At first the dream meant nothing ...a dream that was all it was. Why concern oneself over a dream? Then I read an online posting, someone else had the dream. The black wall being pounded on, the loud banging sound that filled the world...everything. About a thousand people around the world were sharing the same dream... a thousand and one I suppose. Nothing connects us, nothing unique about any of us, save our shared dream. Well, the shared dream and the creeping sensation upon waking up from it that our world was different changed somehow.
Yesterday
Young Mickey opened his eyes and immediately regretted it.
He was kneeling on a basement floor along with six other youths. His hands bound behind his back but unlike the rest of them, there was no blindfold over his eyes. That was a bad sign, blindfolds meant secrecy -their absence meant Mickey and the other Golden Dragons were as good as dead already.
"What the hell is going on here?" He shouted defiantly. Mickey had learned a long time ago that if you sounded brave, people sometimes assumed you were.
"What's going on?" a loud and scratchy voice answered, "...What's going on is that The Hanoi Ten are sending a message to those fat triad bastards who think they run these streets. Intergang has our backs now and when we dump your bodies where they're gonna get noticed, everybody's gonna know it."
"We're all low rent street muscle not made guys. You really think us killing each other will mean squat to an outfit like InterGang?" Mickey sneered.
"The Gotham Mobs are getting weak, Old farts like Falcone and Moroni can barely hold on to what they got. Its time for the Tens to find a new wing to fly under." the speaker came out of the shadows. A smartly dressed dude slight of build wearing sunglasses in the dim gloom of the basement.
Mickey had seen this one at the last sit down when the man everyone called Uncle Donnie had forced a lot of the local gangs including The Golden Dragons and their rivals The Hanoi Ten to make peace and come to terms. Donnie had made it clear, if they wanted to operate in Gotham City, especially in the crime ridden East End block controlled by The Chinese Triads, They'd make nice or pay the price.
That was also the last time he had seen Rebecca. She was gun slinging for a local boss now. Word had it she was acting as a sort of bodyguard, Her already notoriously violent reputation made her an ideal trophy to parade in front of the other gang lords to show how powerful Becca's boss had become.
Mickey wasn't that much older then her and she was already carrying more weight then he or any of the other local gang-bangers she used to hang around with. Her skill had already made her a legend, especially among the other Gotham City street gangs like the Dragons. Some younger kids like the diminutive Jason "Jay-Jay" Todd huddled on the floor some yards away, were coming around hoping to catch a glimpse of the now infamous Rebecca.
Shades walked up to him, "We are going to kill you and dump you right on Donnie's doorstop. He'll know it was us and that there ain't a damn thing he'll be able to do about it."
A sudden violent explosion tore Shades attention away from the tied up boy. Shades motioned to the others in the room to flank the door and check out the source of the sounds. Mickey could hear gunshots coming from the other side of the wall.
He was still tied up and could do nothing. Shades was looking at him. "If you think this is about you, you're screwed. Aint nobody gonna come down here and take all of us on for you."
"You just keep thinking that. I want to enjoy what your face looks like at the end." Mickey sneered.
"Who is it? You better tell me who it is ... tell them to stop or you're dead."
"You were going to kill me anyway," MIckey laughed, "seems like if someone is aiming to take you out as well, I might as well relax and let it happen."
"What's going on, " one of his underlings whined, "Maybe InterGang is screwing us."
Mickey laughed, "Sure why not? This way It looks like gang on gang and nobody's the wiser."
More sounds of chaos and blood. For gods sake it sounded like someone was screaming out there and still more gunshots.
Shades pulled a pistol and with three of his guys the flanked the door. Mickey was looking around trying to find anything that might help him cut the zip cuffs they had used to bind him when he noticed a black liquid seeping under the door,
Shades was freaking out, "Why is it so quiet? They can't have killed everybody, Get your asses out there. " He screeched at his fellow thugs.
One of them backed away slowly "No way dude no bloody way. You can't pay me enough to stick my head out of that door."
"Fine," Shades walked over to the door shouting, "We got your people...you hear me we got your people and we'll kill them if you don't back off. Just back off and we'll talk this out."
Silence was his only answer. Then the door exploded inward ripped off its hinges to fall to the floor on top of the pool of black sludge, which turned out to be... grease. The door skidded across the floor riding a slick puddle of lubricant while the gunman wearing a simple red mask, blazed away with a sleek black revolver. They gunned down all three of the thugs in almost as many seconds.
