Post by theclockking on Oct 1, 2008 15:56:16 GMT -5
((Note: some of this information, such as height, weight, eye color, age, etc., is merely guesswork on my part as the show makes absolutely no mention of it))
Basic Information:
Real name: Temple Fugate
Current Alias: The Clock King
Gender: Male
Age: Late 40s - early 50s (no mention made canon-wise, going off appearance)
Occupation: Criminal, former head of a time and motion study firm.
Marital Status: Single
Alignment: Neutral / Selfish
Affiliation(s): None currently, but he has been known to work with the Suicide Squad, his own Injustice Gang, Maxwell Lord, and the Justice League Antarctica.
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Characteristics
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 194 pounds
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Graying
Character Type: Human
Description:
Clock King commonly dresses in a three-piece suit and bowler hat, with a pocketwatch and glasses resembling clock faces. He will always, always carry a pocket watch with him.
Personality
To say that Fugate is anal retentive would be an understatement. His entire life is organized around a precise schedule, often down to the second. As far as Fugate is concerned, time is always of the essence, and he is efficient in everything he does. He will often spend countless hours studying every last detail of any job he plans to undertake, calculating precisely how much time can be afforded to each stage of the operation with professional efficiency. Furthermore, he is also known to take numerous escape routes into account and determine when the proper exit window opens, how long it remains as such, and when it closes. Time is not a luxury to be wasted, and as such he will not hesitate to leave any accomplices to their own devices should they fall behind his meticulously planned schedule. As one would expect, Fugate's obsession with time also manifests itself in other ways; and he has been known to collect watches of all shapes and sizes. Not to mention incorporate them into his costume.
While Fugate has no powers to speak of, he is incredibly intelligent, and uses his intellect to quickly make the precise calculations he relies on to carry out not only his daily routine, but also his criminal activities. In addition to studying the details of any job, he has also been known to study footage of any opposition he might encounter from the costumed vigilante community. This proves particularly useful in combat, as while Fugate is in rather good shape, he is hardly a physical powerhouse. By studying such footage, he can calculate exactly how long it takes for the given hero to launch and complete an attack, often allowing Fugate to use this knowledge to either dodge or counter the attack in time. Obviously this has limitations; if he hasn't seen an attack before, he's left to guessing, and of course individuals such as Superman and the Flash move too fast for even this knowledge to help him in close combat (he may know exactly how long it takes, but as he does not possess superhuman speed, he wouldn't be able to move out of the way anyway). Of course, repeated encounters with a given opponent will also lead to the same observations, so with every encounter the chances of Fugate coming out on the winning end only increase.
History
[Note: combination of his animated incarnation, as well as his comic incarnation]
Temple Fugate was the head of a time and motion study consulting company that was in the process of being sued for all its funds. Fugate is an odd, lonely man obsessed with time and punctuality; His every waking moment is pre-planned, on a "to do" list broken down into precise blocks. When urged by a pre-mayor Hamilton Hill to take a coffee break later than usual, Fugate initially refuses, as he does not want to ruin his schedule. After insistence by Hill, Fugate takes the coffee break. During the break, just when Fugate starts to relax, everything that could go wrong does, as Fugate loses documents and is late for his court appointment. As punishment for being late, the judge throws the case out, Fugate unjustly lost the appeal, without trial, and goes bankrupt. Fugate swore revenge on Hamilton Hill and later found out that Hill's firm was the plaintiff for the court case Fugate was late for (though Hill apparently had nothing to do with that case). However, Fugate later claims that Hill's actual crime was making him late, and vows revenge. Seven years later, Fugate became the Clock King, and using his keen knowledge of the element of time, he turns to a life of crime and revenge. His first attempt to kill Mayor Hill ends in a climatic battle with Batman inside the wheels of a clock tower, which Fugate accidentally jams with his clock-hand-like sword. The machinery collapsed, and Fugate disappeared in the fray. He was presumed dead, but Batman and Commissioner Gordon had their doubts and both had a premonition that Fugate might turn up sooner or later. It was just matter of time.
