002 - Second Sighting - Audio

[finestdetective]

Good evening, City. This is Gordon speaking.

While you good people were enjoying your ball this weekend, certain others of us have been working solidly on your behalf. In my case I've been sorting through a mess of paperwork and finding my feet. My role here at the CPD isn't quite the one I had at home, but given the circumstances of my previous

Comments

video, using the informant filter;

[incywincyhero]

'Grats on your promotion, Lieutenant, and if you don't mind, a question: what happens to the informant filter under your purview? Do we now go to you directly and skip the middlemen, or do we keep using the filter whenever we need to contact the cops?

video, same filter

[finestdetective]

I appreciate it.

[And he pauses deliberately to make it clear he's considering the question.]

That depends on the nature of the information you have. If you had information that implicated someone involved with the filter, or perhaps my fellow officers, then I suggest coming to me in person and forgoing the network altogether. The same goes for if you have concerns about security.

permaetc;

[incywincyhero]

So basically you're saying we should use our common sense.

[Beat.]

Boy, you must really trust us.

So anyway, I didn't introduce myself, even if it seems like you've heard of me anyway -- Spider-Man, the one and not-so-only. Though I think Spider-Man the second is going by "Spider-Boy" now ... or is it "Spider-Lad?" I should ask him about that ...

[But anyway! He shrugs.]

We Spider-People are a lot like our namesakes, really -- there's a bunch of us and we get a bad rap, but we're good to have around for pest control.

[finestdetective]

My trust has to be earned, as I imagine yours must be. This is a dangerous line of work, and exercising caution keeps us all in one piece.

[Or in other words no, he doesn't trust you.]

But Bauer gave me a list of vigilantes on the informant filter, and you're already cleared. That gives you a step up in my books.

[incywincyhero]

Ooooooh. I get it, you're an optimist. [He says that a bit like he's just discovered Gordon is a rare species of warbler.] Don't see those on the force that often.

But in all seriousness, I appreciate the gesture of faith, Lieutenant, and I don't intend to make you regret it.

[finestdetective]

I prefer 'realist', but if you like.

[A pause, he looks down, turns a few folders until he finds something he's clearly looking for.]

Could you possibly recount to me the cases you've been involved with alongside the CPD? I'd like to be sure I have everything here.

[incywincyhero]

Don't know that many of those, either.

[He tilts his head, taking a few moments to think.]

Well, Bauer put me on his informant filter back in June, but most of my police contact has been the usual perp dropoff, trading tips about the movements of this or that scumbag, nothing too spectacular. [In darker tones.] I helped bring Norman Osborn in back in January, but he's back on the street already, not that that's any different from the usual.

[Beat, then the words tumble out: Spidey's half-reluctant, half desperate to be heard.]

Watch out for that one, Lieutenant. He's a power-hungry sociopath who takes delight in squashing the poor saps who get in his way, and has enough charisma and smarts to sell entire countries on his "troubled, but oh so very sincere" philanthropist act.

[finestdetective]

Norman Osborn. So noted, Spider-man. That's a nine month turnaround--

[He busies himself with his documents, searching through the files for the right one.]

Filed under O--Osborn. Maybe I've filed it already. Power is at least a motive, it's an improvement on what we had to deal with back in Gotham. Is he someone from your world, then?

[incywincyhero]

Less than that. He's been out since midsummer.

Yeah, he's from my world. Guess you could call him the Joker to my Batman, and yes -- [he chuckles, though there's no humor in it] -- I'm well aware how little that speaks for my skills.

[finestdetective]

Oh, for heavens sake, I--

[He slams his fists down, then rounds back on the video feed.]

Do any of these creeps ever stay where you put them? [Pause. He reins himself in and speaks again.] Is there something wrong with the way Batman handles the Joker?

[incywincyhero]

[He starts, then waves his hands frantically.] No, no, that's not what I meant at all!

[Rubbing the back of his head.] I mean that, uh, my track record with the Green Goblin -- Osborn -- isn't really up to snuff with Bats' on the Joker.

[finestdetective]

Ah--Ah, I see. [He looks apologetic too.] I'm sure you do your best. And to be fair to you, it's not your responsibility that bad guys like that get put away, it's ours. If we did our job better, then there wouldn't be any need for vigilantes at all.

[Wistfully.] A friend of mine said that.

[incywincyhero]

Hey, so far as I'm concerned you guys are the heroes, doing what you do without powers to keep you safe. We're just the emergency backup, you know?

Though ... sometimes, I'm not sure what good any of us are against guys like Osborn, not when he speaks public relations like it's his first language, and money like it's his second.

[finestdetective]

Sadly that's the way things seem to be no matter the universe. I'd blame it on the money, but then you get truly honest people like the Waynes - charitable people - who go against the grain so much that they pull other people with them.

Some people are untouchable no matter who you are.

[incywincyhero]

[He relaxes slightly. Just a subtle thing; his shoulders loosen and his voice turns a shade warmer.]

I do know a few people like that. They sure make dealing with everyone else worth it, don't they?

[Shaking his head.]

But Ozzy -- I refuse to believe he's not touchable. Haven't found a way to keep him down for good yet, but I'll die before I stop trying.

[Something about his demeanor suggests he's entirely in earnest on that last.]