Shades was first taking two bullets even as he tried to adjust his aim to track the swiftly moving target. The shooter by the door was next. He shot at eye level as the masked shooter slid across the floor. None of his shots came anywhere close as the skilled gunman unleashed hot hell from the revolver. The man by the door spun backwards dancing as bullets tore his life away before crashing on the ground in silence. The third thug lay screaming on the floor blood seeping from the gunshot wound in the thigh that was pumping arterial blood out on the floor. He would be dead in minutes, minutes the Red Hood didn't give him as a second gunshot silenced his cries of pain and ended his life. Shades was hit in the shoulder and chest. His body felt dead from the waist down. He lay on the ground face down, his mouth pressed to the cold floor muffling his whimpering.
He felt a sharp kick pushing his nerveless body over so he could stare up at the ceiling. He saw a shadow cut across his vision. Red Hood was looking down at him. He relaxed waiting for it, he cursed. Then the Red Hood bent and removed his tinted eyewear.
"I wouldn't want to you to miss the best part." the figure said cruelly before raising the gun Shades saw the chamber spin, the puff of exploding gas, in his imaginings, he even thought his eyesight was tracking the flight of the bullet that took his life.
Mickey looked at the Red Hood who glanced at him a moment before holding up a finger indicating the need for silence. Then the Red hood gestured to the overlooking Closed Circuit Camera. The police would know what had happened here and soon after that, the rest of the Gotham City underworld.
Mickey gave a meaningful gesture showing his desire to be cut loose. The Red Hood produced a sharp knife using it to cut all The Dragons free. Telling them each in turn to keep their mouths shut and head for the door. The last she freed was young Jay-Jay who excitedly looked around "That was freaking awesome, you took them all out -you're amazing."
Mickey hissed "Jesus Jay-jay would you shut your mouth please we aren't out of this yet."
The group head for the ground floor, Mickey was amazed at the carnage bodies everywhere the Tens might come back from this but it would take a while...a long while. The Red Hood snapped a flare into life and tossed the burning torch into a seeping pool of gasoline. The pool flared to life and the fire quickly spread to all parts of the building. The warehouse would a gutted crater long before GCFD responded.
They finally gained the outside of the building there was a minivan parked in the alleyway. Mickey saw Red Hood cursing at the minivan
"Shit, it was a miracle I got this hot-wired the first time. Now I gotta do it again?"
Only one person he knew had such bad luck when it came to the subtle art of hot-wiring cars. But how could she be here.
"Let Jay-Jay do it," Mickey snapped, "he's better with hot-wiring cars then anyone else anyway."
The kid brightened at the praise, beaming like a megawatt bulb as he dug into the electrics. Soon the van roared to life and all of them including the Red Hood piled in and drove off, the sound of sirens already filling the air.
The Red Hood stayed silent until they were a half dozen blocks away. Before breathing a relieved sigh and pulling the mask partway up.
Mickey stared amazed. "Becca, is that you?"
"No its not, you get me?" she growled, "When anyone asks it was Red Hood that pulled you out of the burning building and Red Hood that dumped you a few blocks away."
"Dumped us?"
"Yeah, get out." she commanded pulling the minivan to a stop. "As far as you know Red Hood shot the place up, remember that. Everything'll get fucked up otherwise."
Mickey nodded as he climbed out of the vehicle. Becca waited until they were all out of the van. "By the way you got any smokes on you? I'm dying over here."
Mickey shrugged, "Sorry I had nothing on me Jay was supposed be getting me a pack when the Tens broke in and grabbed us."
The little kid stepped up and handed a fresh pack to Becca who looked at him "You managed to hold on to these all this time?
Jay-jay nodded while giving her a worshipful look as she light up a smoke. Looking at him inquiring Jay nodded of course she could keep it. Becca stashed the pack in the depths of her jacket before leaping back behind the wheel and driving away.
"She was amazing, wait till I tell everyone." Jay-jay said excitedly.
One of the dragons snickered, "Ah ain't that cute, little Toddy is in love."
The kid cussed them off but it was Mickey who cuffed the little boy on the side of his head.
"Were you not paying attention dumbass, nobody can know it was Becca... Nobody."
"Why not?"
"Cause Becca is gunning for one of Uncle Donnie's people. If anyone finds out The Tens were in with InterGang and one of Donnie's hitters screwed them up good then it will be war...total war." Mickey turned to the rest of the gang members, "We tell everyone that Red Hood rescued us and left us here. We don't know why HE pulled us out of the warehouse before it went up in flames."