The Clock King later went on to join Major Disaster's Injustice League, which in turn became Justice League Antarctica. Like his compatriots, Clock King became an ardent supporter of Maxwell Lord, partly due to the fact he was the only one willing to hire them. His group even guarded Lord when he was incapacitated by a bullet wound. Originally, they were not trusted by the authorities, but the Martian Manhunter, spying, decided they were perfect bodyguards. Clock King would later lead his own, separate team of villains in a mission to establish themselves as a proper supervillain organization by defeating the Teen Titans during an appearance in the L.L. Siegel & Shuster Toy Store in midtown Metropolis. His team, dubbed "The Clockwatchers," consisted of Radiant, Sharpe, Acidia, and Crackle, and was even less organized than the Injustice League. For example, Crackle still lived with his mother, and the gang had to take the bus to the planned showdown with the Teen Titans. The Teen Titans, Booster Gold, Firehawk, and DEO agent Cameron Chase subdued them after an unclear super-effect from Chase ultimately neutralized all the metahuman powers of Clock King's team, resulting in their subsequent defeat and capture. Barring King himself of course, as he escaped on another bus.
Sometime after the incident, Clock and his Injustice League crew became part of the Suicide Squad. They were sent to a remote research facility located off the coast of Iceland to handle a genetic experiment gone awry, as the experiment took its creator hostage and produced several small, and explosive, clones of itself. During the mission, most of the team were seemingly killed, including Clock King, who was shot repeatedly while attempting to retreat. He is seen still alive after his brutal wounds, but in the end, Major Disaster believes he is the only one who survives. This was later proved inaccurate, as Cluemaster, wounded in a similar fashion as Clock King, reappeared after apparently surviving his injuries (and having the scars to show for it).
To this day, Fugate finds himself wondering just why on earth no one had apparently found it even plausible that he, the master of time and efficiency, could not have also survived. While he is certainly (and understandably) cross at his surviving team mates for failing to consider this possibility, and also leaving him to die, these feelings have yet to transform into a full-blown vendetta. After all, it wasn't as if the Suicide Squad was quite as concerned with leaving no man behind as other organizations, and every member knew as much. Besides, there's no point in dwelling on the past. It prevents a person from making use of the time they have. And time, as Fugate well knows, is not to be wasted...
Powers and Abilities
Known Powers: None, really.
Known Abilities:
Strength Level:
Weaknesses: The unexpected. His plans are highly meticulous, but it is possible that something in his information was flawed or missing. Usually, he can handle any unexpected surprises without incident, but depending on where in the operation that occurs, it may very well set him completely off his game. For example, if a hero he wasn't expecting (and thus, hadn't researched) showed up to stop him, combined with one or two other small flaws in his plan (maybe a door lock had been changed or a new security door put in), could very well be his undoing. If his plan falls apart, he's often doomed.
Additionally, it doesn't help matters that he's only human. He might fare well against the likes of Batman, but he'd be horrendously outclassed against someone like Superman or The Flash (whom, even if he studied, would undoubtedly be capable of moving so fast even Fugate couldn't dodge his attacks).
((Note: Yellow boxes indicate he reaches that level under certain conditions, but does not fulfill all the criteria listed. For example, presuming he knew the velocity at which an arrow travels, where it was fired from, and how long ago, he probably could move out of the way in time. Presuming that knowledge was in his favor. However, it's not something he'd be able to do all the time, in all conditions. Savvy?))
Accessories
Equipment: Aside from what's listed below under "weapons," he has no special equipment to speak of.
Transportation: Any vehicle he can procure, and his own two feet.
Weapons: Various clock-themed weaponry (explosive pocket watches, for example), as well as a large sword fashioned in the shape of an oversized minute hand.
