Title: The Trials of Faith

Author: Majin Gojira

Category: Crossover/Action/Drama

Rating: PG-13 (Which means I can drop the F-bomb only once in either the adjective or the verb forms, but not in the noun form.)

Type of Crossover: Wold Newton Universe Based AU—Buffy: the Vampire Slayer/Corrupted DCU/Many Others

Summary: Faith is released from prison. The only way for her to stay out and stay alive is to take down a legendary figure who some say is a vampire…Gotham city's Batman. Follow her adventures in the 3 cities: Metropolis, Gotham and New York, as she attempts to find redemption and a new life.

Notes: despite an attempt to remain true to the current comic continuity, this is pretty much an Elseworlds deal, specifically, based on the "An Expansion of the Wold Newton Universe" created by Win Scott Eckert and the companion site, "Secret History of the Wold Newton Universe" created by Denis Power.

The Wold Newton Universe set up like the real world, only incredible things happen there more frequently. It is a crossover universe that connects various characters from pulp-era novels together in a genealogical table based around the idea that all the families involved were connected to a meteor strike near the town of Wold Newton, England. The meteor strike showered those nearby with radiation, causing a beneficial mutation for those exposed to it. Those descended from them inherited the Wold Newton Gene. Members of the Wold Newton Family include Doc Savage, Lord Greystoke/Tarzan, The Shadow, The Spider, G-8, Sherlock Holmes and many others. In the Expanded Wold Newton Universe, other characters are brought in through references, meetings and so fourth. These two are extraordinary people, many of whom are also mutated in a similar fashion—some of which are actually descendants of Wold Newton Family members. These would include (in the first group) the Great Cthulhu, Godzilla, Agents Mulder and Scully, Lara Croft, Indiana Jones, The Rocketeer, and Duncan McLeod among others. In the Second group, we have people Like Buffy Summers, The Incredible Hulk, Superman and the Bionic Woman among many others. There are literally hundreds of characters throughout the history of the Wold Newton Universe who can all co-exist in a singular world without to many changes: from Conan the Barbarian to Captain James Tiberius Kirk. Well, except comic book characters. Since the WNU is based on the real world, things had to be changed, toned down and otherwise altered in order for it to make sense in 'reality'. So don't yell at me for mistakes in the comic continuity for there are very little accepted comic-book continuities in the Wold Newton Universe—hell, even the powers are different IE: SUPERMAN CAN'T FLY HERE! (He falls, with STYLE!).

Legal Stuff: I own nothing. Blah, blah, blah…you know the drill by now.

Distribution: Really? Ok, just ask (hey, it happened once…)

*

Part 1: Darkest Knight, Truest Faith

*

'Entering the light, leaving behind the Dark Knight

Some things are evil, hidden behind a human face

Some things are good, and cover their face

Stumbling from the darkness, Can she choose what is right?'

- Some shitty poem by an even shittier author (AKA, myself)

*

Black.

That was all that Faith could see, a thick black hood hid rested on her head.  She didn't know where she was, nor did she care.  She knew she had been chained to a steel chair. Thick chains as well, as if someone knew whom they were dealing with…which generally was not a good sign. 

She could feel the presence of other people in the room: guards, big ones too.  The more she figured out about the situation, the less she liked it.

After waiting still for what felt like an eternity, she heard the footsteps of a small groups of people enter the room, and what sounded like others leaving it.  The clicking of their shoes made her twitch a little.  They sounded like business shoes.  Her muscles tightened as fear induced adrenaline seeped into her bloodstream.

'The Council…' she thought, 'God…not the watcher's council…'

Faith prepared for the worst. 

When the hood was finally removed, she snapped her head about as she quickly scanned the room: it was a drab concrete room, almost like her cell.  The only pieces of furniture in the room were the metal chair she sat, chained too, and the desk and table across from her.  On either side of her chair, and of the desk, was a guard. But not just any guard – Secret Service. Sitting at the desk was the President himself: Lex Luthor III, the grandson of the infamous mad scientist from the 40's and 50's. Though he did not share his grandfather's insanity, he shared his determination and intelligence. He had, at first, made himself into a powerful businessman using his grandfather's technology for public and occasionally military use. He later worked a deal with Khan Noonien Sing to further his own political power. He had been badly burned when Khan left earth in 90's, Luthor's company suffered from it slightly—but no one knew of this last part…few people knew of Khan at all, even fewer now, and Faith was not one of those who knew.