All of the Golden Dragons nodded. Mickey turned to Jay to make sure the excitable kid was onboard with the plan.
Little Jason however was all caught up in meeting the infamous Rebecca. "Was that really her?" Jay-jay asked, "She's amazing."
Mickey could see it. The kid was in love, then again who didn't fall in love just a little with Rebecca. He'd done it himself. Mickey wasn't worried though, Jay-Jay would learn like Mickey had, like everyone else did. Falling in love with Becca was like playing Russian Roulette with an almost fully loaded gun. The payoff when things went right was so amazing. But the odds were running hot against you.
_TODAY_
The Hideaway was supposed to be a gambling joint. Unfortunately the man who had opened it hadn't known the open sewer running under the place would feed it's awe-inspiring aroma back into the big main rooms. The stench was an ever-present unwelcome guest hanging over every hand and deal. The place was almost always empty since only the hardest of the hardcore gamblers could stand to be there. Thus the place became the perfect place for face-to-face meetings that demanded a higher level of privacy and discretion.
Chang arrived first followed closely by Abrago the Colombian Cartel boss. "You had better have something good Chang," The swarthy looking Latino snapped as he entered the basement area. "The bosses back home are starting to get very nervous. They see Roanapur more and more in the news and they're starting to realize how much of what happens here doesn't make it into my reports back to them."
"You think I tell the other Triad Lords every little thing that happens?" Chang sneered as Ronny the Jaws, the Italian Mafia rep strolled into the room. "Besides, this wasn't my idea."
The Sicilian had doubtlessly arrived early and had been scouting the street for signs of ambush, Chang knew for a fact he would only find Chang's triad soldiers posted around the block, Chang had no reason to hide. People were more sensible when their options were clear. Balalaika's boys were too professional to reveal their sniper's nests. Anyone uninvited might walk in but they would not walkout.
"Chang, you know I can believe you was a cop back in the old country. They're always talking deals right before they screw you over."
"Now there is the Ronny I know, rude, ignorant and just stupid enough to think what this city needed was another place for guys to have random sex."
Ronny waved him off, "I ain't seen a whorehouse that didn't turn some kind of profit. Especially if the workers are even half decent. Ain't that why you let that S&M freak from Gotham set up shop."
"I'm doing a favor for Lagoon Company. If it weren't for Rebecca and Rock we wouldn't have found out about those Demon's Head agents."
"Much good that did us. We got rid of those guys and suddenly its open season with every idiot popping up. I'd bring in the Hostel crew to get rid of the overflow but you know I hate dealing with Adolph, that sick freak.
"I'm sure he'll be hurt that you don't like him, he's out of town anyway thank god, with all the chaos on the streets, his usual crowd of freaks and weirdos might decide to do a little freelance."
"My point Chang, is that If I gotta make a peace with you and Fryface well then so-be-it."
"My sentiments exactly," Balalaika commented, smoke wreathing her as she entered the basement room tossing her great coat at Abrago. "Be a dear and hang that up?" she asked with false polite smile in place.
Abrago wasn't fooled for a second. He had two choices, dropping the coat would imply a challenge he would not survive. Hanging it up however and taking the implied insult wasn't a much better outcome, but he'd be able to start his own car and sit on the crapper without checking for some kind of explosive device. Gritting his teeth he was about to hang-up the garment when Walter Aldous slipped in, closing the door as he did. Abrago shoved the coat into Walter's hands, "Hang that up for Balalaika." he hissed before joining the rest.
Aldous took the coat like it was a sacred artifact to be handled with reverence. He hung it neatly.
Balalaika smiled charmingly at him when he joined them. "Thank you Aldous, you are such a gentleman," she said, seemingly unaware she was blowing smoke in his face as she spoke. The gurgle of joy from Aldous made it clear that his night had just been made.
"Now Balalaika, you don't want to make trouble for our dear Walter...he has a special lady friend these days." Chang sneered.
"What's the matter Babe, Jealous I'm not paying enough attention to you?" Balalaika sneered.
Chang snorted, "I saw what was left of Iron Mike's garage not to mention his crew." He said with sarcasm, "Reminds me of what it was like having your attentions back in the bad old days."
"Someone is trying to bring back the bad old days." Balalaika snapped. "Too many small timers for this to be random chance. Hence, my choice to hear you and your latest proposal out"
"We can't really stop people from coming here. The city has its own way of weeding out the weak." Abrago pointed out, "...maybe we should just ride this out."
