfamiliar male
voice come from the hallway.
	"What happened?" he asked.
	"The American was there," came the response.  The voice was Joshua
Jenkins, my former boss in Los Angeles.
	"What is he doing?" I thought.
	"Do you recognize this American?"
	"No, Mr. Tech."
	"Hmm, is that a note of your own will in your voice?  I will have
to up the frequency.  I can't have my loyal thugs turning on with their own
pesky will, can I?"
	The footsteps faded down the hallway.
	"Own will?  Could it be this Mr. Tech has found a way to take away
someone's will?"  My mind went to the computer chip I found.  "I need to
get this chip back to Excalibur.  Maybe someone on their team can analyze
computer technology."
	I opened the door to leave and found two assassins in front of me.
	"What are you doing here?" one asked.
	"I'm looking for a hat to hide these ears of mine."
	I hauled off and punched on in the face.  He clutched his nose.
The other swung her leg at me and hit me in the chest.  I fell back into
the wall.  Her foot came at my face and I ducked as it slammed into the
wall.  I swung my leg out and knocked the leg supporting her out from under
her.  She fell to her back with a thump.
	The man I punched recovered and came at me.  I tackled me and lay
on top of me.
	"You are pathetic," he snarled.
	I worked my leg between him and I and kicked out.  He rolled off of
me.  I flipped up to my feet as he stood up.  I swung my leg out to kick
him.  He grabbed my ankle and turned it, causing me to fall to the floor. I
swung my other leg up and kicked him.  He released my ankle and fell into
the wall.  I did a handstand and brought my leg over standing myself up.  I
run to the ladder and climbed up quickly.  I couldn't risk the computer
chip being damaged.
	When I reached the rooftop, I ran to the edge attempting to get my
bearings.  Suddenly something wrapped around me.  I lost balance and fell
off the building.  Relaxing my molecules I slowed my fall enough so it
wouldn't kill me, but it sure hurt like hell.  My vision was blurry but
slowly cleared.  What I saw wasn't very promising.
	The door on the side of the building I was in opened.  Two masked
figures came out followed by a man in an over coat and top hat.
	"Ah, you must be the famous Batman," he said in a cheery English
accent.  "Welcome to my home."  He turned to his henchmen.  "Bring him
inside."
	The two came over and picked me up.  Then I lost consciousness.

	Not too far away, the shadowy figure materialized in Christian's
apartment.  He saw some books opened on the dining room table and he
investigated.  "Ah, young Christian is attempting to read up on me," he
said with a grin, fangs showing.  "Too bad he does not have the power to do
anything about stopping me."
	The apartment door opened and Christian walked in to see Macai.
"What are you doing here?" he asked the demon.
	"I own you, boy.  You don't have the privilege to ask me of
anything."
	"Where are my family members?"
	"They are fine.  For now.  Do anything to provoke me and they will
no longer be."  With that Macai slammed the book shut.
	"Is there something you require?" Christian said in contempt.
	"Not as of yet.  So far things are working according to what was
seen.  The Council of Watchers and Excalibur are busy with other
investigations.  They don't have much time to deal with me."
	"What about the Talamasca?"
	Macai looked on Christian with a leer.  "Someone has been doing
some homework.  The Talamasca has information.  They know someone who has
extensive information on me.  However, the Talamasca is not in the habit of
involving themselves.  They are of no consequence to me."
	"If you require nothing of me, why are you here?"  Christian asked.
Macai shot him a reproving look.  Christian quickly added, "If you don't
mind my asking."
	"Simple.  I require entertainment."
	"Entertainment?"
	"Yes.  Undress."
	Christian's eyes went big.  He did not know what Macai was going to
ask of him.  And part of him didn't want to know.

	I came to and found myself tied up in a chair.  Several henchmen
were in the room all looking at me narrowly.  One slipped out and I heard
him mutter that I was awake.  He came back into the room followed by the
man with the top hat.
	"I'm glad you are still among us," the boss said.
	"Thank you," I replied sarcastically.  "Who in the hell are you?"
	"Just a humble haberdashery owner.  I love hats.  Don't you?"  I
just glared at him.  "Oh, of course you don't.  It's hard to find one to
fit those ears of yours."  He smiled at me.
	His smile was very large and toothy.  I looked over at the wall and
noticed he resembled the mad hatter from Alice in Wonderland.  "Are you a
mad hatter wannabe?" I asked.
	"What?" he said, his temper changing rather quickly.
	"You look just like the mad hatter from Alice in Wonderland."
	"How perceptive you are, Batman.  Quite right."
	"Why him?  Of all the people you could have mimicked, you decided
on the crazy man."
	"Oh, he's not crazy."
	"Really?  Why in the hell do you think they call him 'mad'?"
	"HE'S NOT CRAZY!!!" the Mad Hatter yelled.  Strangely he calmed
right down.  "He is a master of his own destiny.  He is the master of his
own world.  He doesn't need the rules of the world to live by.  He has his
own.  He is the master of the tea party of life.  The inhabitants of
Wonderland call him mad because of jealousy.  They don't appreciate his own
strength of will to live his own life.  He uses those who cross his path
for his own enjoyment.  So you see, he's not crazy.  He's the sanest one of
all."
	"You are mad," I whispered.
	"I beg to differ, Batman," he said as he approached me.  He pulled
out a walking stick and hit me across the face with it.  "I don't get mad.
I get even."  He smiled really big and left the room.  I tasted my own
blood in my mouth from his assault.  I knew I would have to find a way out
of the predicament I was in and get the computer chip back so it could be
analyzed.