"So…this is where tax dollars go…" She titled her head slightly as she shrugged, "figured."

Lex sat stately in his seat. "I must apologies for the accommodations, Miss… 'Faith'…  But they are a necessary precaution."

Faith's orange prison jumpsuit rustled as she shifted uncomfortably in her seat.  "Yeah, well…can't blame you for that…Guess you know about me…ya know…what I am."

"Yes, and that is precisely why I have brought to meet with me." Lex responded, "There is a matter of national security that requires someone with your abilities."

"Get B then."

"B?"

"Buffy, ya know, the real Slayer.  She's the Chosen One…She's the hero. I'm just a Killer."

"Ah, Ms. Summers. She has made it quite clear that she would not work cooperatively with us under any pretences."

"And that is supposed to make me trust you?" Faith snorted, "What's your game?"

"I take it you've heard about Gotham City's Nocturnal Resident?"

"The Batman?"

Lex nodded.

"Thought he was just some urban legend…Like the Day-Walker or something."

"The government has reason to believe that the Batman is a hostile sub-terrestrial…a 'Demon'.  We want you to track it down and destroy it." Lex told her. 

"…Why?" She asked him, rather bluntly.

"That is a broad question, miss.  Is it 'why should you do it?' or 'why do I want to put down the Batman?'"

"Both, Actually."

"As you might recall, before becoming President I began recovery work in Gotham city.  There are many elements in Gotham that hinder its rise out of the darkness and into the light of a new tomorrow.  The Batman is one of those elements. As to why should you do it…lets just say…the rewards are great and the penalties are harsh."

Faith squirmed at the mention of the recovery work in Gotham city. The "Battle of the Millennium" had been hard on the New York/Metropolis/Gotham City area. She hadn't been awake when it happened, but she saw the damage wrought by both of the main combatants on all three cities. Some areas, like Gotham, were still recovering. Part of her felt sorry for the people who died and lost there homes, the other part felt empowered by that Battle of the Millennium for what it represented to her: the parts that made up the Slayer defeating the ultimate adversary—the enemy of all life. She couldn't dwell on that right now; she needed to focus on Luthor.

"And if I refuse to be you're little lap dog?"

"Since we are allied with the United Kingdom, you will be brought into the custody of the Council of Watchers, to deal with you as they see fit."

"The reward?"

"Rather simply, freedom.  You will be given a full pardon for you're the crime you have been convicted of and released from prison…as well as a sizable monetary sum."

"…So, it's a 'do it, or else' situation, not very enticing…"

"There is also the fact that by doing this, you can help correct some of those 'mistakes' that you turned yourself in for in the first place.  If you're still attempting to redeem yourself…otherwise…."

"I am!" Faith declared, " I am…I-I'll do it."

"Very good."  Lex smiled.

"But not for you." Faith interrupted. "Not for you, not for the money, not for the freedom, and not because of the threats either.  I'm gonna do this for myself. I've been inside for almost 4 years. I want to see how far I've gotten…I want to see if I really have changed…"

 "Very well." Lex's smile had faded, "You will be briefed on the exact parameters of the mission on your way to Gotham.  Though I should warn you – never underestimate the Batman. He is a foe unlike any other."

"Which is why you called me in the first place isn't it?"

"Yes, it is…and, as you might have guessed--"

"This didn't happen, you weren't here, blah, blah, blah"

"Exactly."

With that, Lex got up and left the room with two of the guards. 'This will indeed prove to be very interesting…' he thought.

*

That was only a few days ago.  Faith arrived in Gotham City the following morning.  A room was given too her. It was not the nicest place, about on the same level as the place she stayed in while in Sunnydale.  Which, for Gotham City, was considered a 'good' place.  She had been given her old clothes, as well as some new ones – in a similar vein to her old ones, some spending cash, and a cell phone – it was only to be used to confirm the kill.

Tonight would be he second night in the dark city.  The first night was used in getting a basic lay of the land.  Tonight the hunt began.