"You know that's not how this works Abrago." Ronny sneered, "That's your problem Pedro, you been sitting by that pool of yours getting fat for too long, we're criminals. We aren't like regular working class suckers, the strong survive, the weak don't"
"You weren't here back in the day Ronny." It was like old Chicago under Capone. Imagine waking up to a Saint Valentine's Day Massacre every danm day and that was before Balalaika and the Russians showed up. To avoid that, I'll listen to any idea anybody has."
"Well what's the solution. If this is going to become another thing about running the city like its a corporation, you can forget it" Abrago whined, "my people weren't that interested in that before The Crazy Ivan here opened up all kinds of hell then made a peace with the Bloodhound. Every time we talk, they remind me that The Bloodhound is alive and well because of Balalaika."
"Abrago anytime you and the drug peddling fat asses you serve want to come and find me, I'll make it worth their while."
"You think I didn't tell them the same damn thing."
"Lady and Gentlemen I think I can clear this up a little." Walter announced.
"What is it Aldous I understood that you hadn't found anything?" Chang asked him.
"It took time but I made contact with someone. They've provided me enough info that I can tell you who might be behind all our problems."
"Well don't leave us hanging," Ronny snapped, "Tell us who we're looking for."
Aldous produced a slim CD from his coat and motioned to the player in the corner "This arrived by secured courier for me this morning. The instructions say that it is a formal declaration of hostilities. I was to give you these when I played the disk." He handed them envelopes containing pictures of each of them, taken Balalaika quickly saw, through a high power scope.
She rounded on Aldous angrily. "You've been working with them this whole time."
"No offense, but I work with anyone who can pay me. People who can afford my information get it. People who can afford my silence, which is much more expensive, get that as well. This Red Hood approached me for general information some time ago, nothing tactical, they seemed to have their own resources for that sort of thing."
"What did you call him, Aldous?"
"They are claiming the identity of the Red Hood. Its an old badge ...back in the day criminals on high risk jobs would recruit or kidnap a scapegoat. That person would don a red hood and if the job went badly or they were captured afterwards the criminals would finger the Red Hood as the person behind the scheme."
Chang nodded, "...The Cops get their master criminal while the crooks get an easy ride -nice." he muttered.
"I was not the one who gave the Hood your schedules allowing him to take the pictures I just gave him general background easily available to practically anyone."
"...Which begs the question of why he would recruit you at all. Why risk you turning on him...assuming it is a him."
"I was asked to play the disk for you I was also told not to listen to it before hand."
Aldous placed the disk in the player and hit the play button.
"Good evening," A cocky sounding voice came from the speaker.
Aldous began rubbing at his stomach.
The speaker was continuing, "...Assuming Walter is following his instructions to the letter then I'm talking to the four most powerful people in Roanapur. Congratulations it must make your hearts swell with pride to be the most well fed leeches in city infested with parasites."
"Not one for mincing words I'll give him that." Chang muttered.
"I'm sure you all think you're untouchable. Why not, I used to believe that was true. Everyone who is supposed to protect the world from your kind bows down to you instead. Cops, judges, politicians, all of them swallowing the lies you feed them. The lie that bullies everywhere cower behind, that might makes right."
Ronny laughed, "Don't forget money you pansy, Any problems you still got after that, can get its head beaten in with a baseball bat or get its lights shot out with a gun."
"As you've seen from the pictures, I've been watching you, monitoring you, listening in and getting the measure of you all, and I'm not impressed. Cheap thugs, a failed soldier and a corrupt cop have managed to fool themselves into thinking they're special. Better them the rest because they surround themselves with violence and blood and sneer at those trying to make their way honestly. Well that ends tonight."
"Oh joy," Balalaika sneered, "I thought we'd have to listen to his ranting all evening."
"You aren't afraid of laws and government because you can buy those but you know the one thing all your money couldn't buy... the perfect opportunity to kill you which came when I found out Mister Aldous has a redundant kidney...or should I say he HAD an extra."
Aldous' face turned white, Chang leapt ontop of the man, yanking his shirt up to show a jagged scar across his belly.
"What's that?" Aldous screamed in terror, "what did he do to me?"
"You know what I love most about C4," The Red Hood continued in a mocking tone, "a little goes a long way. An amount about the size and shape of a human organ can be used to destroy a small room, like say a room about the size of the one you're all standing in right now."
