| The first setting is that of the future, thus the reason for the time slot being set as 'Unknown,' while the second setting mentioned, 'June 16th,' is where the story starts. Enjoy.
.The Perfect Storm.
| Unknown, UNKNOWN
| Unknown
The ruthless rain rushed chaotically from gray, gloomy clouds, which spanned across the skies, whipping about frantically as it thoughtlessly drowned the city. Air was hard to find, however blame did not entirely rest on the inclement weather and this, Batman knew. What made him pause, what instantly made his usually warm blood freeze, was the quandary he found himself.
"Whoop, oh, whoop-sa-daisy, whoop." The Joker mocked as he erupted into a loud cackle and pulled Nightwing's exhausted body—which he had been guiding and teasing over the ledge of a twenty-four-story building—under his arm and against his chest. He embraced the younger, semi-cataleptic vigilante with phony concern. The two stood—rather the Joker stood and carried Nightwing's dead weight—uncomfortably close to the ledge.
"Let him go." Batman growled and his blood skipped warm, entering magma-like temperatures despite the cold stinging rain that feel endlessly.
"Sharing is caring, Batsy," The Joker answered. He cupped Nightwing's cheek with his gloved hand. "Look at that face." He spoke in a cutesy, child-like manner and turned Nightwing's head so that Batman could view his face in the light pouring from a nearby sign. As to what the lighted sign read, Batman had no care.
He inched forward, as did Robin who stood beside him—he nearly forgot he wasn't alone. Raising an arm across the Boy Wonder's chest was enough to hold him back; however, Nightwing's battered face that was evidently swollen, lacerated and painted with welts might have been the main reason for his limited mobility.
"Let. Him. Go." Batman reiterated his demand. His eyes narrowed beneath the cowl, his mouth nearly formed a snarl yet his teeth clenched tightly, stiffening his jaw. The Joker frowned at him with a bored expression.
"Didn't your parents ever teach you to be careful of what you wish for?" The Joker asked. He released Nightwing's face and snapped his fingers. From behind the shadows, light signs and chimneys, various bodies staggered forward Batman and Robin, moaning. "But, since you asked SO nicely…" The Joker laughed as he released Nightwing.
"No!" Batman yelled in chorus with the lightening brightening the sky. The adrenaline he had been holding unleashed itself as he sprang forward. However, time was out of place.
One, one-thousand.
Batman felt his body was heavy and utterly slow. The raindrops clouded his vision, creating a gray scratchy canvas but through the lines he watched, as Nightwing plummeted in fast-forward motion, gravity embracing his ex-partner all too openly.
Two, one—
The deafening detonation of thunder consumed the atmosphere, silencing the world; at least, what Batman felt had once been his world. Various vehicles honked their horns and screeched to a stop. The crashing metal was endless and shook Batman's insides. The Joker's laughter rang in his ears but that slowly died as he approached the ledge and peered down at the scene from twenty-four-stories high.
In the mess of rain, vehicles and people, Batman saw that Nightwing's broken body had embedded itself on the roof of a hearse. His jaw dropped.
.Prologue.
| Unknown, GOTHAM CITY
| June 16, 22:15 EST
"It began with just one." The man whimpered. He shivered and then plastered a smile along his thin lips. A potato sack-like mask covered his face so none took notice to his facial animations. "He's like a gremlin!" His eyes widened in fear but refocused when he said, "Except you punch him and make him bleed only to find you've used the formula for him to germinate more hindrances." He huffed out his shivers while his eyes closed and rubbed thlle length of his lanky arms vigorously. Despite his obvious uneasiness, he was contented.
"Exactly." This man spoke with a cool yet gruff tone. He raised a thin cigarette to one side of his mouth and enjoyed its flavor and effects. He slowly released the unneeded smoke from his lungs as his eyes traced the flow of rain slipping downward along the glass of a nearby window.
"Ha, not only that, but, ha-ha, I heard Batsy's gone…heh, international baby." Smacking a deck of cards into his left palm, this man frowned deeply but that wasn't enough to hide his undying smile. He leaned against a rickety pool table.
"Do you suppose he's considered deserting Gotham?" This man spoke with an icy and distant tone.
"If only…" The man took another drag of his cigarette. Lightning flashed in the far distance. "But that wouldn't be too fun." He exhaled as the thunder began to roll evenly.
"No." The man continued to slap the deck of cards into his hand. "He wouldn't leave. He can't." He shuffled the deck. "I won't let him." He whispered to himself with a chuckle.
"If the Bat's spreading his wings, it can only mean that he'll now cast a bigger shadow." A short man with a beak-like nose straightened himself but leaned forward on his black umbrella. His beady eyes fixed on the cardholder. "But explain this 'international' nonsense." He adjusted his monocle. "What's he done?"