As she left the motel, she tried to figure out a game plan. Lex had given her some information on the Batman's habits and hangouts.  She had two theories: the Batman was either a type of Vengeance Demon of Crime; or it was a vampire – as to why it always attacked criminals…given the crime rate of this city, Faith doubted it could anything BUT criminals. 

Faith knew how her patrol would go—

'Certainly been a while since I've gone on one of those…'

For a split second, she was lost in the sea of her own loathing and self-doubt, completely oblivious to the world around her. That second was all it took for her to become a target.

When she raised her head again a gang surrounded her: a generic Gotham City gang out for thrills and money. There were five of them, more than enough to overpower a lone person walking at night.  The fact that they were armed with crude weapons: one had a lead pipe; another had chains; the third had twin switchblades; the biggest of them had brass knuckles. It was the leader's weapon that caught her eye and drew up dark memories.  It was a hunting knife; nearly identical to the one the Mayor had given her when she joined him. 

Faith gazed directly at the leader. 

"Well, this really is a pleasant surprise…" the leader sneered, "Baby, try not to struggle much. I don't wanna mark ya up much…yet anyway."

The gang followers chuckled in malevolent anticipation as they closed in. 

Faith glowered at them.

"Uh-oh!" the one with the switchblades mocked, "She looks pissed! Better back off!"

Faith took in a deep breath in an effort to calm herself down. "Since you're all…such nice boys…I'm going to give you a little tip…know who you're up against…For me, I'm up against a bunch of …little boys… who formed a gang so they can attack weaker bystanders in an effort to make themselves look tough and to make up for their small penises."

The gang growled and murmured at Faith's rather accurate dissection of their character. 

"Girl, you're in for a world of hurt!" the big one growled as he charged her from behind.  In one simple motion, Faith spun around and punched the poor bastard in the stomach; audible breaking of his ribs was followed by his short flight back several feet, and onto the ground in a stunned heap. 

"You, on the other hand," Faith continued, "are messing with something you have no hope of comprehending." She sneered. "Now, which one of you do I beat to get the info I want?"

After a look of bewilderment, they charged.  And were easily dispatched by the leather clad femme fatale. Faith tried her best to keep the heat of battle from consuming her, but given the level of difficulty they presented, it was a relatively simple task.

With the gang members broken on the ground, she walked over to the leader – the only one still conscious. Picked him up with one hand and slammed him into the brick wall of a building.  

"Ok, Buddy, I've got some questions I need you to answer.  You don't give me the information I need; I break bones until you do. Got it?" She spewed out in an icy tone. 

The leader nodded vigorously in fear.

"Good…Now, I need information…About the Batman."

"Wha-What?"

::Crack::

"You heard me? What do you know about the Bat?"

"I-I don't know much…he's like some guy, he goes around at night and, like, stops shit from going down."

"Old news, I need new stuff.  Where can I find him?"

"What? You're looking for the Bat?! No, man. You don't find the Bat, he finds you, man."

"Ok…big help." Faith slammed him into the wall again. "Think harder!"

"Uh, Um…The police sometimes signal him if they're in deep, man.  With this searchlight on tha roof of the station! A-A-and sometimes, he's seen in that place…what's it…oh, Crime Alley! That's it, yeah! Crime Alley!"

"Good boy." Faith said as she let him down. "Run along now, and try to get hit by a bus on your way home."

The man slumped to his knees and coughed, recovering from the interrogation. He got up slowly, "What the hell are you!? Why the hell would anyone want to find that freak!" he shouted as he staggered away, "Eh, probably another freak".

"If you're gonna blab about this to your little friends" Faith shouted, "Tell them the Slayer's in town, and don't even think about messin' with her… unless you're lookin' to end up in Intensive Care!"

As he left, in a much greater hurry with the added threat, Faith noticed the hunting knife: a Jackal Dagger—exactly like her dagger—the one the Mayor gave her—and Buffy stabbed her with. She could hear it calling out to her.  It wanted to be in her hand. And a part of her wanted to hold it again…to sink into the darkness…she reached out to it. Turned and ran. 

"Never…again…" she hissed as she stained to regain control... 

