Thunder

GHN Host: And now, an update on tonight's election, as Gotham's Mayor Grange defends his post against billionaire technologies mogul, Maximillian Zeus, who earlier in the campaign, appeared poised to win.

Maximillian Zeus: (Recording) You might say the classics inspire me. After all, the Greeks and the Romans proved that great societies rise through strong leadership. 

GHN Host: But despite his popularity, Zeus began losing support when his campaign unveiled some unusual ideas.

Maximillian Zeus: (Recording) I shall remodel our city's ineffectual police department after my own private security force of gladiators.

Outside City Hall

Jim Gordon: Glad I didn't vote for him.

Barbara Gordon: You'd be sharp, looking all Spartacus, Pop.

GHN Host: With nearly all the votes tallied, Mayor Grange is guaranteed a resounding victory tonight. And things are quiet at Zeus' corporate headquarters.

Bruce Wayne: I'm Bruce Wayne, and while Zeus practices his concession speech, I'd like to introduce my friend, and your mayor for another four years, Marion Grange.

Barbara Gordon: Woo-hoo! 

Marion Grange: Thank you, Bruce. Citizens of Gotham ... 

Maxie Zues: (On TV) Citizens of Gotham tonight's results, while disappointing, do not surprise me. But I cannot allow this beloved metropolis to crumble, like so many great civilizations past. Thus I, Maximillian Zeus, shall rule over Gotham from New Olympus! So that we may better venture together into the future, I shall erase the mistakes of the past.

Jim Gordon: Barb, get out of here.

Maxie Zues: (On TV) Now watch as your city hall crumbles, swift as lightning. 

Citizen #1: He destroyed city hall.

Citizen #2: What are we supposed to do now?

Barbara Gordon:  Time to slip into my jammies.

Maxie Zues: (On TV) Citizens, if you wish to avoid further demonstrations of might, you shall comply with the following decrees: First, should any police be sighted, I shall incinerate a populated monument. Second, all air traffic is to cease, effective immediately. Including bats.

Batgirl: Okay, so where's the Bat? 

Alfred Pennyworth: I do hope you have a strategy, sir.

Batman: I'm gonna have to meet Zeus on his turf.

Batgirl: There he is ... Uh, where is he going? I'm out of the loop again. Lucky for him, I'm in position. Now boarding, evil fortress of destruction.

Maxie Zues: (On TV) Lastly, for now, Gotham shall dedicate the former site of your city hall to the new age, by erecting a temple in my honor.

Marion Grange: The man wants to be worshipped?

Batgirl: If I had the Bat's cell number, I could let him know I'm up here ... What? 

Maxie Zeus: (Over Radio)  Gunnery crew, prepare the thunderstorm.

Batgirl: I don't think Zeus is talking about the weather.

Marion Grange: The police can't help us. What are we gonna do, Jim? 

Jim Gordon: Only thing we can. We wait for the Bat.

Marion Grange: So he can do what? Knock down that flying battleship with his boomerang? 

Jim Gordon: Batarang.

Marion Grange:  With all due respect to the Dark Knight, he's only one man. Zeus vaporized city hall.

The Batcave

Batman: Batwave link booted. Dual EXP Power Cores activated. Thrusters standing by. The Batwing is ready for takeoff.

Alfred Pwnnyworth: Thankfully, Zeus is not the only billionaire in Gotham to have built a flying machine.

GHN Host: Gotham is in a state of panic. Citizens are evacuating in droves.

Batgirl:  That must be the power core. Oh, if I only knew how to shut it down. ... Time to steal Maxie's thunder.

Gladiator #1: Target locked. Gotham Bay Bridge.

Maxie Zeus: We must burn a few bridges, if we are to keep our subjects contained. Ignite thunderstorm.

New Olynpus Computer: Twenty seconds to full charge. Nineteen.

Batgirl: I hope this one's important.

New Olynpus Computer: Eighteen. Seventeen. Sixteen.

Batgirl: Guess not.

New Olynpus Computer: Fifteen. Fourteen.

Batgirl: Lucky number three? 

New Olynpus Computer: Thirteen.

Maxie Zeus: We've lost power? 

Gladiator #1: Only to the countdown mechanism. Thunderstorm continues to charge.

Batgirl: It's still powering up? I'm usually a whole lot better at breaking things.

Gladiator #1: Charge nearing completion, sir.

Maxie Zeus: (Over Radio) Engine room. Provide immediate status.

