9 The Bat Family in Action

Batgirl and Robin stood over a goon working for Penguin; the rest were laid out over the ice cold floor. All the rich patrons rushed out of The Iceberg Lounge owned by Penguin, himself.

The Iceberg Lounge was where usually had his base of operations hidden under the guise of a high-end nightclub.

Robin threw a finishing blow, knocking him out cold. He turned over to Batgirl who seemed to be in her own little world, humming a tune. Surprising. Robin hadn't seen her like this in a long time.

"You seem awfully happy today," Robin pointed out.

"You could say that," she stretched her arms out, loosening up her tight muscles.

She was excited to train with Bruce; she couldn't wait to take him down eventually. After she was done with this, she was going to head to Bruce's place later.

"Did anything happen, Babs?"

"No, not really," she threw in a little white lie. "I just slept good, that's all."

Jason knew she was lying. "Fine, don't tell me," Robin shrugged his shoulders. "Not like I care anyways."

"Why'd you ask, then?"

"I haven't seen you this happy since you gone out with Dick," he answered. "So, I thought you two might've talked things out."

"No, it's not that," she crossed her arms, her thoughts suddenly roamed to Nightwing. "C'mon, let's just get to Batman; he'll probably need some help catching Penguin." Barbara didn't want to talk about her relationship with Nightwing; it was better to not hold onto the past and just keep moving forward with her life. Nightwing was probably doing the same, too.

Meanwhile, Batman smashed through a locked door where he knew Penguin would be. The VIP room held Penguin and a few heads of the local gangs here in a round table - that is until he showed up. Batman knew why they were here - a business deal to purchase more weapons. Something Batman should stop.

"Well, well, well, if it ain't ol' Batman," Penguin blew thick smoke from his lips as he watched The Bat walked in. A wretched smile formed as he leaned back into his expensive, leather chair, dipping ash into a small ashtray. "Did ya come here to ruin the party?"

Oswald Cobblepot aka Penguin, A short, paunchy, middle-aged man with a long, bird-like nose. He had all the money in the world to burn, judging by his luxurious suit and monocle. He was Gotham's mobster and fancied himself as 'The Gentleman of Crime.'

The local gang leaders stood up, ready to take on the world's greatest detective with guns drawn, "Settle down, fellas. I will take care of this nuisance; no need ta burden yourselves," Penguin said. The gang leaders sat back down still wary of the Bat.

"I'm taking you down, Penguin," he answered.

"I'm standin' right here, aren't I?" Penguin raised his hands out, taunting him even. His accent as thick it can be. The consequence of studying abroad in London. "Come on! Might as well get it over with."

Batman narrowed his eyes; the pointed-nose dwarf was too confident. He pulled a batarang out from his utility belt. As he was about to throw it, a green, scaly hand suddenly held him back. Batman turned around, coming face-to-face with Killer Croc.

"Hi, Bats," Killer Croc growled out. He quickly picked Batman up and slammed him on the ground.

He wasn't done yet, tossing Batman through a wall with inhuman strength. Batman groaned in pain as he smashed through the wall and crashed into a wooden crate that contained old decorations Penguin had stored in a backroom. A shadow loomed over Batman as Killer Croc stepped through the hole.

"Well done, Croc," Penguin stood up, using his umbrella as support. "Make sure ya kill him; it's time ta get rid of this thorn by my side."

"Killer Croc, Penguin finally put you in a leash?" Batman stood back up, his hand snaked its way to his utility belt.

"He wouldn't have the guts to do that," he answered with a feral grin.

"What's the catch?"

"Money," Killer Croc said, cracking his knuckles. "A whole lot of it," Killer Croc roared as he charged at Batman with intent to kill. Batman quickly threw out smoke pellets at him. Thick smoke exploded at Croc's face and instantly blinded him.

"ARRGH!" Killer Croc swung his hands wildly, trying to make contact with The Bat but was left with nothing but air. A kick slammed against his face, and Killer Croc fell to the ground. He tried to get back up again, but Batman made sure he wouldn't. With a knee right to that scaly, lizard nose.

"Urgh, you fuckin'-" Killer Croc crawled back up to his knees, his eyes bloodshot with murder on his mind. "I'll kill you!" Using his tail, Croc lifted up a crate nearby and threw it at him.

A swift roll out of the way did the trick. Batman threw a pair of batarangs, stabbing Killer Croc in the chest. However, the giant lizard simply brushed it off like it was nothing. Batman immediately ran out of the door.

"That's right, go ahead and run," Killer Croc said as he chased after him. As he made it to the door, he was suddenly dropkicked by Batman. Batman quickly mounted on top of him as they fell to the floor and laid out a vicious beatdown.

A tail wrapped around Batman's neck, putting him in a tight chokehold. Killer Croc slowly lifted Batman off of his feet and glared deep into his eyes. Batman struggled as he tried to pry his tail off of him but to no avail.

And Croc with his widening grin, squeezed harder and harder. He want this slow, painful before he popped this little balloon into a rainy bloodbath. Suddenly, his body grew stiff as a wave of electrical current coursed through his body.

"ARGGGH!" KIller Croc could feel every current passing through like sharp needle poking through every pores of his body. He couldn't take it anymore; his eyes rolled back into his head, loosening the grip on Batman before he collapsed to the floor. Batman fell to his knees as he tried to catch his breath.

"Thought you would need a hand," Batman looked up and saw Batgirl and Robin standing over him.

Batman stood up, "I'll get Penguin; restrain Croc and bring him back to Arkham Asylum." Batman quickly left the storage room to chase after Penguin who had already ran off.

"He's really going to make us clean after him, huh," Robin drooped his shoulders. He was more or less used to this by now.

On the other hand, Batgirl had Killer Croc already chained up. They brought him in the Batmobile and drove to Arkham Asylum. It didn't take too long when they arrived there and locked him up in a cage specifically built for him.

"Hey, Batman, how's it going on your end?" Robin spoke through a communication device.

Meanwhile, Batman had already apprehended Penguin in handcuffs. Penguin had been on the run, but it didn't take too long until Batman finally caught up to him and took him down. Cobblepot had put some resistance, but he was eventually overpowered and restrained.

"I'm fine," he answered. "I'll take it from here."

"No problemo," Robin turned off his communication device. "Well, that's that. I think I'll patrol around the city - see what I can find. What about you, Babs?"

Barbara checked the time on her watch. It was nearing 5 PM, almost time for her first training lesson with Bruce.

"I have some things that I need to take care of," she answered back. "I'll catch up to later so see ya around, Robin."