Chapter Text
In the sprawling metropolis of Gotham, the imposing McLeary Building stood tall, a century-old emblem of authority and progress. Though no longer the city's highest peak, it remained a formidable testament to Gotham's storied history and served as the fortress of Powers Tech.
“What do you mean you don’t know how this happened!” he bellowed into the phone, the words slicing through the air like a razor. Slamming the receiver down, he yelled, “Do I have to do everything myself!” Derek Powers was pissed and muttered, “Fucking Ryan Wilder.”
Derek Powers, Gotham's cunning financial czar, seethed with frustration as he paced in his lavish office. For years, he schemed and failed to take control of Wayne Enterprises. However, his past failures did result in Powers gaining enough shares for a seat on Wayne’s board of directors and finally positioned him to gain control after Bruce Wayne's mysterious disappearance.
Recognizing the unpredictable nature of his vigilante duties, Bruce Wayne, the enigmatic CEO of Wayne Enterprises, astutely foresaw the need for a strategic safeguard. Concerned about potential power struggles and takeovers during his extended absences, Bruce shrewdly negotiated with the board of directors, securing their agreement on a three-year moratorium. This unique provision prevented any hasty decisions regarding appointing a new CEO or alterations to the corporate structure in his absence. Bruce's foresight not only protected the integrity of Wayne Enterprises but also set the stage for a complex power play.
Powers saw an opportunity to finally seize control as the three-year moratorium on electing a new CEO approached its end. However, his plans were thwarted when Kate Kane emerged as the unexpected heir to the Wayne legacy. He was heartened by her “tragic” death, only to see her return from the grave and subsequently transfer her proxy to Ryan Wilder, a perceived interloper in Powers' eyes, which only fueled his resentment.
In a clandestine alliance with Marquis Jet, Powers hatched a nefarious plan to discredit Ryan Wilder. He manipulated Harry Tully, the CFO of Wayne Enterprises, into siphoning money off the books to make it appear as though Ryan was embezzling funds. Powers needed the money for his secret project—a chemical weapon that promised to revolutionize warfare. Marquis Jet, however, had plans of his own. He double-crossed Powers, viewing him as nothing more than a means to an end, and took Wayne for himself.
No worries. Powers was ready to move forward with his plans. Over the past year, Powers had conducted a series of ghastly experiments, utilizing stray dogs as unwitting subjects in his sadistic pursuits. Trained to obey commands, these animals became unwilling participants in the twisted trials of his new chemical agent. In the eerie silence of a deserted warehouse district, the air hung heavy with anticipation as the experiments unfolded. The once-docile dogs transformed into vicious creatures, their behavior escalating into a frenzied mania. Armed guards tasked with maintaining control would resort to lethal force to quell the threat of the ferocious animals. As Powers delved deeper into his macabre studies, the experiments took a more horrifying turn. The animals began shedding their skin, a grotesque manifestation of the chemical's effects. Subsequent tests introduced a chilling combination of chemicals and implanted technology, rendering the creatures controllable by voice commands. The implanted tech not only allowed for control but neutralized the erratic behavior by allowing the scientist to kill the animals with a push of a button once the experiment was over. The haunting echoes of barking and screaming yelps reverberated through the deserted district as Powers and his team manipulated the animals to test the limits of their diabolical creation. Each experiment concluded with a somber and chilling routine – the termination of the animals, the silence, and their liquified carcasses marking the end of another gruesome chapter. All Powers needed now was a human subject.
As Powers paced, his assistant notified him that Harry Tully had arrived and was waiting to see him. Harry Tully was conflicted. He found himself consumed by guilt as he executed Powers' plan to frame Ryan Wilder. The weight of his actions gnawed at him, prompting a desperate confrontation with Powers.
Powers sneered as Tully entered his office, “What do you want?”
Tully, unable to bear the burden of his conscience any longer, responded, “What we did was wrong. Someone must have found out because Wilder has regained control of the company. I won’t wait to be arrested. What we did was wrong. I’m going to turn myself in. I won’t mention you, but I have to do the right thing!” Tully said with conviction.
Powers, ever the master manipulator, reached out and steadied Tully by resting his hands on his shoulders. “Harry, you have to calm down. Yes, I heard Wilder is in charge again, but all is not lost. From what I understand, she believes that Bruce Wayne used the missing funds.” Powers then began to spin a tale of noble intent. “The funds we took were diverted to a global humanitarian effort; come, I will show you,” he said as he urged Tully to witness the impact of their actions firsthand.
With a sense of dread, Tully followed Powers as he traveled to the basement level of the McLeary Building and down several flights of stairs leading to a tunnel and a hidden lab, expecting to see evidence of the alleged philanthropy. Instead, he found himself ensnared in a twisted web of deception as Powers tased him with a gun they used to control the dogs. When Tully regained consciousness, he was lying on a gurney in restraints as Powers revealed the true nature of his endeavors and made Tully the unwitting subject of the very experiment he sought to expose.
Surrounded by cutting-edge technology and vials of the chemicals needed to create his weapon, Powers prepared for the final phase of his plan. His eyes gleamed with joy. As Powers prepared for the final testing of his lethal creation, he reveled in the anticipation of revenge against those who dared to stand in his way. "Today is the day I bring Gotham to its knees," Powers declared, a wicked grin playing on his lips. "My chemical weapon will be the key to reshaping the balance of power. And once I eliminate Ryan Wilder, Wayne Enterprises will be mine!"
Of course, this statement was followed by the obligatory maniacal laugh of all supervillains since time immemorial.