The wee small hours of the morning at Gotham State Prison and all is
quiet . . . but what's this? A prison guard goes through a door into maximum
security and behind him . . . Killer Moth? Incredible!
"Here you are,"says Killer Moth, as he hands the guard a large wad of bills. "Five thousand dollars. Not a bad price for one unmonitored visit." The guard nods, takes his payment and step back through the entrance, closing the door.
"What kept you?" a voice calls from the dark of a cell.
The Minstrel steps up to the bars.
"Here, Minstrel, here's the stuff you asked for." KM hands The Minstrel the large jangling bag of electronics. Minstrel opens it immediately, perusing its contents.
"Yes, yes. This will do nicely. You've done well, Moth."
Minstrel disappears into the darkness of his cell for less than five minutes and returns with two odd, yet similar-looking devices.
He holds one aloft. "This one, is for you," he lifts the other, "and this, is for my confederate, Octavia." His smile suddenly grows cold. "There are easily distinguishable differences . . . do not mix them up." He hands them both to Killer Moth and holds open the empty sack that had contained the electronic pieces, for KM to place inside, which he carefully does.
"The electronic parts in the prison shop are functional, but key pieces are purposely kept out of my hands." He drops a gray stone the size of a man's nose into KM's palm. "I tuned your device to the exact frequency of this stone – as per your request. Affix the device to the wall of Gotham Hall, press that red button and, within minutes, a large section of Gotham Hall's east wall will become the consistency of dime-store baby powder."
Killer Moth smiles. "And what about your device, Minstrel?"
"None of your concern." An alliance of sorts had grown between the two when The Minstrel saved KM from a beating at the hands of another prisoner, a former Mad Hatter henchman whose large waxed mustache made him look as if he'd be more at home in a bowler and tails. KM had jokingly called Jervis Tetch a loon – and the Hatter's old henchman had taken offense. Though The Minstrel claimed to abhor violence, there was something in his manner that made the other prisoners leery of him – and when he stood and calmly but sternly told Skimmer to let Killer Moth alone, the large inmate obeyed and went back to his corner of the prison shop where he'd previously been fashioning a straw boater.
"Sure, Minstrel – I was only asking."
"Just keep your part of the bargain, Moth. When you leave here, take my device to the appointed place – just as we discussed before your release. Then our transaction will be completed."
"As you say . . . " KM heads toward the door.
"Moth," The Minstrel calls out.
"Yes," Killer Moth turns from the door and asks quizzically.
The Minstrel regards him coyly.
"Good luck."
"Yeah," Killer Moth laughs without glee, ". . . thanks, Minstrel." Something in the tone of Minstrel's good luck immediately bothered him. Could there be flaws in his plan? Killer Moth frowns as he exits the corridor where the dishonest guard will lead him out.
"No, Robin . . . I don't like this . . . at all," Batman says as he peers at the
piece of fine webbing from his Bat-tweezers. "This is without a doubt
the same stuff Killer Moth used to cocoon us with at Gotham Library.
With the Batgirl Cycle hidden in those bushes . . ."
"Holy Larvae, Batman! Killer Moth must have Batgirl in his bush-league clutches!"
"Holy Larvae indeed, Robin. His Moth-cocoon is a neat trick . . . albeit his only one. Perhaps the portable Bat-computer can give us a list of likely Killer Moth hideouts."
Moments later a card pops from the portable Bat-computer in the Batmobile's trunk.
"The Bat-computer suggests one of these two locations is most likely Killer Moth's latest hideout, within a 94.7% degree of accuracy. The out of use Gotham Insect Laboratory and the defunct Firefly Industrial Lighting Fixtures, the fixtures factory being the more likely."
"Holy Nick the Greek -- let's go!"
"No, Robin . . . I sense Killer Moth had another purpose for being at this
spot besides capturing Batgirl. The chipped hole Batgirl mentioned -- it's
very fresh. I want you to take the Batmobile to the fixtures factory and
have the Commissioner send men to both the factory and to the insect
laboratory. I will take the Bat-zooka in case I need to scale Gotham
Hall – it's too high for the Bat-rope. I'll take up a position out of
sight in those trees. There are a few more hours before daybreak and if
ransom is his game this time as it was with Millionaire Roger Montrose, you
should have Batgirl out of his clutches long before he is able to make
his demands.