Sample Role Play Post
It was a particularly chilly Autumn morning, and two hours, seventeen minutes and thirty-one seconds ago the streets had been filled with sweater-clad Gothamites bustling about on their morning commute. As expected, the streets had cleared considerably, and even slightly ahead of schedule. Which was impressive, as Gotham was hardly famous for efficiency, particularly when it came to crime. The only guarantee in this rat hole of a city was that come nightfall, the Batman would be on the prowl. Night after night, week after week, month after month, and so forth...once night came, so too came the "Dark Knight" of Gotham. It was like clockwork.
And that, despite his grievances with the vigilante, was something that Temple Fugate had to respect.
Now if only the help in this city were quite so punctual...
Fugate, standing at the pre-arranged rendezvous point, was beginning to grow irate. Glancing at his pocketwatch for the fifth time in the past twenty four seconds, out of frustration more than necessesity, the Clock King felt his ire increase with every passing second. A brown sedan turned the corner just as Fugate returned the time piece to his coat pocket, and while he was certainly eager to show his displeasure to the two goons he'd been forced to purchase for the occasion, to do so now would have been a waste of time. Instead, he opened the rear passenger door and climbed in, then voiced his displeasure. "You're late. I expect you to move more quickly from this point forward, as thanks to your cavalier attitude toward the task at hand, we are currently lagging behind schedule." The man driving wisely decided to keep silent, but it was apparent that his cohort riding shotgun didn't share his wisdom.
"Whaddya mean? It's 10:52, just like you-"
"Wrong. It is, as a matter of fact, now 10:52:37. You arrived twelve seconds late. Had you two been on time, we'd be nearing the end of the next block by now. If either of you two have any intention of being solicited for this sort of work again, you will do well to remember that I do not tolerate such blatant disregard for punctuality," Fugate retorted, the growing contempt in his voice making the lines on the face of his glasses seem more like daggers than watch hands.
With the slouch in the passenger seat silenced, Fugate went about adjusting the schedule to accomidate for the incompetence of the two men. Or more specifically, the timer of the special package he'd requested be present in the car. Thankfully, the two men had at least managed to fulfill that obligation, and he typed in the new time: ten minutes, fifty three seconds. With one and three quarter seconds allowed for any further mistakes that might be made by the hired help. That was the most he could afford to give the two, if they took any longer they would either accept a smaller cut at the end of the day, or be left behind for Gotham P.D. to take care of.
As the sedan again slowed to a stop, this time in front of the whitewashed building housing Gotham Savings & Loan, Fugate was already opening his door and exiting the vehicle. "We're here. Adhere to schedule, and everything should proceed smoothly. Mister Riedel, lead the way. Mister Mallory, follow four and a half steps behind myself..."
Seventeen seconds later, Fugate passed through the double doors to enter the bank lobby, inwardly pleased that there hadn't been a shot fired by Riedel. He'd been arrogant enough to question Fugate in the car, but it seemed he at least followed this part of the plan and abstained from firing the usual warning shots into the ceiling upon entering the bank. Screaming directions to the patrons and staff present was enough when a gun was visible, anything further only alerted the civilians outside the building to trouble. The youngest security guard was right where Fugate knew he'd be: at the back of the line, chatting with the young blonde secretary who always arrived to cash the previous day's paycheck on her first break of the day. By the time he'd drawn his sidearm, the blade of Fugate's sword was at his throat; the imminent threat of the sharp blade serving to not only prevent the would-be hero from discharging a round into the body of Fugate's first gunman, but also causing the other two officers present to refrain from any similar heroics.
"If the three of you wish to avoid bloodshed, I'd advise relinquishing those toys of yours to my associate without hesitation. Otherwise, young Romeo here no longer need worry about getting this woman's phone number," Fugate announced, and as Edwin Mallory, the driver, collected the sidearms of the three men and Riedel moved toward the vault with one of the tellers. Normally he'd need two to unlock the vault, but at this time at the beginning of every month, the vault was already open. One of the guards in the lobby was, after all, one of two who came to replenish the bank's coffers with fresh currency. The armored truck was no doubt parked around the corner, as it always was, with one guard stationed to protect the truck and another carrying the cargo into the vault. The sound of a distant thud confirmed that the man had inside the vault had been taken care of. Now confident that things were moving smoothly, Fugate turned his attention briefly back to the matter at hand. Literally, given the shape of his sword.
