Note- I do not claim to own any rights to the Man from Uncle show, nor Batman. This is just a bit of fluff from me. Inspired by the feature length Uncle movie, 'One Spy Too Many." with Yvonne added from the television episodes. For Yvonne, Robert, Burgess, and Leo.
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The Batgirl Affair.
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Act One- Oh, to be in Gotham.
It was a fine, sunny morning in Gotham City, and the air had taken on a specially exhilarating quality. The citizens of the bustling city strolled along the teeming sidewalks as they went about their daily business.
"Darn. I'm all out of pipe cleaners."
Alexander Waverley, the middle aged and grizzled Englishman, paused outside the drugstore on the main street and patted himself down. Less than three hundred yards from the HQ of the Gotham City Police Department. He turned to a pretty young girl beside him in a beige trench coat and low-heel sock boots.
"You go on ahead, my dear. I shan't be too long."
"Alright, Uncle Alex. Catch you on the flip-flop."
"Yes. Harumph. Quite."
Maude Waverley tripped along the street as her uncle squinted up at the art nouveau buildings and skyscrapers. He was about to cross the threshold of the small store, when his ears pricked up. He had not been an active agent for UNCLE for many years, before rising to Number One of Section One, to get the feeling that something was amiss. But then it was too late.
"Excuse me. So sorry."
The attractive brunette in the short scarlet coat bumped into Waverley, who bounced back on his heels, losing his trilby hat in the process. The girl's timing was perfect. In a trice, he saw the aerosol can in his face and felt the puff of knockout spray fill his nostrils. As the noxious gas seeped into his nose and mouth, he began to crumple to the concrete. Two burly looking men quickly stepped out from the shadows to manhandle him.
"Up with him."
A black four door sedan pulled up and the rear door opened. The groggy Waverley was unceremoniously shoved in and the brunette slid in beside the driver. The car sped off with a screech of rubber in the direction of the East River. In the space of two minutes, the supreme commander of the 'United Network Command for Law and Enforcement' had been kidnapped!
"Wow!"
Maude reached Police HQ on the lower East Side and jumped as the same sedan hit the kerb and rushed past her in a blur of steel and chrome.
"Uncle Alex?"
She felt sure that the man in the tweed suit in the back seat was he. Hurrying back to the drugstore she quickly found his discarded pipe and hat on the sidewalk. Fishing inside her purse, Maude retrieved a fountain pen and twisted the cap.
"Open Channel D. Channel D. Come in please."
She spoke to the pen which was in reality a pocket communicator.
"Chanel D is open." Answered another feminine voice.
"Waverley here. Maude. Number One has been kidnapped by assailants unknown. Repeat, Number One is captured."
"Received. Stand by."
"Oh, uncle Alex!"
The disturbed brunette stood stock still as anonymous pedestrians hurried by.
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Commissioner James Gordon sat back and smiled warmly at his twenty-four year old daughter, Barbara. The stylish figure was resplendent in her three button mini dress with peter pan collar and short sleeves. Topped off with a red beanie beret. The bright young brunette had graduated two years earlier, in 1966, and had since taken the position of librarian in her home town.
"Yes, Alexander and I go way back. Haven't seen him since we both graduated at Bray University. Then the war broke out and he remained in England, until he found his niche in life as a member of UNCLE. His niece must be about your age. Lived in New York City most of her life."
At that moment, Maude Waverley burst into the office, out of breath and in a state of panic.
"My uncle! My uncle! Kidnapped!"
Gordon shot out of his chair in dismay.
"Great Scott! Kidnapped! Here, in Gotham City? Outrageous!"
Barbara narrowed her eyes and kept on staring at Maude. In a certain light it appeared that the two young women were the spitting image of the other. Both young women looked just like the nice girl next door. You know, the one most likely you'd take to the beach or drive-in.
"Good gravy!"
"Hi. You must be Barbara. Pleased to meet you."
"Likewise," said Babs as she took Maude's offered hand.
It was like looking into a mirror. Total symmetry, right down to the auburn bouffant hairstyle. Her mother had died when Barbara was little, and now she wondered what her parents and Alexander Waverley had gotten up to in the old days.
"Hmm. Curious."
Gordon had gone to a table to pick up the red emergency hotline telephone known as the Bat-Phone. The phone especially commissioned to connect directly to the Batcave.
"There's only one man in Gotham City who can help us."
"Batman, daddy?"
"Correct."
"Good morning, Commissioner," answered Alfred.
He was Bruce Wayne's loyal butler and discreet confidant.
"Yes, I do apologise, but Batman and Robin are out of town for the foreseeable future."
"Then. That means, I'll have to solve the crime by myself." Said Gordon with a forlorn look."
"Might I make a suggestion? I may be able to get in touch with, er, Batgirl."
"Batgirl? Really? That would be splendid. By all means."
Gordon hung up and clapped his hands and laughed heartily.
"Did you hear that? Batgirl might be able to substitute for Batman."
Barbara gulped. Batgirl. Her very own alter ego. Like most teenagers, Barbara had become besotted by Batman, the fearless and costumed crime fighter. Inspired beyond words, Barbara had taken his example to heart and had decided to lead a double life herself. Taking to the crime infested streets of Gotham as Batgirl, the Domino Dare Doll.
"Do excuse me, both. I just remembered a book I need to collect for the library. Catch you later."
Alfred was also the only other person who knew Batgirl's true identity. Keen to get involved right away, Babs excused herself.
"Time for action!"
Barely had she gotten home, she heard her telephone ringing. It was Alfred, loyal butler to millionaire playboy, Bruce Wayne and his ward, Dick Grayson. Also, he was the only other soul who knew the true identities of Batman AND batgirl.