"However . . . if he has other plans, perhaps I can thwart them
from here. Keep in touch with me via Bat-radio. Now get going, chum."
"Roger!" With that Robin jumps into the Batmobile's cockpit. Immediately after Batman removes the Bat-zooka and closes the trunk, Robin races away. Batman hefts his equipment onto one shoulder and quickly moves into the darkness of the foliage.
Batgirl suddenly finds herself being carried and then thrust up into a
standing position.
The material in front of her face is split open, revealing the grinning
visage of Killer Moth.
"Hello, Batgirl. I purposely left that Moth-bag at the scene of the electronics store robbery – of course Batman has been scouring the city for me. Odd that you should find me first – or rather, I you."
Seeing Killer Moth's self-importance as a useful weakness, Batgirl plays
along.
"Yes. I'm surprise you've managed to elude Batman this long Killer Moth . . .
but he's using every method at his disposal to hunt you down -- you won't
be able to outwit him indefinitely."
Seeing Killer Moth's wild look of glee, Batgirl presses for further
information.
"What's your scheme, Killer Moth? Batman thinks you must have something
very big in mind."
"Hey, why don't we take off her mask and see who she is?" one of KM's henchmen asks.
"Shut up, dolt," Killer Moth snaps. "She's only a tool of The Batman. Why would you expect to recognize one girl in a city of millions?
"Now, Batgirl, when Batman finds this hideout and you . . . and he will . . . tell him I've left you unharmed, not because of any misguided sense of chivalry, but out of respect for him as a worthy foe. And tell him I said this moth isn't content to merely flicker around the flame. By the time he discovers and revives you, he'll understand what I mean."
"What do you mean revive?" asks Batgirl, evenly.
"You may have noticed - - - your cocoon is becoming increasingly stiffer and
tighter. Within hours, it will be as if you're covered with dried paint.
"Have you seen the movie Goldfinger with that national craze, James
Bond? It's the same principle, however, the opening at your face will be
sufficient to keep you alive – for a long while, at least . . . but you should
lose consciousness very soon." With that, Killer Moth takes Batgirl by
the shoulders and puts her in a reclining position across a bench.
"On the outside chance Batman doesn't locate you, I'll leave word at Police Headquarters of your whereabouts . . . when I get around to it.
"Farewell, Batgirl! Come Moths, it's time for our final caper!"
Batgirl watches them go out and then rolls onto the floor.
Peering through the small infra-red Bat-binoculars, Batman sees five
figures scamper up to Gotham Hall's east wall in the darkness. One is
wearing antenna on his head. Silently, Batman moves to a position several
yards closer where he can have an unobstructed view of their activities.
Killer Moth seems to be placing some device on the wall. Then they all
move several steps back. Audibly, through clenched teeth, Batman
whispers, "Fools! If that is an explosive powerful enough to bring down
that wall, they'll all be killed!"
With no time to react, Batman hears a slight high-pitched whine . . . and watches in amazement as a section of the wall begins to quietly fall away. "How . . ." Batman asks himself, as two of the men take out small shovels and begin shoveling the heavy dust of the wall out of their path. Still shocked by the odd occurrence, Batman begins setting up the Bat-zooka.
Quickly, Batgirl took stock of her situation. The fixture factory has
an upper and lower level. She moves herself snake-like, to a drop-off
where a now useless winch is slung to one side. Several chains litter the
floor and seeing one with a hook, over a period of several minutes she
manages to widen the tear that started at her face enough to get hold of
the hook with her fingers. "If this would rip another six inches, I could
get my arms free," she says aloud. On a whim, she throws herself head
first through the drop-off – forcing her body weight forward. As she
falls upside down, the chain suddenly snaps taut and rips the cocoon
front open a foot. Instantly, her waiting hands spring from the cocoon
and grab hold of the chain – ending her plunge. Clinging to the chain, she
kicks and wriggles free of the rest of the cocoon and slides down the
chain to the floor.
