An hour I've been waiting. I don't know why...
Nico wanted to meet here, anyway. - He didn't, Twitch.
I did.
You! You tricked me.
What do you want?
Information on the Society of Shadows.
Word is they've started operating here.
Tell me all about them.
There ain't that much to tell.
I mean, I only worked for them, okay? Not with them.
It'll have to do. Now talk.
Okay, okay. They're supposed to have their claws in every dirty deal in Gotham.
Word on the street is they got something major going down tonight.
Gonna boost some kind of new ultrasound gizmo, or something.
- Who runs the show? - Strange dude.
Strangest thing about these guys, come to think of it.
Goes by the code name "Vertigo."
They say he's...
Please, he made me talk. I didn't wanna.
No one betrays the Society.
No, no, please. I didn't do it!
Such be the fate of all traitors.
You'll pay for that.
May the Shadows live forever.
Batman?
Over here, Jim.
I heard Twitch got away, thanks to a couple of Shadow agents.
When I tried to nail them, they used some sort of gas to erase their own minds.
Yeah, that fits with what little we know about them.
Something Twitch said makes me think...
they're going after Wayne Tech's new sonic drill. Tonight.
Tell Bullock he should add more guards to be safe.
Is there anything you don't know about?
I only assigned that detail a couple of hours ago.
One of these days, I'm gonna nail his feet to the ground.
You don't want us to touch the drill, right, Mr. Fox?
Not unless you have to.
And be careful, it's the only working prototype from our lab in Chicago.
I don't wanna tell Mr. Wayne it broke before we got it to headquarters.
But I thought you said it could be dangerous.
Well, it's intended for use in building excavations, oil rigs and the like, but...
Relax, kid. That gizmo ain't gonna hurt nobody as long as Harvey Bullock's...
What the...?
- Who are you? - What do you want?
The first thing I want is for you to stop asking stupid questions.
The second is a powerful weapon, and I think your drill will do nicely.
And I think you'll do 10 to 20 in Stonegate, minimum.
The Batman.
I suppose this had to happen sooner or later.
You.
Come. We're due back by the tolling of the hour.
But are you certain the lady in black was working with this Vertigo chap?
Had to be, Alfred. He'd never have been able to escape if she hadn't shown up.
And she wasn't affected by his weapon.
- Weapon, sir? - That eyepiece of his.
I think it gives off some kind of radiation.
It distorts visual perception and sense of balance somehow...
creating the illusion that everything around you is topsy-turvy.
- My word. - Not that it matters.
Nothing about that can give me clues to his whereabouts.
He mentioned returning to his base before the "tolling of the hour"...
which suggests a clock tower, or church bell. Then fled west.
Yet there's no such structure that could conceal a hideout within 50 miles west.
Might I suggest, Master Bruce, that you take a break?
If you keep pushing yourself like this, you soon won't know...
your right hand from your left. - You're brilliant!
Yes, so I've heard.
With my head turned around, I couldn't tell one direction from the other.
They didn't escape to the west, they went east.
There, Alfred. That has to be the place.
Four against one. Nasty odds.
- I can take care of myself, thank you. - So I see.
- Still, the gesture is appreciated. - Don't mention it.
- Just whose side are you on? - That would be telling.
And it would make no difference.
As of now, this battle is ended.
- Filthy creature. - I've been called worse.
What happened to...? My mask!
- What have you done with it? - Easier to clean your wounds this way.
Then you know. You know that I'm...
Hush. Who knows what other ears may be listening?
Just who are you? What are you doing here?
My name is Talia.
And I too have business with the Society of Shadows.
- What kind of business? - Personal business.
Such as I imagine yours must be.
Point taken. It's a simple enough lock.
I can get it open it with... My belt!
How unfortunate.
I appreciate the sympathy, but what we need right now is a lock pick.
I know.
We make a good team, don't you think?
Now, come. Quickly.
There's no telling what evil Vertigo may do with your sonic device.
Sounds like you two have a history.
Yes. The man once worked for my father.
Until Father at last came to recognize the blackness in his soul.
When he learned of Vertigo's intentions, my father sent me as his emissary...
to keep the device out of Vertigo's hands.
How kind of him. Why should your father even care?
Because he is concerned for all humankind.
- This way. It leads to the lab. - Lab? What lab?
Unlocked. How convenient.
You do, of course, realize that this is a trap.
Naturally, but what other choice do we have?
Welcome, friends.
You're quite right, I have been expecting you.
Your little dizzifying trick won't stop us, Vertigo.
Maybe, maybe not.
You see, you'll have to get across this room alive.
And that may prove difficult, considering this entire laboratory...
has been rigged to destroy you.
And in case you think that once I go, my disorienting effect will go with me...
think again.
I've planted duplicate vertigo devices throughout the room...
to maintain the effect once I've departed.
Goodbye and good luck. You'll need it.
- You okay? - My contact lenses.
I lost them when we fell. They counter the distortion effect.
Without them, I'm as helpless as you.
I don't do "helpless."
Come on, take my hand. I can get us through this.
- How? - I trusted you, now it's your turn.
Jump!
How did you know?
Down!
Stop!
Clear.
How did you do that?
Simple. I just kept my eyes closed.
You what?
The only way to neutralize the vertigo...
was to rely on my other senses to see us through.
All right, I am impressed. Now where to?
Up.
- Going somewhere, Vertigo? - No.
- It's impossible! - Nothing is impossible.
Then I will finish you both myself.
I can't take much more of this.
Only one thing to do.
No!
Without Vertigo to lead them, his agents have all fled?
Yes. The Society of Shadows is no longer what it was.
Well, I've gotta get this back to Gotham City.
Wait. I can't let you leave like this...
not with the drill.
I thought I finally knew which side you were on.
I should have known better, considering that you knew where everything was...
in the monastery. How could you have...
unless you were one of them?
I am truly sorry, Batman. It could have been...
sweet.
This is not over.
Vertigo has been dealt with, Father.
Small wonder you seem so pleased.
- Then your mission? - A complete success.
- I secured this just as you asked. - Then choose a target and test it, daughter.
We must be certain it has survived its ordeal intact.
The Batman, he sabotaged it somehow!
So even in defeat, the detective manages to achieve some small measure of victory.
As you said, detective, this is not over.