Chapter 59: Confrontation

Gotham’s Commissioner Gordon, a man with deep ties to the Wayne family, found himself in yet another precarious situation. His longstanding relationship with the Waynes began the night he first encountered young Bruce Wayne, standing frozen in grief in Crime Alley.

It was Gordon’s first major case as a rookie officer, and since then, he’d seen Gotham at its best and worst. Today, though, he found himself caught in an unusual situation, thanks to Adam Wayne.

“Adam,” Gordon said cautiously, his tone skeptical. “Are you certain there are biological weapons here? This isn’t the kind of thing we handle lightly.”

Adam gave Gordon a measured look, the faintest smirk playing on his lips. “Absolutely, Commissioner. A trusted business partner of Wayne Group tipped us off. Trust me, you’ll want to evacuate the area. Let the professionals handle this.”

Gordon hesitated for a moment before sighing. “Alright. But this better not blow up in our faces, kid.” He turned and began organizing the evacuation of nearby civilians.

As Gordon left, Adam’s expression shifted to one of determination. He waved a signal to a large truck that had just pulled up. Out of it marched ten pieces of steel armor. Eight were standard Wayne-tech models, but the remaining two stood out—fiery red and bulkier than the rest, their arms equipped with massive flamethrowers.

“Skynet, what’s Frozen Man’s status?” Adam asked, already suiting up.

A video feed appeared on Adam’s helmet display, showing the inside of Frozen Man’s hideout. The sight was unsettling. Dr. Victor Fries, clad in his makeshift cryogenic suit, stood beside a transparent chamber containing a lifeless woman. He spoke softly to her, his voice filled with emotion.

“Completely unhinged,” Adam muttered. “A man like this can’t be reasoned with.”

He gave the order. “Skynet, initiate a frontal assault. Send in the standard units.”

The eight standard armors advanced, forming a tactical formation. As they breached the perimeter of the building, a dense cloud of white mist erupted from within. The armors froze almost instantly, their movements grinding to a halt.

Seconds later, the sound of gunfire rang out. The frozen armors shattered like fragile glass, their fragments scattering across the icy ground.

Adam’s jaw tightened. “Skynet, activate the fire bats.”

The two modified, flame-equipped armors stepped forward, their heavy frames thudding against the ground. As they neared the building, another wave of white mist enveloped them. Frost formed rapidly across their surfaces, but unlike the standard units, the fire bats were built to withstand such conditions.

A burst of red light glowed from within the armors, and the frost began to melt. The flamethrowers roared to life, unleashing fiery jets that cut through the freezing mist. The resulting clash filled the air with thick, swirling clouds of condensation.

“It’s working,” Adam noted. “His freezing tech can’t suppress those flames.”

The fire bats continued to advance, their flamethrowers burning away the mist. But Frozen Man wasn’t giving up so easily. From within his hideout, he unleashed a counterattack. Two sharp whistles cut through the air—RPGs launched directly at the fire bats.

The explosions were immediate. One of the fire bats collapsed, its systems failing under the combined force of the blast and the freezing temperatures. The second armor stumbled but remained operational, its flamethrowers sputtering briefly before reigniting.

Adam’s brow furrowed. “He’s more resourceful than I thought.”

Through his external speakers, Adam called out, “Dr. Victor, let’s talk! This doesn’t have to end in destruction. I can help you!”

The only response was silence, punctuated by the hum of Frozen Man’s equipment.

“Stubborn bastard,” Adam muttered.

He signaled for reinforcements. More armored units were en route, equipped with upgraded defenses against freezing temperatures. Adam knew Frozen Man was running out of options. His technology, while impressive, was no match for the resources of Wayne Group.

“Skynet, prepare to breach,” Adam commanded.

As the remaining fire bat continued its assault, Adam began formulating his next move. Frozen Man’s hideout might be a fortress of ice, but Adam had no intention of leaving until Victor Fries was neutralized—for Gotham’s safety and for Bruce Wayne’s peace of mind.

The battle wasn’t over, but Adam was confident. Frozen Man would fall. It was only a matter of time.