*

As She headed down to Crime Alley, she thought about the fight. How cold she was to them.  How easily she did it. It scared her a little. But, though she would say unfortunately, there were signs of improvement – none of them had died, and none were comatose.  Her control had improved…but still had a long way to go.  Her real test would be Batman…if she could remain in control while fighting him…then she would know.

*

3:34am…

…Still no Bat. 

Faith was beginning to doubt the information she had been given.  She made a mental note to beat on that gang leader she got the information from later, if she saw him again.

She kicked a can along the street in frustration.

'God, no wonder most people think he's a myth…It's been hours and I haven't-' A pistol-wielding mugger halted Faith's line of thought.

"Alright, gimme your goods, bitch" The mugger smiled.

Silence filled the air for what seemed like an eternity. 

"C'mon lady, I don't wanna hurt ya, just give me your shit and I'll be on my way."

Faith's hand shot to her head, striking her cranium with her palm, as she grunted in disgust.

"I hate this town…this the THIRD time tonight!"

The Mugger looked perplexed.  "Well, if you don't have any cash, I can think of other uses fer ya."

"Oh, no, I still have cash. I'm just trying to figure out how many of you assholes I have to lay out on the street before you bastards get the point!"

"What-" The mugger's sentence was cut off by an attack.  But it didn't come from the Slayer. 

Faith stepped back startled as a mass of darkness leapt from the shadows and tackled the mugger.  The mugger was out cold before he hit the ground. The shadow seemed to morph into a figure, a figure with a distinct insignia on its chest.

'It's him' Faith concluded. 'That's the Batman'

Batman stood over the unconscious criminal like a hawk would its prey.  He turned to look for the girl he had saved, she cracked him a left hook to the gut.  The blow sent him staggering back several feet before he fell on his back. Batman was surprised to say the least.  This girl, half a foot, and more than one hundred pounds smaller than him, had somehow knocked him off his feat.

"Come on! I've been looking for you all night! And THIS is the kind of fight you put up!" Faith taunted. "I'm disappointed!"

Batman said nothing, but prepared for battle.

Faith charged again, attacking the caped crusader in a blur. Batman was beside himself with puzzlement.  This girl had great strength and deadly, if flawed fighting style.  The question as to how this happened would have to wait for now. He looked at the flaws in her style, and quickly took advantage of them.  He grabbed one of her wild punch and threw her into the side of a brick building with a resounding thud.

Batman hid his amazement, and slight amusement, as the girl shrugged off the blow.

"It'll take a lot more than that to put a Slayer down, Bat." Faith growled before she made a lung at him again.  Batman leapt into the air, but Faith managed to grab onto his cape and pull him back to earth.  Both landed and rolled into a pile of garbage bags left on the street, they formed an undignified heap on the ground.  A hodgepodge of fabric, sweat, trash and limbs. 

A dense fog began to seep from the heap.  By the time Faith freed herself, both the fog, and the Batman were gone. 

"Ah…man. Now I have to spend another day in this hellhole. Damn it!" Faith kicked the brick building, creating a sizable hole in the structure. "I hate this town."

Faith felt the energy coursing through her. The buzz she carried over from the hunt.  She had not felt it since she had been in jail.  Now that it had returned, she was riding high on the feeling, and looking for a way to subdue it. She used to do one of two things: one of which she didn't want to mess with for a long while. She doubted she could keep in control for long if she didn't have a release soon. But she had to at least try.  Another part of her test began.

"Aw, shit."

*

Alfred Pennyworth placed the tray holding Bruce's breakfast at his side near the computer he was working on.  Alfred glanced at the screen for a moment and noticed the image of a young, dark haired girl.

"Looking for a date for the re-opening of the Gotham City Museum, Master Bruce?" Alfred asked in monotone.

"Alfred, have you ever heard of a 'Slayer'?"

"Why yes, I believe I have: If I remember the verses correctly: 'In every generation there is a Chosen One, She alone has the power to fight the vampires, the Demons, and the forces of Darkness, she is the Slayer. When one Slayer dies, another is called to take their place.'  Rather brutish and violent myth if you ask me" said Alfred.