"For the record boy, you're wasting your time. Her boyfriend is here every Thursday afternoon at approximately four forty-five. Now, down on the floor, before you start wasting my time as well..."
Six minutes and thirteen seconds later, the trio was ready to depart. And although the silent alarm had no doubt been triggered already, Fugate wasn't worried. Even now, the nearest patrol car was still two minutes and seventeen seconds away, and that was assuming the driver was pushing the car to the limit, and steering with precision that would rival any Hollywood stunt driver. As the trunk of the getaway car slammed shut, Fugate was already in his seat, whereas Riedel and Mallory entered one and a half, and two and a quarter second afterward, respectively. The engine started without difficulty, and considering just what the timer Fugate had programmed earlier was wired to, it was a simple yet openly welcome blessing. The three of them travelled without incident to the pre-arranged destination: an alleyway three blocks north, and six blocks west of the bank, between two run-down, condemned apartment buildings. This was not, however, their "hideout." Just another part of the plan.
Or rather, it would be, in another one minute and forty three seconds. Fugate smashed open the door to the building nearest the car, and went inside to set the duffel bag, the one the trio would not be taking with them, on a table covered in several pages of architectural plans to the bank, as well as all the articles to suggest that the building was in use such as pencils, trash from various types of food and drink, ammunition tins, and even a weapon locker that previously held the two submachine guns wielded by his lackeys. As convincing a display as any. He exited quickly, and was again relieved to find that Riedel and Mallory were finally moving efficiently. Their new vehicle, a blue, two-door coupe, was ready and waiting; Riedel had taken his place in the back seat, so that Fugate could quickly get into the front passenger seat rather than waste even a few seconds climbing into the back so Riedel could again ride shotgun. Both had removed their black masks and, assuming they weren't complete imbeciles, had loaded the second bag containing the recently acquired currency into the trunk. The trunk to their first vehicle had been left slightly ajar, as per Fugate's specifications.
"Ignore the sirens. Drive as if you've nothing to hide, but don't waste what time we have left..."
One minute, twenty seven seconds later, the first patrol car skidded to a stop behind the brown sedan. The blue coupe was nowhere in sight, so it was no surprise that when the next car arrived (and with more on the way, no doubt), the officers noticed the prepared scene before them and assumed the suspects from the bank robbery had hastily taken refuge in the run down building to their right. Twelve seconds later, the men entered the building. Three seconds later, weapons still drawn, they noticed the table with the duffel bag and blueprints to the Gotham Savings & Loan that had just been robbed.
One second later an explosion rocked the streets of Gotham, and the apartment complex, scheduled for demolition at noon next Tuesday, was brought down ahead of schedule. And Fugate and his two goons, no longer the city's main concern, enjoyed the smooth drive to their true destination. And as Fugate watched the fire engines, ambulances, and police cars speed past the blue coupe in the opposite direction to respond to the explosion, one thought in particular crossed his mind:
It was good to be on the clock again.
Basic Information:
Real name: Temple Fugate
Current Alias: The Clock King
Gender: Male
Age: Late 40s - early 50s (no mention made canon-wise, going off appearance)
Occupation: Criminal, former head of a time and motion study firm.
Marital Status: Single
Alignment: Neutral / Selfish
Affiliation(s): None currently, but he has been known to work with the Suicide Squad, his own Injustice Gang, Maxwell Lord, and the Justice League Antarctica.
Characteristics
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 194 pounds
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Graying
Character Type: Human
Description:
Clock King commonly dresses in a three-piece suit and bowler hat, with a pocketwatch and glasses resembling clock faces. He will always, always carry a pocket watch with him.
