Electra's Web

ou’ve Been Shamed (2)



THE FIRST editions of the newspapers were just hitting the streets as the first 12 hours of Batman’s deadline passed.

 He remained blissfully unaware of their contents as he waited patiently in the Batcave for Electra’s final acquiescence to his demands.

 But the woman herself perused them with satisfaction as she sat in her office with Commissioner Gordon and her now-faithful servant Robin.

 “I really don’t think we have any choice now Commissioner,” she said – just managing to keep a tone of complete relish from her voice. “His behaviour has become intolerable.”

 The Commissioner nodded as he threw the newspaper he’d been reading onto the desk.

 Its front page - like that of all its rivals – carried a large picture of Batman and Anneka engaged in a passionate kiss outside a darkened house.

 The Caped Crusader was pressing his groin into hers with his eyes closed in reverie.

 Alongside the photograph ran the story of how Batman had seduced the teenager, persuaded her to forge a series of documents incriminating Electra in all manner of criminal behaviour and then threatened to cause the frightened girl untold damage if she breathed a word to anyone.

 It was only Electra’s election victory, Anneka said, that had persuaded her to go public with the revelations in the knowledge that the new Mayor would forgive and protect her against Batman’s malevolent machinations.

 Electra pulled a document towards her, paused for a second and then signed her name on the bottom of it before handing it to Commissioner Gordon.

 “Your warrant,” she said officiously. “Should we go?”

 She looked at Robin and blew him a kiss as the Commissioner rose from his seat. Then she cast a last glance at the newspapers and purred to herself before following the two men out of the room - her mind filled with the most wonderful sense of excitement and anticipation.

 ------------------------

THE CAPED CRUSADER was taken completely by surprise as the doors of the Batcave slid open.

 He looked to his side and lurched upwards from his chair as the early-morning light began to flood in.

 But before he could react properly a phalanx of police officers were streaming inside.

 “Armed police! Down! Now! On your knees!” came the shouts as guns were levelled towards him.

 “Do it now!”

 In front of him men in bullet-proof jackets seemed to occupy every space. They were standing, kneeling, crouching – but every single one was aiming a weapon at him.

 Batman’s mind whirled in confusion. He opened his mouth to speak but was stopped in his tracks by a roaring command.

 “On your knees now or we shoot!”

 Slowly he let his muscular body sink to the floor still staring aghast at the sight before him.

 “Hands behind your back!” came another order. “Do it!”

 He complied and one of the men walked towards him carefully, his gun pointing at Batman’s cowl all the time before he hurriedly stepped behind the kneeling figure and shackled his wrists together with a pair of handcuffs.

 “Secure,” shouted the officer stepping backwards and his colleagues seemed to visibly relax as he said so.

 From out of their midst stepped Robin with a cold look on his face.

 He walked solemnly towards the crimefighter and stood before him.

 “Batman,” he said. “I’m arresting you on charges of grand sedition, eliciting forgery, threatening behaviour and conspiracy to dishonour the office of Mayor of Gotham City.

 “Under the penal code you will be taken from here and held in secure accommodation until the date of your trial.”

 “Robin……” gasped Batman looking up – but his former partner had turned and started walking away.

 As he did so the figure of Electra appeared as if from nowhere by his side and slipped her arm around his waist.

 The pair whispered into each other’s ears and then laughed as behind them rough hands grabbed Batman by under his armpits and hauled him to his feet before unceremoniously pushing towards the gaping doors of the waiting armoured police van.