"Myths can rarely crack ribs, Alfred"

"A Slayer?"

"That's what she called herself. And she seemed to have the power to back up that claim."

"I wonder why she would attack you? Even with your personality, you're still human – Well, at least sometimes."

There was a small moment of silence as the jibe sunk in before Bruce continued.

"For her, being human doesn't seem to be a problem. In 1998, she turned herself in and confessed several accounts of assault, one account of involuntary manslaughter, and two accounts of first degree murder…"

"My word, Sir.  She mustn't have been much more than twenty when she turned herself in"

"What's odd is that the main piece of evidence brought against her was her own confessions. Little corroboration evidence could be found."

"Since she turned herself in like that, its odd to see her back on the street so soon…"

"Maybe she doesn't want to be."

*

Faith paced all around her small apartment on her unwanted high.  She was frantically trying to control her adrenalin buzz.  She already managed to curb the hunger with a rather large meal, but the buzz remained.  She remembered how she used to handle this: either by screwing something to screw, guy or girl; or killing something.  Unfortunately, things weren't that simple anymore.  The sun was far to high to find something she would allow herself to kill, and this little thing called self-respect kept her from getting off the other way.

She tried working out for hours with little effect.  If she did not get rid of this adrenalin, it would drive her insane.  Her body needed to be comforted, it needed to know it was safe, that the threat had passed: be it by killing that threat, or finding solace and release with another.

That's when she remembered what her first watcher had tried to teach her: meditation.

She folded her legs as she sat on the bed, closed her eyes, and did what little she could remember about the technique.  Breathing deeply, she could feel her body calm down little by little.

She began to focus on what her watcher…well, watchers, taught her about various Slayer myths around the world. One caught her attention—about the mother and father gods that gave rise to them. The Mother Goddess was the protector of all life on earth, trying to keep order and preserve nature. The Father God was a god of war and destruction—but it did not relish in the violence, it was indifferent to the destruction. She felt especially connected to this part-for he had returned at the same time that she was called. Another part of life it was. Together, they created the great Protector, a goddess of fire—the fires of destruction and the fires of life. That was the Slayer: Daughter of War and Life.

When both fought together against the great King of Terror, a part of her felt connected to it in her comatose dreams.

She became too wrapped up in the destruction, though, and that destruction was corrupted from the purifying destruction of the Dark God through her own weakness. Now that she had reconstructed herself, she began to balance the destruction and preservation aspects of the slayer—if there was any truth to the myth…

The meditation was working…but there was something distracting her.  Something itched near her waistline.  She reached back to scratch it, but found something the – something hard.  She picked it off, opened her eyes and look at what she retrieved.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me…"

It was a piece of metal, shaped like a little bat: a tracking device.

Faith heard something move somewhere in her room.  The sun light fading behind the skyscrapers – she had been meditating most of the day. 

"Alright Bat, I know you're in here.  I know you followed me. I mean – c'mon!" she held up the tracer, "Any idiot can tell that this is yours! For someone as stealthy as you, your tracking device is wicked obvious!"

There was a moment of silence; she looked around the room rather frantically – not noticing Batman melt in from the shadows.

"What are you doing in my city?" he said, his voice as cold as liquid nitrogen.

Faith spun around to see his Six-foot-two frame towering over her five-foot-five body.  "Wow, you're certainly imposing, Bats…you wouldn't happen to know a vamp named Angel would you, cuz I swear-"

"WHAT are you doing in my city?" Batman asked again, much more forcefully.

"Well, this!"  With that, Faith swung wide with a punch.  Nicking Batman in the ear of his costume.  Batman nailed her in the jaw, but her head snapped back, generally unfazed.  Batman deflected, and took a few more blows before striking again with two quick, precise pressure point strikes.   Faith staggered back, surprised.

"That…hurt!" She gasped, winded by blows that would have crippled a normal human.

"That was the point." Batman shot back.

Faith charged wildly, Batman countered her directly with a tackle, using his greater mass to his advantage and brought her to the ground.  They rolled across the floor several times as Batman put on a devastating submission hold on the slayer. 

But the hold didn't last very long as Faith broke free and kicked Batman off her, into the closet – splintering the closed door to it into many pieces. 