Personality
To say that Fugate is anal retentive would be an understatement. His entire life is organized around a precise schedule, often down to the second. As far as Fugate is concerned, time is always of the essence, and he is efficient in everything he does. He will often spend countless hours studying every last detail of any job he plans to undertake, calculating precisely how much time can be afforded to each stage of the operation with professional efficiency. Furthermore, he is also known to take numerous escape routes into account and determine when the proper exit window opens, how long it remains as such, and when it closes. Time is not a luxury to be wasted, and as such he will not hesitate to leave any accomplices to their own devices should they fall behind his meticulously planned schedule. As one would expect, Fugate's obsession with time also manifests itself in other ways; and he has been known to collect watches of all shapes and sizes. Not to mention incorporate them into his costume.
While Fugate has no powers to speak of, he is incredibly intelligent, and uses his intellect to quickly make the precise calculations he relies on to carry out not only his daily routine, but also his criminal activities. In addition to studying the details of any job, he has also been known to study footage of any opposition he might encounter from the costumed vigilante community. This proves particularly useful in combat, as while Fugate is in rather good shape, he is hardly a physical powerhouse. By studying such footage, he can calculate exactly how long it takes for the given hero to launch and complete an attack, often allowing Fugate to use this knowledge to either dodge or counter the attack in time. Obviously this has limitations; if he hasn't seen an attack before, he's left to guessing, and of course individuals such as Superman and the Flash move too fast for even this knowledge to help him in close combat (he may know exactly how long it takes, but as he does not possess superhuman speed, he wouldn't be able to move out of the way anyway). Of course, repeated encounters with a given opponent will also lead to the same observations, so with every encounter the chances of Fugate coming out on the winning end only increase.
History
[Note: combination of his animated incarnation, as well as his comic incarnation]
Temple Fugate was the head of a time and motion study consulting company that was in the process of being sued for all its funds. Fugate is an odd, lonely man obsessed with time and punctuality; His every waking moment is pre-planned, on a "to do" list broken down into precise blocks. When urged by a pre-mayor Hamilton Hill to take a coffee break later than usual, Fugate initially refuses, as he does not want to ruin his schedule. After insistence by Hill, Fugate takes the coffee break. During the break, just when Fugate starts to relax, everything that could go wrong does, as Fugate loses documents and is late for his court appointment. As punishment for being late, the judge throws the case out, Fugate unjustly lost the appeal, without trial, and goes bankrupt. Fugate swore revenge on Hamilton Hill and later found out that Hill's firm was the plaintiff for the court case Fugate was late for (though Hill apparently had nothing to do with that case). However, Fugate later claims that Hill's actual crime was making him late, and vows revenge. Seven years later, Fugate became the Clock King, and using his keen knowledge of the element of time, he turns to a life of crime and revenge. His first attempt to kill Mayor Hill ends in a climatic battle with Batman inside the wheels of a clock tower, which Fugate accidentally jams with his clock-hand-like sword. The machinery collapsed, and Fugate disappeared in the fray. He was presumed dead, but Batman and Commissioner Gordon had their doubts and both had a premonition that Fugate might turn up sooner or later. It was just matter of time.
The Clock King later went on to join Major Disaster's Injustice League, which in turn became Justice League Antarctica. Like his compatriots, Clock King became an ardent supporter of Maxwell Lord, partly due to the fact he was the only one willing to hire them. His group even guarded Lord when he was incapacitated by a bullet wound. Originally, they were not trusted by the authorities, but the Martian Manhunter, spying, decided they were perfect bodyguards. Clock King would later lead his own, separate team of villains in a mission to establish themselves as a proper supervillain organization by defeating the Teen Titans during an appearance in the L.L. Siegel & Shuster Toy Store in midtown Metropolis. His team, dubbed "The Clockwatchers," consisted of Radiant, Sharpe, Acidia, and Crackle, and was even less organized than the Injustice League. For example, Crackle still lived with his mother, and the gang had to take the bus to the planned showdown with the Teen Titans. The Teen Titans, Booster Gold, Firehawk, and DEO agent Cameron Chase subdued them after an unclear super-effect from Chase ultimately neutralized all the metahuman powers of Clock King's team, resulting in their subsequent defeat and capture. Barring King himself of course, as he escaped on another bus.