"Go!" Balalaika snapped and they raced for the door even as they heard a loud bang from the door and smoke began rising from it Abrago tried the door and found it shut tight.
"Right about now you've also discovered the thermite I set into the door and locks. They should all be nice and jammed by now. No need to thank me. I wanted a captive audience for this last bit."
Balalaika throw her weight against the door founding it solidly built and completely jammed they were trapped.
"...You are all going to die tonight and when you are gone the world will be a happier place. Don't worry about your little kingdom of vice and corruption I'll be taking care of it from here on out. Under my guidance Roanapur will no longer pray on the weak and innocent."
Balalaika and Ronny throw themselves at the door. It started to crack under their combined attack.
"Sorry Al but it's life and death here." Chang said with genuine regret as he punched the man hard knocking him out and propping his slumped form in a chair. Abrago produced a knife and the two men quickly bent to grim task of trying to extract the bomb.
"Goodbye parasites," The voice hissed, "I hope the hell you deserve to burn in is as painful as the one you're going to die in."
Chang looked at the wound in Aldous' belly. "It's a sonic detonator its been responding to the voice on the disc."
"Get down!" Balalaika screamed as she flipped a table over, She and Ronny crouched behind it
Chang and Abrago joined them even as an explosion ripped the room apart. The heat and force of the blast ripped open the sewer underneath causing the club to collapse, the building sank into the gaping wound in the street while the heat and fire plumed upward lighting the sky for blocks around in every direction.
The Lagoons had just arrived when the blast came and they were thrown to the ground by the strength of it.
The syndicate soldiers converged on the spot Boris was the first to reach the crater where the Hideaway had once stood, a look of sheer and utter disbelief on his face; The Russian and Italians set to work digging through the wreckage while the Triad fanned out guarding the block, their guns searching for anyone to unleash hell upon.
IT was Boris' expert eyes that caught the shadow moving across the rooftops. He swiftly ordered gunfire to rake the roof edge but the red Hood was already gone. The soldiers scrambled up the roof fanning out and looking for their prey.
"There are a hundred places where someone could watch that place go up." Dutch said thoughtfully "Why pick such an obvious spot?"
"...And why stay after the blast, that's just asking for them to come after you." Revy snapped.
"Maybe that's the point." Selina called out as she started jogging. "Come on Big Sister."
"What the hell are you up to Kyle?" Revy asked as she ran after her.
"Testing a theory." Selina called as she ran though the alleyways.
Boris and the rest of Hotel Moscow pursued the fugitive across the roof. The man, for it was clearly a man ducked though a door slamming it closed as he did. Boris slammed into the door and the ancient thing gave way yielding to his body mass and speed.
The Red Hood was fleeing down the steps two at a time and sometimes jumping down entire flights of steps. Finally, he slipped through a door slamming it shut as he did, Boris and the team hot on his heels battered at the door forcing their way inside. Boris saw a crude wire stretched taunt by the opening of the door. "Get Back" He screamed grabbing several men and pulling them away from the bobby-trapped door. The explosion rocked the hallway tossing the men to the ground.
"Stefan, Yorgi," Boris cried out as he climbed to his feet, "circle back around down the steps try and flank him. The rest of you back to the club see if you can get the Captain out, I'll continue on foot."
Boris climbed out on the narrow ledge and walked quickly along the building side kicking in a boarded up window. He saw The Red Hooded Man inside the room. The man was looking around and seemed desperate. "It wasn't me I'm telling you I know how it looks but it wasn't me."
He was standing with his back to the window holding up his hands in surrender when Boris heard the familiar sound of a silenced sniper round. The man dropped, shot through the chest. Boris saw a man jump out a window across the way, rappelling down the side of the building. Obviously this was the real Red Hood who would be blocks away by time Boris could get to the street.
Boris swore even as his communicator chirped it was Stefan.
"Sergeant, Stefan here, the Lagoon Woman and the other girl are pursuing the suspect. There was a fight on the street then the man jumped into a car and drove off, the Lagoons followed on a motor bike."
Continue tracking them if you can, I'm taking the rest of the men back to the club I want updates."
Revy and Selina heard the explosion from the street. "What the hell was that?" Two Hands snapped.
"Smoke and mirrors, the real trick should be taking place right about now. " She pointed a figure that leapt from a window to a rope rappelling down the side of the building to land on the street at their feet.
Revy regarded the masked man who was looking at them in amazement.
"Oldest trick in The Batman Play-book, misdirection. Get everyone looking left when they should be looking right" Selina siad with a triumphant grin.