Both took a little while to recover from their last exchange.

Faith got her bearings a little faster.  As Batman stood up, she grabbed the bed and pinned him against the wall as he exited the closet.  Then, she began to crush him between the wall and the bedpost – the drywall began to crack behind him. Batman was being crushed and suffocation began to set in as Faith put more and more pressure on him.

"What the fuck is all--!" the landlord shouted as he entered the room, his face changed from anger to shock "Oh My God" He quickly scampered out of the room.

That distraction was all he needed.  He reached into his belt and pulled out a batarang.  He swung it at the slayer with a furious speed.  But before it could strike, she caught it. With only one arm on the bed, Batman was able to kick out.  The bed flipped up towards Faith as she ducked and rolled out of the way.  When she stopped, she sent the batarang flying back towards its owner – who caught it as well

"Sunnuva bitch…" Faith grunted.

Batman returned the batarang to his belt, as he reached down, Faith was already upon him.  He blocked and parried as many blows as he could, until Faith struck Batman square in the jaw. 

He was knocked back to the wall and prepared for the next wave of assault…but it never came.

Faith looked down at her hand and saw red. She had blood on her hands. His blood. Human blood.  

"No…" she staggered back, "No…"

Faith backed away from Batman, slumped against the wall and huddled in a corner.  And in a fetal position, she rocked back and forth. Afraid. 

Batman could here Faith repeat to herself; between shallow, ragged breathes: "I'm not a killer, I'm not a killer…"

"Why did you come here, Faith?"  Batman asked. 

"H-He…he told me you were a demon…Damn it…even when I want to do good…fate screws me over once again…"

"Who sent you?"

"Gee, how many people want you dead that you even have to ask that?"

"A Lot"

Faith gave a rather breathy, forced chuckle. "Well, here's a clue, he holds the highest office in the land, and his first name is 'Lex'"

"Luthor."

"Eh, got it in one." She tried to lighten the mood.  Batman's face remained unmoving, except for the trickle of blood down his jaw line.

"Why did you take the job?"

"Why do you think?" Faith asked, the shock passing from her, turning into anger. "He was holding all the cards, knew what ones to play too…plus, that bastard told me what I wanted to hear…that you were a threat, and this was a chance to…to…make up for some…mistakes…"

"25 to life imprisonment for second degree Murder, one charge of Involuntary Manslaughter, numerous cases of assault, breaking and entering, theft, prostitution, indecent exposure…"

"That last one's actually a rather funny story…but…I doubt you'd care." Faith stood back up, regaining her composure. "…God…I should have learned not to trust politicians, but good ol' Faith screws up again…"

She walked over to the Capped Crusader, shaking slightly as he stood as a firm pillar in the gloom of the starless city night.

"Listen…I…I'm sorry." Faith told him as she moved closer to him, seeking some support. "This is g'nna sound weird 'n all, specially since I just tried to kill you and all…but…I…kinda need your help."

"Help?"

"See…one of the threats Lexy pulled was sending me to England…to the Watcher's council."

"Who are they?"

"Tweed covered British guys who keep tabs on Slayers…they usually train, guide, keep an eye out for 'um…shit like that. Some are cool…but most of them are pretty much stuck in like the twelfth century… I mean... they put B through this test… Cir… Circum… no… Bah, whatever I can't remember or pronounce what it was called!  Anyway, they took away her powers and locker her in a room with some real nasty vamp when she turned 18…Course she survived, because you know…it's Buffy."

"Buffy?"

"The other…the real Slayer…"

"I thought there could only be one?"

"Oh, she died…twice already…" Faith kicked the dust on the ground, "She gets all the breaks…" she then took a deep calming breath, "Anyway, the council would just love to get their paws on me…last time they tried, they said something about being put on trail in 'their' court…basically to find a way of 'legalizing' them killing me to get another Slayer who'll, they hope, they'll be able to control." Faith sighed. "In the end, it's about power…who has it…and what you do with it."

A marked silence stood between them.  Faith noticed a crack in Batman's unflinching stance.

"Looks like you've learned that lesson a long ways back…" Faith said as she reached towards Batman, who jerked himself aside.  Faith withdrew her hand and suddenly felt very awkward.