Sometime after the incident, Clock and his Injustice League crew became part of the Suicide Squad. They were sent to a remote research facility located off the coast of Iceland to handle a genetic experiment gone awry, as the experiment took its creator hostage and produced several small, and explosive, clones of itself. During the mission, most of the team were seemingly killed, including Clock King, who was shot repeatedly while attempting to retreat. He is seen still alive after his brutal wounds, but in the end, Major Disaster believes he is the only one who survives. This was later proved inaccurate, as Cluemaster, wounded in a similar fashion as Clock King, reappeared after apparently surviving his injuries (and having the scars to show for it).
To this day, Fugate finds himself wondering just why on earth no one had apparently found it even plausible that he, the master of time and efficiency, could not have also survived. While he is certainly (and understandably) cross at his surviving team mates for failing to consider this possibility, and also leaving him to die, these feelings have yet to transform into a full-blown vendetta. After all, it wasn't as if the Suicide Squad was quite as concerned with leaving no man behind as other organizations, and every member knew as much. Besides, there's no point in dwelling on the past. It prevents a person from making use of the time they have. And time, as Fugate well knows, is not to be wasted...
Powers and Abilities
Known Powers: None, really.
Known Abilities:
- Swordsmanship: A skilled swordsman (fencing, see The Clock King episode of Batman: TAS. This is known not BECAUSE he uses a sword, but HOW he uses it. When he prepares to strike Batman, he first takes up proper form, rather than simply swinging around recklessly.)
- Intelligence: Fugate is capable of performing complex calculations in his head in mere seconds, as well as calculating an object's [or person's] velocity simply by observing it in motion. For example, after studying footage of Batman, he determined it took Batman precisely one twentieth of a second to throw a punch. He's also shown the ability (in JLU) to out-think even the defenses of the JLU watchtower, successfully coordinating a break-in by the Suicide Squad.
- Time Devices: Fugate has a masterful knowledge of all things related to clocks / watches / time-keeping devices. It's really not all that surprising he's taken time to study them. As he's explained to Batman, "When it comes to clocks, I am king." Furthermore, one just need spend a few seconds in any hideout of Fugate's. The deafening sound of so many clocks ticking at once is almost too much to stand.
- Athletic: Fugate has shown no difficulty in keeping even Batman on his toes in a fight, and though he often moves leisurely about, this is more due to his keeping to a precise schedule. This athleticism is geared more toward stamina and endurance more than anything else, as he's not a bodybuilder. Just in rather good shape.
- Time and Motion Study: Fugate possesses an unparalleled understanding of time and timing. He can effectively calculate how much time has passed, no matter how small an amount, and factor in his own movement speed to perform feats that would surprise most anyone in Gotham. He's gone toe-to-toe with Batman, and dodged every single attack without fail. He's rolled off a rooftop and landed perfectly on a train speeding past below the building, all because he knew the train was always six minutes early reaching its destinations, and used that knowledge to calculate it's precise location at that point in time. All in his head.
Strength Level:
Weaknesses: The unexpected. His plans are highly meticulous, but it is possible that something in his information was flawed or missing. Usually, he can handle any unexpected surprises without incident, but depending on where in the operation that occurs, it may very well set him completely off his game. For example, if a hero he wasn't expecting (and thus, hadn't researched) showed up to stop him, combined with one or two other small flaws in his plan (maybe a door lock had been changed or a new security door put in), could very well be his undoing. If his plan falls apart, he's often doomed.
Additionally, it doesn't help matters that he's only human. He might fare well against the likes of Batman, but he'd be horrendously outclassed against someone like Superman or The Flash (whom, even if he studied, would undoubtedly be capable of moving so fast even Fugate couldn't dodge his attacks).