"Selina, what the Hell are you doing here." The Red Hood snapped.
"So you are one of his, they are the only ones who really know my identity who can move like you can."
Red Hood raised a gun; "I'm not playing by his rules Selina, not anymore, if you're smart you'll get lost."
Revy spit out her disgust, another idiot with a mask and a mission. I thought I left that crap behind in Gotham City."
Red Hood didn't even speak, just looking at Revy before starting to giggle. "A half a world away from Gotham and I run into two old friends. This must be my lucky night."
"Let's test that." Revy sneered opening fire. Which the Red Hood dodged retuning fire with twined automatics.
Selina danced away from his attack lashing out with her whip its end curling around Red Hood's leg. He did a quick sidestep planting his other foot on the end of the whip and while blazing away forcing Selina to duck and weave to avoid being hit.
He snatched at his belt and Revy saw a small dark shape skidding toward them. "Fire in the Hole!" she screamed as she jumped clear of the blast that forced Selina to drop her whip to get away.
Selina didn't allow him to rest but came flipping back at him finishing with a savage kick. The Red hood blocked her attack launching one of his own, which Selina countered and it went on like that for a few seconds with Revy maneuvering to get a clear shot.
"You're as good as I remember Selina, maybe better, but I was trained by the best and I've gotten better too." He fired his gun, not at the girls who ducked anyway but at the hanging scaffolding that the rope he'd used for his escape had been attached to. The load fell crashing to the street and giving him time to climb behind the wheel of a car and speed away.
"We need wheels." Revy growled,
"Not a problem let me find something, I can hot-wire." Selina called searching the street.
"Gotta faster way." Revy snapped and pointed her gun at a luckless motor biker who was having a late night cruse. "Get off or get dead!" she screamed pointing her gun the man who panicked and ditched his bike. Revy kept him covered while Selina hauled the bike upright and climbed on revving it to life.
"Since when did you start carjacking?" Kyle asked.
"I hate hot-wiring crap I've always hated hot-wiring crap." Revy snapped as they weaved around nighttime traffic till they caught sight of the fleeing car.
Who the hell was that Kyle?"
Don't know but he moves like Batman and he knows us. Still Batman doesn't use guns and he doesn't kill. This guy just waxed a bunch of people including at least two who he was working with."
"Well we can find out everything we need to from his corpse." Revy leaned out and fired her guns at the fleeing car, which swerved to avoid her shots.
They kept pace with the car, which made a sudden turn down an alleyway.
"We got him that dead ends at Pierson's garage no way he gets out from there."
"Don't be too sure." Selina growled as she followed the car into the buildings gloom. Finally they caught sight of the car crashed against a several metal drums.
Revy jumped off the bike moving cautiously through the shadows her guns at the ready.
"I don't know what you're doing here Selina," Red Hood was speaking from the shadows, the echoes of the dark building made pinpointing him difficult. "...But what I'm trying to do is too important to let you get in my way."
"Is that you Dick, finally tired of living in the old man's shadow, carving out a niche for yourself?"
"Guess again Miss Kitty. Grayson is too soft to handle this city but I'm not. If anyone was born to take this city in hand it's me."
Selina was shocked saying nothing, even as Revy was growing bored with the hunt. "I say we torch the building," She growled, "he can't play cat and mouse when this place goes up like a roman candle."
"Becca, nice to see we're still on the same page after all this time." a hissing sound reached their ears and Revy's saw the shadow before the flare in its hand roared to life. Three...two..."
"Go" Kyle screamed and the two women darted for the exit even as Red Hood tossed the flare toward the leaking drums of gas. The flames popped to life and a high whine came from the car. The women had just reached the door when the explosion blew them off their feet hurling them into the air to crash in the laneway outside the building. They looked up through the black smoke rising into the air and saw the Red hood looking down at them before he dropped out of sight.
" He could've killed us..." Revy cried out.
"Yes he could've and yet he didn't and once again he knows us knows us both."
"Well there's no way we can track him now is there?"
"I wouldn't be too sure about that." Selina pointed at an antique desk complete with roll top the burning hulk was still intact despite being launched through the wall with the force of the blast she stumbled over to it and yanked at the roll top revealing a broken computer monitor. She pulled open a drawer and found the larger unit; Miraculously the thing had survived intact.
"How the hell did that survive?" Revy asked as she coughed smoke and dust from her lungs.
"They built them to last back in the day its not much to go on but maybe there was a reason he came back here."