"Sorry…" she murmured, she too knew what it was like to have old wounds brought to the surface.  The Batman seemed to be little phased after the initial jerk.

"So…why does Lexy want you dead?" Faith asked, returning to her mask of bravado she once used to fool many people.

"Luthor and I had some…dealings in the past." Batman told her, "For one, I managed to foil an attempt of his to frame Bruce Wayne"

"Lex did that?"

Batman nodded.

"You really can't trust politicians…" she said with a small twinge in her voice.

"Secondly, you of course know about some of the…animosity between him and Superman."

"What kind of idiot doesn't…wait…I know the answer to that one…"

"For a while, Luthor had a ring of kryptonite, I relieved him of it."

"So, you stole it from him"

He nodded.

Faith just gave him an odd look. "Ok, answer-man. Answer this, why would Lex want ME dead?"

"Luthor does not like Meta-humans…and besides…I don't think he wants you dead."

"Huh?"

"He just wants you here, why, I'm not sure yet."

"How can you tell?"

"Luthor is never this direct, he prefers to orchestrate things that will end in his favor."

Faith blinked, "…Oh"

She then noticed that the Batman's gaze was diverted out the window. When she angled herself to see what he was looking at, she saw a large spotlight reflecting off the clouds with a Bat insignia on it.

"Now that has GOT to be an ego-booster" Faith jested.

Batman ignored the comment.

"So, I take it you're going to go dashing off n' all that…"

"You can't come along"

This hit Faith like a punch in the gut…that was not how things like this were supposed to go… 'Weren't heroes supposed to help each other after the tacky super-hero-fight thing?' she wondered.

"What?"

"I don't want an escaped felon who is having problems controlling her anger—who can easily kill someone with their bare hands, following me around like a wounded puppy. Stay put until--"

Faith, on reflex alone, slapped him hard, sending Batman sprawling on the floor.

"You self-righteous prick!" Faith growled, "Just because I've made some mistakes in the past doesn't make me an uncontrollable animal! I'm not like that anymore! I've learned to control that part of me! And I've done a damn good job of it. I haven't killed anyone by accident since Finch!"

Batman took note of her knowing the victim's name as he got back up.

"Tight-ass! You won't let me try to redeem myself! Why do you think I turned myself in the first place, asshole! Ya know what, Screw you! I don't need your help! I'll handle this myself! Now, get the HELL out of my room!"

Faith fought every urge in her body not to throw the caped crusader out the door, or window, part of her was debating which was closer. She let Batman go to the window and swing off into the night. Faith let out a sigh of relief as he left her room, and hopefully her life.

She looked around the mess her room, "Damn it…"

*

Later that evening

The Greasy Spoon Bar & Grill

"That little Bitch" a mugger, Vinny, exclaimed, "I hate this town! Another freak show goin' around makin' my life a livin' hell!"

"Hell, another one?" the large man next to him asked as he gulped down another beer.

"Yeah, this town is full of 'um: Spider-girl, Superman, Batman…now this new one…this-this 'Slayer' bitch!"

"'Slayer'?" The big guy snorted, "As if the other's weren't bad enough…I don't like the sound of this one…"

"You shouldn't…man, she's not in this to arrest us or anything, and she's out to put people in hospitals or worse! At least we'll get to look at something pretty before we bite it."

"What?"

"She's a God Damn Vixen."

"Well, which one of the ladies doin' that costumed vigilante gig ain't, Vinny?"

"Good point."

The two criminals laughed.

"Is her outfit as tight-fitting as the others are?"

"I swear, man, it's tighter!"

As the conversation degraded, two eavesdroppers tuned the conversation out and began to mull over the implications of what they said.

Unknown to either, two other people were listening distinctly to this conversation. Ever since the word 'Slayer' was mentioned. Both had heard stories of the Slayer—the ultimate warrior, the Chosen One. Both of their minds worked with ideas of this goal. One thought of this Slayer, if she was who she claimed to be, to be her ultimate and final challenge as a warrior. The other thought of her as a tool for his master, worthy of the great Devil Doctor's needs.

From different doors: Bane and Lady Shiva left the bar and began to hunt the same target…

*