"… And just let me do the talking. Are we clear?"

"Crystal."

Bruce Wayne looked over at Terry, who was gazing at the wall of the lift as they ascended to FoxTeca's top floor.

"Something wrong, McGinnis? You've been unusually quiet."

"No … no, everything's fine," murmured Terry. He could feel Bruce's sharp gaze on the side of his face, but he kept staring straight ahead, watching the world below fall away as they climbed higher and higher.

Terry knew he had to pull himself together for this visit, but his argument with Dana was still occupying his thoughts. It wasn't anything new. She always got slagged off when he spent too much time on his "after school job," but this had felt different somehow. One of the things he'd liked about Dana was that she was beautiful and popular, but not shallow like Blade or an airhead like Chelsea Cunningham. But when she'd brought up the fact that people whispered about the time he spent with Max, it had brought him up short.

On one hand, he wasn't thrilled that Dana would listen to stupid gossip like that from people who didn't really know him or Max. On the other hand, he felt like a dreg to know Dana had to deal with that sort of thing. It was different for a guy. If a guy hung around more than one girl, he was considered a stud. Nelson Nash, for example, made it a point to flirt with and date every willing girl in Hill High, and it just raised his profile.

He'd never considered that the time he spent with Max might be unfair to Dana. There were special circumstances behind that, of course, but Dana didn't know about any of that, and neither did the people running their mouths. It didn't make Terry feel any better, and he wondered if maybe Dana wasn't right and that all things considered the two of them being together didn't make much sense anymore.

The lift stopped and the doors opened on a fabulous penthouse office with floor-to-ceiling windows and an amazing view of downtown Gotham. The space was fitted out with plush furnishings, and the reception pod was in a futuristic glass dome. A dozen or more people were milling around, all of them dressed in lab coats or in uniforms with the FoxTeca logo.

Terry took in the surroundings with an impressed whistle. "Whoa. Not bad."

"They've been having a very good year," said Bruce in a dry voice. "And the Foxes were always very stylish. Lucius Senior is the one who introduced me to my favorite tailor. Come on."

Bruce led the way to the reception pod, as Terry took note of the buzz around them. They were being openly stared at and people were tapping madly on their PDAs. This unnerved Terry since he imagined that he and Bruce were supposed to be traveling "incognito," but how under-the-radar could Gotham's most famous billionaire be, anyway?

"I think we just lost the element of surprise," Terry murmured.

"We never had it," replied Bruce softly. "They know I'm coming."

"Huh?" Terry started to say, but then a door slid open and an elegant woman with dark hair and skin who looked to be about 30ish walked out. When she caught sight of the two, she smiled in disbelief and rushed to Bruce with open arms.

"Uncle Bruce!"

The old man looked slightly taken aback, but he smiled warmly and returned the woman's hug.

Terry just stared, not sure if he was more shocked to see that Bruce was hugging someone, that someone actually wanted to hug him, or that someone was calling the dour old man Uncle Bruce.

Bruce smiled again as the woman untangled herself from him. "Lucia. It's great to see you."

"Likewise. I couldn't believe it when I heard you were coming. It's been, what, five years?"

"Four," said Bruce. "I was at Lucius the Third's high-school graduation ceremony."

"That's right. Trey's graduating this spring from Gotham U, going straight for a Master's in computer science at Tech. He'll finish in a year."

"That's wonderful to hear. You've done well for yourself," said Bruce, looking at her fondly. "I heard you were on the fast track at the D.A.'s office before you decided to walk away from prosecuting cases."

"I loved working there," she said. "But Dad needed me here, so … well, you know how it goes. Family first and everything."

Her gaze slid to Terry, who was silently gawking during the exchange. "And who might this be?"

"Ah, I'm forgetting my manners," said Bruce. "Lucia, this is Terry McGinnis, my personal assistant. Terry, this is Lucia Fox, in-house counsel for FoxTeca."

"And your favorite godchild," said Lucia with a wicked smile before shaking Terry's hand. "Good to meet you, Terry. I'll bet he keeps you on your toes, huh?"

"That and a lot of other body parts," muttered Terry, unthinkingly.

Bruce's startled cough brought him to attention, but Lucia Fox laughed loudly, nodding her head.

"That's exactly what Dad and Granddad thought! Good to see you haven't changed, Uncle Bruce." Her smile faded somewhat. "I'd like to believe this is a social visit, but I have the feeling it isn't. Why don't we go to my office?"