"Well Pengers, he's—" Another stopped him.
"Cloning!" Whimpering as he had before, the masked man finished his interruption with hushed laughter.
"Shut up." The deck of cards bent in his tight grip as he looked at the masked man. Once he settled, he unbent the deck and began fingering through it, finding the two cards that most disposed of in standard card games. What a waste.
"He's what?" The man eyed his cigarette. It had grown quite short. He took another drag and turned from the window.
"He's…" The man tested his words and eyed the masked man who remained quiet. "Been training a few soldiers." He placed the fifty-two cards into his plum-colored jacket pocket.
"More Robins?" A female spoke this time. She ran her fingers through her hair and then styled it onto her left shoulder. She crossed a soft greenish tinted leg over her other that was of the same hue. "They're just children." She rolled her eyes. "And you already took care of one. The others should still have nightmares." The room quieted with reflection. The woman then chuckled, interrupting their reminiscing. "Baby-face here even tried at one." She looked at the man by the window. "As we all know though, it was just a half-baked effort. Look at where that Robin ended up. You sure you were using that bat right?"
"Shut your pie-hole." The man said coolly from the window. "It's more than what you've done." His voice suddenly rose. "Using those love spores because you hardly look human anymore." He said, looking at her green tinted complexion. "Can't get a date any other way?"
"You want to talk about looking human?" She remarked, perking up and placing a gloved hand on her hip.
"Ha-ha! Children, children!" The cardholder interjected before their argument further escalated. He tapped the two joker cards against his temple. "Let daddy finish his story." The man by the window and the woman both glared at each other before tearing their eyes off one another to look at the smiling man.
"Thank you." He cleared his throat. "So, like I was saying. He's training an army and they're not baby birdies." Twirling the cards between his fingers, he flicked one and watched as it glided on top of the flooring. "They're bats."
"That can't be good." The woman spoke again, turning her head.
"I wonder." He said with an unsuspected laugh. The card he threw had stopped just under the masked man's foot. The masked man jumped and shivered from either fear or excitement; perhaps both.
"So, that's why we're here isn't it?" There was a short pause. "To do something about it?" Silence still reigned, save for the falling rain and crashing thunder that sounded sporadically. "That's sweet and all, but I'll be pulling out of this. I just got out of Blackgate." The woman uncrossed her legs and slid down from her stool. Her heels clicked as she began walking away from the group of five men. "I wish you fellas luck."
"Wait. Wait doll." The man pocketed his card and pushed away from the pool table. It swayed and creaked.
"This could cause us all a heavy blow." The short man with the umbrella stated.
"Then how about we leave it to chance?" The man by the window suggested after discarding his cigarette. With his hand now free, he revealed a silver coin.
"For just one person?" The man with the icy voice looked at the woman despite his question meant for the man by the window.
"No. We'll make it interesting: All or nothing." The man stepped forward, away from the window, crushing his cigarette under his foot as he made his way to stand in the middle of them, under the sole ceiling light. The coin glided effortlessly over and under his knuckles.
"Oh, that's exciting." He card holder laughed and skipped over to the coin holder in the two-tone suit. "Let's do it."
"I suppose I'll concur." The shortest man picked away at a loose thread on his black tuxedo. He then scratched his head, off centering his black top hat. He readjusted it soon after.
"Same."
"I'm in." The lanky man hugged himself.
"How about it?" The man displayed the coin for the redhead near the door.
"Fine." She gave in after a few moments. How could she not when he was asking?
"Then here goes…" He flicked the coin off his thumb. All eyes watched the coin rise and then begin to fall. "Heads all, tails nothing." He caught the coin and flipped it onto his backhand. He then lifted his hand to reveal what chance had decided for them.
"What is it?" The lanky man inquired. There was a moment's pause.
"All." The coin holder informed. Half his face twitched.
"So, now what?" The female heaved a sigh. She crossed her arms over her chest, looking down at the pea green apparel that tightly adorned her body. How did she easily allow a coin toss to decide for her? She looked up at the sound of warped laughter.
"Ha-ha-ha!" He walked towards the window, passed the coin holder. Lightning etched itself on the dark sky in the far distance. "We play our parts to create the perfect storm!" He paused to chuckle lowly. "First," he continued. "A few tricks to tease our audience! Ha-ha-ha!"
The five looked at the green haired man by the window in his purple suit, with question in their stare. His laughter continued. It echoed within the room as the thunder rolled rather enthusiastically as if laughing along with him, already conversant of his forthcoming plans.
| To be continued...