	Serena decided to go check on Eric.  Harry was fast asleep and
there were already several guards in the area.  Her leaving him for a few
moments would not be a problem.  She made her way to Prince William's
bedroom and knocked softly.  She knew she wouldn't have to knock too hard
because William's protector would be wide-awake.
	After a moment's hesitation, the door opened.  "Hi, Eric."
	"Hi."
	"How is the little prince sleeping?"
	"Very sound."
	"Really?  Did you and he...?  No, you couldn't possibly have...
Did you?"
	"Did we what?"
	"Have sex?"
	"No!  Of course not!  I wouldn't do anything like that with him!"
	"Calm down," Serena said.
	"After all this time, how could you suggest something like that
now?"
	"Eric, I've been suggesting it to you the whole time here."
	"Oh," Eric replied.
	Serena read a look on his face of embarrassment.  "Is everything
okay, Eric?"
	"Yeah.  Fine."
	"Let me in a minute."
	"No, things are okay."
	"Meggan?  Who's here?" William asked groggily.
	"Meggan?" Serena repeated.  She pushed past 'Eric' and entered the
room.  "Who is Meggan, William?"
	William looked at Serena in surprise.  "Oops."
	"Oops?  Who's Meggan?"
	"I am," replied Prince William's protector.
	Serena turned around and saw 'Eric' turn into Meggan, the mutant
from the group Excalibur.  "What the hell are you doing here?  And where is
Eric?"
	"There was an attack," William said.
	"William," Meggan said loudly, trying to prevent William from
sharing the information.
	"It's okay, Meggan.  I trust Serena."
	"What happened?" Serena asked sternly.
	"There was an attack," William continued.  "Eric put one of the
tracking devices on the masked figure.  He followed after them."
	"When did this happen?"
	"About a half hour ago."
	"Have you heard from him at all?"
	"No," replied Meggan.
	"Great.  Contact your friends.  We may need some help here."
	"Okay."  Meggan left the room.
	Serena turned to leave as well.  "Where are you going?" William
asked.
	"I'm going to find Eric.  And help him if possible."
	"But, he wore his suit.  If you show up like that, they may figure
out who Batman really is."
	"Don't worry.  I have my own disguise."

	Nightcrawler, Colossus, Psylocke and Pete Wisdom stood in the foyer
with Prince William and Meggan.  Meggan was telling them Serena's plan.
	"Where is she?" Nightcrawler asked.
	"Right here," Serena replied.  All eyes went up to the second floor
balcony.  Serena stood in her purple Cat suit with whip in hand.  "Like
it?" she asked.
	"Wow!" Pete replied.
	"Thanks.  Listen up.  Kurt, I want you to contact the Watchers'
Council.  Let them know what is going on.  Tell them who is here to protect
the Princes.  No need to get Christine and Jessica out of bed for this."
Kurt disappeared.  "Then I want all of you to keep an eye on the Princes.
No telling who may try to attempt harm with us gone."
	"If anyone shows up, they will find a pleasant surprise waiting for
them," Pete said with a grin.  Several of his fingers turned into hot
knives, and then reverted back into fingers.
	"Where are you going?" Psylocke asked.
	"I'm going to find Eric."
	"But you don't know where he is."
	Kurt reappeared.  "The Council said they would stay alert if
needed.  They also gave me the frequency for the tracking devices.  You
should use a monitoring device to follow Eric's path."
	"Good idea.  Let's stay sharp tonight, folks.  There's trouble
brewing."
	Serena, now Catwoman, walked to William's room and over to the
balcony.  William followed her in.  "Serena," he whispered.  She turned to
him.  "Be careful.  Bring him back alive.  I'd hate for someone to be dead
because of me."
	"I will, William.  I promise."
	Catwoman climbed out the window and leapt into the air using her
whip to swing to a nearby roof.  She pulled out the tracking monitor and
turned it on.  Tuning it to the frequency Kurt gave her she found the
location.  "That looks like the haberdashery."  She attached the monitor to
her belt and headed toward her destination.

To Be Continued...

I have begun another story on Nifty in the Celebrity section.  It takes
place in the same world as this story.  It's called "The Punisher".