Bruce nodded and he and Terry followed her down the hall and into a large room that was every bit as nice as the reception area. She invited them to be seated and pointed to a panel on the wall.

"Would either of you like something to drink? Tea, Uncle Bruce? A fizz, Terry?"

"No thank you," said Bruce firmly. "I don't want to take up much of your time …"

"It's not an imposition." She sat behind her desk and looked fixedly at Bruce. "I'm glad to see you. Dad and I have been hoping you'd drop by."

"After that sabotage attempt by Wayne-Powers, I thought I'd be the last person either of you would want to see," said Bruce softly.

"That wasn't you," she returned in just as quiet a voice. "It was that disgusting pig Powers and his cohorts. Dad and I never blamed you for that mess."

"Even still, that company carries part of my name," said Bruce. "I should have done more to stop it before it got too out of hand."

Terry winced at the pain in Bruce's voice. It seemed hard to believe that it had been nearly two years since Derek Powers had hired the shape shifting assassin Inque to destroy FoxTeca's infrastructure in order to make Wayne-Powers the leading tech company in Gotham. It had been Terry's first brush with Inque and his first "real" assignment as Batman. He knew he'd never forget it, but it hadn't occurred to him that Bruce, too, held on to the memory, but for different reasons.

"Well, from what I've read on the Net, the company is going to lose the 'Powers' end of it soon."

Bruce nodded slightly. "I'm working on it. That's actually why I'm here. I was hoping I could speak with your father."

Lucia shook her head. "If he were here, he would've met you himself, but he and my uncles are in Metropolis at the CompuExpo. They've been there since last week."

Bruce and Terry exchanged a look.

"Ah," said Bruce. "Yes. I know a few Wayne-Powers engineers are attending."

"Maybe they caught Dad's panel on leveraging early 21st century practices for computers of the latter half of the millennium. He worked on his presentation for months."

"Yes … perhaps." Bruce smiled slightly. "Well. I suppose I'll have to wait until he returns."

"Is there something I can help you with?" she asked. "Dad asked me to run the day-to-day while he was gone. If there's anything I can do …"

"Well, perhaps," said Bruce. "I'd like to speak to an engineer in your Emerging Technology Department who had once worked for Wayne-Powers. I'm trying to resurrect a project he spearheaded for the Gotham Public Schools contract I fought for back when your father was aboard."

"The TechTeaching project?"

"That's the one," affirmed Bruce. "The technology was patented, but when Powers completed the takeover, he dropped the ball. After he fired your father, it went along in fits and starts for a while before fizzling out. I think I can revive it, but I'm rusty, and Paxton Powers still controls much of the information flowing in and out of the company. I was hoping to chat with this man and ask him who currently at Wayne-Powers could step into his shoes."

"I see." Lucia tapped her chin. "We're not in the market for any educational initiatives, so I guess it's all right for you to talk to him. What's the name?"

"Dennis Truevy."

She frowned thoughtfully. "Truevy. Hmm, the name doesn't ring a bell, but except for contracts and patents, I don't really have a lot to do with Emerging Tech. But, I know who does."

Lucia pressed a button on her desk. "Layla?"

"Yes, Ms. Fox?"

"Could you ask Shane Lockslen to come to my office, please? It's important."

"Right away, Ms. Fox."

Lucia looked at Bruce. "Shane is Dad's right-hand man. Officially he's in the AI Department, but Dad's been giving him more and more responsibility across the board. Uncle Loren is going to retire at the end of this year and Shane is probably going to take over as VP of Technology and Enterprise."

There was a crisp knock on the door, and Lucia pressed a button to slide the door paneling to the side. A youngish man with dark blonde hair wearing a lab coat and glasses was on the other side, a PDA in his hands.

"Hey, Luce, you wanted to see me?"

"Yep. Come on in, Shane." She gestured toward the chairs. "I'd like you to meet –"

"Bruce Wayne!" The man's eyes widened in recognition, and he grinned all over as he rushed to shake his hand.

"My gosh, this is … this is an honor, Mr. Wayne. I'd heard you were in the building, but I never thought … oh, oh wow!"

"Shane, he's gonna need his hand back," said Lucia Fox, sounding very amused.

"Oh. Right. Sorry." Shane blushed and dropped his hand. "It's just … you're a personal hero of mine, Mr. Wayne. I mean, I know you've probably heard that before, but my grandfather worked at Wayne Tech when it still was Wayne Tech."

"Really?" Wayne raised an eyebrow. "What was his name?"