Gladiator #2: Yes, sir. Master bolt transducer charged and operational.

Maxie Zeus: (Over Radio) Then check all other system functions. It would seem we have gremlins.

Batgirl: That would be me.

Gladiator #1: Airspace violated, sir.

Maxie Zeus: What? By whom? ... The Batman.

Batman: Missile systems on. Target locked.

Gladiator #1: Defense systems activated.

Batgirl: The Bat's got a new set of wings. Way to keep me in the loop.

Gladiator #1: Sir, he's neutralized our arms.

Maxie Zeus: Then release the Harpies.

Gladiator #3: We've locked onto his radio frequency.

Maxie Zeus: Batman. Surely you are familiar with the myth of Icarus? Of how he flew too close to the sun and burned his wings.

Batman: I'm hit.

Batgirl: No. Come on, the Bat needs you.

Gladiator #4: I don't believe it. There must be dozens of unpatched cables.

Batgirl: Glad everybody's on break ... Batman may not know I'm here but he's about to.

Gladiator #1: Target locked on disabled craft, sir.

Maxie Zeus: Whoever said lightning never strikes twice? ... What now? 

Gladiator #5: Uh, gremlins? 

Maxie Zeus: Ungh!

Batman: Heck of a place for an emergency landing.

Gladiator #6: Bow to your emperor.

Maxie Zeus: Welcome, Batman.

Your reputation is mythic. But alas, there is only room on New Olympus for one legend. 

Batgirl: (Over Radio) Attention, staff. I need a price check on kumquats.

Gladiator #1: She's hacked into our system.

Maxie Zeus: Our gremlin.

Maxie Zeus: (Over Radio) Show yourself, Batgirl, and I shall reconsider dispatching your partner.

Batgirl: Hmph. "Partner?" That would suggest we actually speak once in awhile. You know, keep each other in the loop?

Maxie Zeus: Enough! He meets his end.

Batgirl: (Over Radio) Oh, Maxie, you may wanna hold off on that. If you ever wanna see your bolt-firing thingy again, over and out.

Maxie Zeus:  Search every level. I want her found.

Batgirl: That ought to give Bats the space he needs to cut loose. Err... Monogrammed stockings. Janet speaking.

Jim Gordon: (Over phone) Can't you just once answer like a normal person? 

Batgirl: Well, I gotta be me, Pop.

Jim Gordon: (Over phone) I just wanted to make sure you made it home safe, Barb. We've declared a citywide emergency.

Batgirl: Then maybe we should keep the phone lines clear. Love you, kisses. ... Erin's hair salon.

Maxie Zeus: (Over phone) Code names will do you no good, as we have locked on to your frequency and triangulated your location.

Gladiator #7: No sign of her.

Maxie Zeus: Keep looking. We must retrieve the master bolt transducer.

Maxie Zeus: Well, well. If it isn't the gremlin. I will take the device ... You wouldn't dare.

Batgirl: It broke, Maxie.

Maxie Zeus: Then I shall break you.

Batgirl: Ahh! Urgh! 

Maxie Zeus: And the name is Maximillian.

Gladiator #1: Damage to antigrav unit. We're losing altitude. Abandon ship. All hands to the escape pods.

Maxie Zeus: Cowards. I command you to stop.

Batgirl: Oh, Maxie, if the crew's jumping ship, who's driving? 

Maxie Zeus: It is the Fates who steer New Olympus into the heart of Gotham.

Batman: Get to an escape pod.

Batgirl: Sorry, Bat, but I'm needed in the cockpit.

Batman: It's over Zeus. We need you to land this craft.

Maxie Zeus: If I must fall from the heavens, Batman, then I shall take you with me.

Batgirl: Autopilot, huh? Won't be needing that.

Maxie Zeus: Aahh!! 

Batman: Batgirl.

Batgirl: Unh, unh. Gotta steer this boat to a safe ... unh ... harbor!

Batman: Come on.

Batgirl: Nice landing.

Maxie Zeus: The New Olympus? 

Batman: It's on its way to becoming the new Atlantis.

The Batcave

Batman: She'll need work. EXP drives need tuning, and the fuel lines are waterlogged.

Alfred Pennyworth: Thankfully, the Batgirl proved more durable than the Batwing.

Batman: You're right, Alfred. I think Batgirl's earned some wings of her own.

GCPD Headquarters Rooftop

Batgirl: Where is the Batman? Out of the loop, again. ... What's that? ... I'm in the loop.