((Note: Yellow boxes indicate he reaches that level under certain conditions, but does not fulfill all the criteria listed. For example, presuming he knew the velocity at which an arrow travels, where it was fired from, and how long ago, he probably could move out of the way in time. Presuming that knowledge was in his favor. However, it's not something he'd be able to do all the time, in all conditions. Savvy?))
Accessories
Equipment: Aside from what's listed below under "weapons," he has no special equipment to speak of.
Transportation: Any vehicle he can procure, and his own two feet.
Weapons: Various clock-themed weaponry (explosive pocket watches, for example), as well as a large sword fashioned in the shape of an oversized minute hand.
Sample Role Play Post
It was a particularly chilly Autumn morning, and two hours, seventeen minutes and thirty-one seconds ago the streets had been filled with sweater-clad Gothamites bustling about on their morning commute. As expected, the streets had cleared considerably, and even slightly ahead of schedule. Which was impressive, as Gotham was hardly famous for efficiency, particularly when it came to crime. The only guarantee in this rat hole of a city was that come nightfall, the Batman would be on the prowl. Night after night, week after week, month after month, and so forth...once night came, so too came the "Dark Knight" of Gotham. It was like clockwork.
And that, despite his grievances with the vigilante, was something that Temple Fugate had to respect.
Now if only the help in this city were quite so punctual...
Fugate, standing at the pre-arranged rendezvous point, was beginning to grow irate. Glancing at his pocketwatch for the fifth time in the past twenty four seconds, out of frustration more than necessesity, the Clock King felt his ire increase with every passing second. A brown sedan turned the corner just as Fugate returned the time piece to his coat pocket, and while he was certainly eager to show his displeasure to the two goons he'd been forced to purchase for the occasion, to do so now would have been a waste of time. Instead, he opened the rear passenger door and climbed in, then voiced his displeasure. "You're late. I expect you to move more quickly from this point forward, as thanks to your cavalier attitude toward the task at hand, we are currently lagging behind schedule." The man driving wisely decided to keep silent, but it was apparent that his cohort riding shotgun didn't share his wisdom.
"Whaddya mean? It's 10:52, just like you-"
"Wrong. It is, as a matter of fact, now 10:52:37. You arrived twelve seconds late. Had you two been on time, we'd be nearing the end of the next block by now. If either of you two have any intention of being solicited for this sort of work again, you will do well to remember that I do not tolerate such blatant disregard for punctuality," Fugate retorted, the growing contempt in his voice making the lines on the face of his glasses seem more like daggers than watch hands.
With the slouch in the passenger seat silenced, Fugate went about adjusting the schedule to accomidate for the incompetence of the two men. Or more specifically, the timer of the special package he'd requested be present in the car. Thankfully, the two men had at least managed to fulfill that obligation, and he typed in the new time: ten minutes, fifty three seconds. With one and three quarter seconds allowed for any further mistakes that might be made by the hired help. That was the most he could afford to give the two, if they took any longer they would either accept a smaller cut at the end of the day, or be left behind for Gotham P.D. to take care of.
As the sedan again slowed to a stop, this time in front of the whitewashed building housing Gotham Savings & Loan, Fugate was already opening his door and exiting the vehicle. "We're here. Adhere to schedule, and everything should proceed smoothly. Mister Riedel, lead the way. Mister Mallory, follow four and a half steps behind myself..."
Seventeen seconds later, Fugate passed through the double doors to enter the bank lobby, inwardly pleased that there hadn't been a shot fired by Riedel. He'd been arrogant enough to question Fugate in the car, but it seemed he at least followed this part of the plan and abstained from firing the usual warning shots into the ceiling upon entering the bank. Screaming directions to the patrons and staff present was enough when a gun was visible, anything further only alerted the civilians outside the building to trouble. The youngest security guard was right where Fugate knew he'd be: at the back of the line, chatting with the young blonde secretary who always arrived to cash the previous day's paycheck on her first break of the day. By the time he'd drawn his sidearm, the blade of Fugate's sword was at his throat; the imminent threat of the sharp blade serving to not only prevent the would-be hero from discharging a round into the body of Fugate's first gunman, but also causing the other two officers present to refrain from any similar heroics.