"Merton Kinkade," he said. "He was my mother's father. He worked in Robotics."

"The name sounds familiar, but my memory isn't what it used to be."

"Shane, Bruce needs to talk to one of your people," said Lucia. "He wants to restart a project at Wayne-Powers that your man had been managing. There's no conflict of interest, but I will e-mail Dad and Uncle Lionel just to let them know what's up. You give Bruce and his assistant whatever info they need, okay?"

"Of course! Anything." Shane glanced briefly at Terry, as if noticing him for the first time, but again turned his smile on Bruce. "Anything at all."

"I've got to run to a deposition," said Lucia, standing. "You're in good hands with Shane, but please let me know if you need anything else."

"Thank you, Lucia," said Bruce, standing along with Terry. "You tell your father I'll be in touch."

"I will. It was nice meeting you Terry." She grabbed a briefcase and gently pecked Bruce on the cheek. "And Uncle Bruce? Don't be a stranger."

She murmured a goodbye to Shane before leaving her office. The younger man barely noticed her leave and he clasped his hands together as if trying to keep from grabbing Bruce's hand again.

"Mr. Wayne? Why don't we go to my office? I have most of my personnel files there, and all the work schedules. If the person you need to speak with is off today, I can call him or her in to talk with you."

"I hope that won't be necessary," said Bruce as he and Terry followed the man down a curving hallway. "It's important, but I wouldn't want anyone to be called in on their day off."

There were glass windows on either side of the hallway, and Terry could see scientists and engineers hard at work in cubicle-sized laboratories. They could see out, and several of them stopped their work to nudge each other and nod toward their distinguished visitor. Bruce paid no notice, however, smiling tightly and nodding as Lockslen chattered on and on.

"… But of course, that all changed with the new regulations of '20 – not that I have to tell you that, of course. Oh, here we are." Lockslen led them into a small office, not nearly as well appointed as Lucia Fox's, or as neat. Vid disks and random bits of machinery were everywhere, and Lockslen made apologetic noises while he tried to clear a space for his visitors.

"Sorry about the mess. I keep meaning to get things organized, but something or other keeps popping up." Sighing in relief, he indicated two now-clear chairs. "Please have a seat. I'm sorry I can't offer you something to drink. My dispensary unit is on the fritz." He nodded toward the same sort of panel Lucia Fox had in her office.

"That's fine. I won't take up much of your time, Mr. Lockslen –"

"Please call me Shane." He smiled again. "Now, who is it you need to speak with?"

"A man who was a project manager in Wayne-Powers' educational tech department," said Bruce. "I believe the name is Truevy. Dennis Truevy."

Shane's smile faded. "Dennis? You want to speak to Dennis?"

Terry could feel Bruce stiffen beside him. "Yes … is there a problem?"

"Er … no, I suppose not." Shane peered at Bruce. "I suppose I just … er, may I ask if you're here to offer him his job back?"

"I'm afraid not," said Bruce slowly. "I simply want his help in identifying people who are already in the employ of Wayne-Powers who can pick up where he left off in our TechTeaching initiative. You may have heard of it –"

"Uh, yes. Yes, I think so." Shane squirmed slightly. "Is … that all? Dennis isn't in any sort of … well, trouble, is he?"

Bruce shook his head, and started to cough painfully. Terry turned to him in alarm, but he noticed that the old man's eyes weren't tearing up the way they did when he usually coughed. It was then Terry realized that Bruce was faking it.

"I should've taken the tea when Lucia ordered it," Bruce said between coughs. "Terry, get me a glass of something …"

Terry was on his feet in minutes. "Yes, sir."

"There's a kitchen right at the end of this hallway," said Shane, looking distressed. "Just follow the semi-circle. You can't miss it. All the days for my dispenser to be on the fritz! I'm so sorry Mr. Wayne –"

Terry left the room to the sound of Bruce's manufactured coughing and Shane's apologies. He went down the curve as directed, but ducked out of a door marked "Exit" and found himself alone in a stairwell. Once there, he opened his jacket and turned on the two-way radio he'd put there. Bruce had expected to have a confab with Lucius Fox Jr., and he didn't expect that the CEO would talk freely in front of an "assistant," so he'd put a two-way radio on his tie so that Terry could hear what was being said. Terry had been beginning to think that the radios were a waste of time.

He tuned in just as Bruce was speaking, having miraculously gotten over his coughing jag.

"… Yes, I'm sorry about that. These things come on suddenly. I feel much better, but you seem troubled, Mr. – er, Shane. Is there something wrong?"