"Holy Houdini!" Robin bellows as he runs up to Batgirl.
"Thank you, Boy Wonder! But I wouldn't have bothered if I'd known you'd arrived with your trusty Bat-knife."
Robin looks around. "Where's Killer Moth and his men?"
"Hmmm," muses Batgirl. "Killer Moth mentioned that he wasn't content to flicker around the flame . . . does that bring anything to mind?"
"Holy Not So Red Herrings, Batgirl! Batman is at Gotham Hall, where in a few hours, The Flame of Kasmir Ruby will be unveiled! Flicker around the flame -- he can only mean the Flame of Kasmir!"
Batgirl brushes some stray cocoon from her costume. "Quickly, Robin, let's go! Batman is going to need our help."
Indeed, for as Robin and Batgirl race to Gotham Hall, Batman is
watching Killer Moth's scheme unfold. Previously, he'd set the Bat-zooka,
planning to scale Gotham Hall and surprise Killer Moth and his men
inside -- but quickly, another plan hatches in his mind.
In their haste to enter, KM and his men are nearly oblivious to their surroundings -- allowing Batman to move less than 30 paces from them, in plain view. Re-setting the Bat-zooka, he faces it not at the heights of Gotham Hall, but instead he disconnects the Bat-rope and levels it at Killer Moth and his men. Still busily clearing debris from the opening, they take no notice. Quickly Batman casts off his cape and fashions it to the business end of the Bat-zooka, causing it to take on the appearance of a huge, cushioned boxing glove.
"Halt, you devils!" Batman cries and, as Killer Moth and his men react and turn, Batman fires the Bat-zooka into their number. Almost instantly three of them sprawl forward -- while Killer Moth and one of the Moth-men are sent reeling through the dusty entrance. Batman leaps forward and carries both of them through with a flying tackle.
Minutes later, as Robin and Batgirl roar up and leap from the Batmobile,
Batman is replacing his cape to his cowl. Robin and Batgirl regard the
massive hole and piles of dust.
"Batman, what happened here? Where are Killer Moth and his men?"
Batman finishes clasping his cape. "As far as what became of this wall, Batgirl, I'm not certain. The device that caused this was destroyed by it's monstrous work. I can't fathom how Killer Moth, with his limited talents, was able to construct such a device."
Batgirl thinks for a moment. "Batman, when I was captured by Killer Moth, I heard him say he was making a visit to Gotham State Prison – and he was using the money from the movie theater robbery for . . . something."
"Yes," Batman acknowledges. "Perhaps that's the answer. Still . . . I doubt Moth would rat on a prison crony. From what survived, I can tell that the device was very intricately made . . ."
Just then squad cars arrive, sirens blaring. Chief O'Hara, leaping from his car, charges up to Batman.
"We got here as quickly as we could, Batman -- after The Boy Wonder called us. Where would the Killer Moth be, Caped Crusader?"
"Just this way, Chief. Follow me." Batman enters the hole into Gotham Hall.
Entering, O'Hara, Robin, and Batgirl look around amazed, as they see Killer Moth and his men sprawled around the exhibit hall in odd positions.
"Good Gravy,"exclaims Robin in a low voice.
"Gravy it is," adds O'Hara. "They look like they've been hit by a locomotive."
As the police begin collecting the Moth-men, Killer Moth looks at Batgirl and shakes his head groggily.
Batgirl puts her hands on her hips. "It looks like you're the one who needs to be revived, Killer Moth."
Killer Moth looks from her, to Batman. "You've beaten me again, Batman . . . But you can bet this moth will break free of his cocoon, again!"
"Take him away, Goldberg," O'Hara orders. Killer Moth is led away.
"Holy Apparitions – where's Batgirl?!"
"She must have taken her leave, Robin – as should we. I've a feeling we're
going to be hearing . . ." Batman pauses and look quizzical for a moment --
as if the word hearing might be significant -- and looks down at the
remains of Killer Moth's device in his glove. "Yes, Robin . . . I think we
may be hearing from whomever supplied Killer Moth with this device.
Let's go."
The End