"If the three of you wish to avoid bloodshed, I'd advise relinquishing those toys of yours to my associate without hesitation. Otherwise, young Romeo here no longer need worry about getting this woman's phone number," Fugate announced, and as Edwin Mallory, the driver, collected the sidearms of the three men and Riedel moved toward the vault with one of the tellers. Normally he'd need two to unlock the vault, but at this time at the beginning of every month, the vault was already open. One of the guards in the lobby was, after all, one of two who came to replenish the bank's coffers with fresh currency. The armored truck was no doubt parked around the corner, as it always was, with one guard stationed to protect the truck and another carrying the cargo into the vault. The sound of a distant thud confirmed that the man had inside the vault had been taken care of. Now confident that things were moving smoothly, Fugate turned his attention briefly back to the matter at hand. Literally, given the shape of his sword.
"For the record boy, you're wasting your time. Her boyfriend is here every Thursday afternoon at approximately four forty-five. Now, down on the floor, before you start wasting my time as well..."
Six minutes and thirteen seconds later, the trio was ready to depart. And although the silent alarm had no doubt been triggered already, Fugate wasn't worried. Even now, the nearest patrol car was still two minutes and seventeen seconds away, and that was assuming the driver was pushing the car to the limit, and steering with precision that would rival any Hollywood stunt driver. As the trunk of the getaway car slammed shut, Fugate was already in his seat, whereas Riedel and Mallory entered one and a half, and two and a quarter second afterward, respectively. The engine started without difficulty, and considering just what the timer Fugate had programmed earlier was wired to, it was a simple yet openly welcome blessing. The three of them travelled without incident to the pre-arranged destination: an alleyway three blocks north, and six blocks west of the bank, between two run-down, condemned apartment buildings. This was not, however, their "hideout." Just another part of the plan.
Or rather, it would be, in another one minute and forty three seconds. Fugate smashed open the door to the building nearest the car, and went inside to set the duffel bag, the one the trio would not be taking with them, on a table covered in several pages of architectural plans to the bank, as well as all the articles to suggest that the building was in use such as pencils, trash from various types of food and drink, ammunition tins, and even a weapon locker that previously held the two submachine guns wielded by his lackeys. As convincing a display as any. He exited quickly, and was again relieved to find that Riedel and Mallory were finally moving efficiently. Their new vehicle, a blue, two-door coupe, was ready and waiting; Riedel had taken his place in the back seat, so that Fugate could quickly get into the front passenger seat rather than waste even a few seconds climbing into the back so Riedel could again ride shotgun. Both had removed their black masks and, assuming they weren't complete imbeciles, had loaded the second bag containing the recently acquired currency into the trunk. The trunk to their first vehicle had been left slightly ajar, as per Fugate's specifications.
"Ignore the sirens. Drive as if you've nothing to hide, but don't waste what time we have left..."
One minute, twenty seven seconds later, the first patrol car skidded to a stop behind the brown sedan. The blue coupe was nowhere in sight, so it was no surprise that when the next car arrived (and with more on the way, no doubt), the officers noticed the prepared scene before them and assumed the suspects from the bank robbery had hastily taken refuge in the run down building to their right. Twelve seconds later, the men entered the building. Three seconds later, weapons still drawn, they noticed the table with the duffel bag and blueprints to the Gotham Savings & Loan that had just been robbed.
One second later an explosion rocked the streets of Gotham, and the apartment complex, scheduled for demolition at noon next Tuesday, was brought down ahead of schedule. And Fugate and his two goons, no longer the city's main concern, enjoyed the smooth drive to their true destination. And as Fugate watched the fire engines, ambulances, and police cars speed past the blue coupe in the opposite direction to respond to the explosion, one thought in particular crossed his mind:
It was good to be on the clock again.
Codeword: Anti - Life Equation