"No … well, maybe. Mr. Wayne, you speak as if you have no idea who Dennis Truevy is."

There was a pause. "I don't believe I've ever met him. Wayne-Powers is a large company, and I've not been involved in the personnel decisions in some time."

"I … see." There was a sigh. "Then L.J. lied to me. I don't understand why … but he actually lied to me!"

"L.J.? You mean Lucius Fox Jr.? I don't follow."

There was another sigh. "Mr. Wayne, when Dennis Truevy's resume hit my desk, at first I was impressed. He'd had some nice ideas and a few hits in the tech market. But then I took a closer look and saw that he'd made quite a few lateral moves within Wayne-Powers. As you probably know, most of the time that signals a sort of problem employee who managers try to shuffle around so that he becomes someone else's problem. I was going to pass … but L.J. told me that Dennis came highly recommended … by you."

"Me?"

"Yes, Mr. Wayne. He said that you'd put in a good word for Dennis. Then I started thinking maybe Dennis moved around so much because he didn't tow the Powers line. What a freak show Derek Powers was! I knew he was toxic, but just how toxic, I couldn't have begun to guess! Anyway, L.J. made it pretty clear that I needed to find a place for Dennis, so I decided to give him a shot."

"You sound as if it hasn't worked as you'd hoped."

"Exactly. Maybe Dennis was a good engineer in his younger days, though he's not old per se. But he's had it. He's not innovative and the ideas he does have are tired and played out. Plus he's been late on several occasions and has mysterious 'illnesses' that seem to crop up with regularity, yet he's not used any health benefits, according to our Human Resources Department. There have been so many times I've wanted to give him his walking papers, but all this time I thought we were doing you a favor, and I certainly would do anything to help you, Mr. Wayne –"

"And Lucius Junior told you I recommended this man?"

"Yes, but obviously that wasn't true." There was another short pause. "I can't understand it. Why would Lucius basically strong-arm me into hiring someone you've never even heard of, and tell me that you sang his praises?"

"I don't know," said Bruce carefully. "I've spoken with Lucius Junior about many things, perhaps I did mention Mr. Truevy. My memory, as I said, isn't what it used to be."

"Oh. Oh, well … maybe that's it." Lockslen sounded somewhat relieved. "I was getting worried for a moment. L.J. is usually on the ball about these things, though he's had so much on his plate lately. Anyway, of course you can talk to Dennis. He's in Sector Five. I can call him up here if you like –"

"Actually, I think on second thought, I had better wait until Lucius Junior and his team are back. I'd like to clear up some things with him and smooth over any ... misunderstandings."

"Of course. I think that would be best, actually. If there's anything else I can do …?"

"No, I'll be getting out of your hair … as soon as my assistant comes back. I can't imagine what's taking him so long."

Terry grinned, knowing his cue when he heard it. Disabling the radio, he closed his jacket and slipped back into the hallway. Hurrying down the corridor, he found the kitchen, filled a plastic cup with water, and walked quickly back to Lockslen's office. He reentered the office with the water, panting as heavily as if he'd been running.

"There you are, Terrence." Bruce looked disapproving. "Did you fall into the sink?"

"No sir, Mr. Wayne. I'm sorry. I got turned around, and then I couldn't find my way back at first –"

"These hallways can be like a maze," said Lockslen with an indulgent smile. "I needed a map my first few months here."

"Thank you for your time, Mr. Lockslen." Bruce stood up slowly and waved off Terry when he offered the glass of water. Shrugging, Terry carried it with them as he and Bruce made their way out of the office maze and back to the reception area and the lift.

Bruce turned to Terry as soon as the lift doors closed. "You get all that?"

"Yeah … but I'm a little surprised that we're leaving without talking to Truevy. I thought that's what we came for."

"No." Bruce shook his head. "I came to discern whether Lucius Junior might have anything to do with this."

"It seems like he does. He told that Lockslen guy that you told him to hire Truevy, and that's not true."

"No," said Bruce musingly. "It's not. But it's hard to know just what is and isn't true in this situation."

"Great. So now what do we do?"

"Maxine was able to tunnel into Dennis Truevy's personnel records … I'm assuming there was a home address attached to them."

"Sure, but won't it look weird if we go to his place to talk to him?"

"Yes. It would." Bruce grinned. "But we're not going there."

"We're not?"

Terry caught Bruce's look just as the lift doors opened on the ground floor, and he sighed loudly.

"Right. We're not."