CHAPTER 221

[Victor Stone's POV]

I need to pick up the pace with this project, this world gets scarier and unsafe for the people living in it with each passing day.

Protecting the peace of the civilizations is our purpose of being and the job we heroes signed up for. But what happens when we aren't enough and need extra set of hands? What happens when we the heroes are stretched out too thin?

The question I ask myself as I walk around my lab, going through the schematics of what was going to be a revolutionary age for the peace and safety of the people.

That's the concept behind my current project, the ideal way to ensure the security of those who can not help themselves when the heroes are preoccupied fighting to save a city or even the world.

The Incident that took place the other night in Gotham City were quite a number of officers lost their lives fighting a meta, if my idea for a literal cyber security was put in place, those officers wouldn't have lost their lives.

The bots would have stepped into the scene of the action. Thanks to the fragments from Ace's coding, I think I might be able to give them the ability to analyze the power of a meta.

After they run an analysis, they should be able to compute a counter attack and execute an action according to the most suitable and more efficient method required for the situation.

And I think I just found the best way of doing so. In a couple of days I should be done with this project, then I can finally launch and upload the system. First off, I would have to see to it that I cover countermeasures regarding the number of risks Batman was so worried about.

…

[Tom Hendricks POV]

"Seems your story checks out kid, my team was unable to dig up anything that says otherwise." Gordon said as he dropped a form on the table right in front of Tom for him to fill.

"I'm relieved to hear that." Tom muttered as he let out a breath of relief. "Were they able to identify either of the ladies responsible for all this mess?" He questioned bitterly while casting a vengeful glare at Commissioner Gordon.

The commissioner shook his head, grumbled, and massaged his temples with his thumb and index finger."

"I'm ashamed to say it but no, right now no evidence or data revealing their identities has been found. This might be an act of terrorism, and if so, then we need to prepare for such scenario."

Tom was smiling inside as piece by piece this little ruckus had gone exactly as he had hoped, using the incident to debut himself to the public, soon to win over the favor of society.

…

As soon as they finished talking, the commissioner led Tom out of the building, where a mob of media had been flocking around like starving vultures ready to devour their meal.

"Commissioner." One of the many voices called out. "Over here Commissioner!!! Vicki Vale here." She announced.

Unfortunately for the commissioner, he could not ignore the red head reporter who seem to be in his favor, she might have struck a deal with the police department and gets exclusive information first hand from the commissioner.

"Just a moment, it would be over soon." He said to Tom as he was going to answer a few questions thrown his way by the reporters, but Tom simply shook his head as a go-ahead and followed along.

"I have some words for the public as well." He bluntly said.

The commissioner was surprised by this and was curious as to just what it was Tom had to say. He was concerned he might discuss his unfair treatment and case, which would undermine public confidence in the police among the citizens of Gotham City.

Gordon was giving him a debatable look as he thought on a few things, but he just shrugged it off, placed an arm on Tom's shoulder and reassured him.

"Nothing to worry about commissioner, there's no negativity here. I just have a few things to let off my chest.

Once more the commissioner was hesitant but then he realized that there was no use stopping Tom now, it wouldn't stop the media from getting to him some other day, so he'd let him do as he wishes.

Vicki Vale was standing in front of the barricade, along with some reporters when the two approached, ready to communicate with her.

"Yes, miss Vale?" He answered, although he didn't appear the least pleased to see her but he and I approached her anyway.

Stopping just a few inches before her and the barricade, reporters tried forcing themselves towards that direction.

"The citizens of Gotham City are all curious as to who this young man is and why he's been granted bail if he was found guilty of the charges against him." She dropped that appetizer for starters so she could get a better insight on Tom. She did a lot of digging into him but got nothing on him or even a criminal record, neither did he seem likely to exhibit such violent behaviors such as an act of terrorism.

The only info she could dig up on him was that of a young man who appeared to be some loner with a tragic childhood.

"There's nothing much to be said about this young man, except that after much investigation it was declared that he is innocent of all charges and was as much a victim of the incident as every other hostage. With that he is a free man and he seems to have a few things of his to share and clear up."

The commissioner said before walking out to the side, leaving Tom who took a fee steps forward and right to where Gordon had addressed Vicki's questions.

"Mr Hendricks, Over here…"

"Just a few questions Mr Hendricks."

"A minute of your time."

They chanted, reaching out to him but Tom just made a stop right in front of Vicki, literally following Gordon's approach to the media.

"It is said you're an orphan who relocated to Gotham City about a year ago, after your recent experience with the whole hostage situation and the false charges you were filed, what would you say about Gotham City and would you be leaving the city after all this?" She shot at him, eager for an answer.

"I'd say it was…" In the middle of responding to her questions, Tom suddenly reached for his upper chest as blood began dripping down his shirt.

"What happened?" Vicki questioned as she watched Tom who stood right in front of her, drop to the ground with his clothing soaked by his own blood.

"Oh, no." Commissioner Gordon who was smoking a cigarette at the corner muttered upon seeing Tom's body drop to the ground, so did his cigarette as he witnessed the unbelievable sight. "Sniper, take cover!!" He yelled as he rushed towards an unconscious Tom who seemed to be loosing too much blood.

Pandemonium ensued as the atmosphere made an instant transformation to one of complete chaos. The reporters and civilians present at the scene all ran haphazardly in every direction, while the police mobilized themselves into multiple groups to give order to the sudden chaos as they do their job of protecting the people.

A team coordinated the evacuation of the premises, another went in search for the sniper, while the other immediately brought a stretcher to carry Tom from the open as Gordon kept applying pressure on the bullet wound.

"An ambulance is on it's way." One informed as they lifted Tom off the ground. "No, bring a car around the back. We have to take him to an hospital or else it might be too late." The commissioner instructed and the officers did according.

A police vehicle immediately pulled up and they carried the bleeding Tom inside, they drove off to the nearest hospital while the commissioner stayed behind to put order to things at the station and seeking for an update regarding the sniper.

Two officers dressed in police uniform took him as they headed for the hospital, one stayed with Tom in the back seat, while the other drove the car.

There was nothing anyone could do but pray the shot victim made it out alive. The case had shifted into something else as the man announced to have been innocent and cleared of all charges, just had an assassination attempt on his life.

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