Batman: Revolution

CHAPTER THREE: Revenge

Roman Sionis stood in his apartment, naked but for his wooden mask, leering into a mirror, gun in hand. His face was bizarrely twisted from the oddly broken jaw, and the plunge had left splinters of broken glass lodged in his covered face.

"Who's there?" he spoke swiftly, silently.

"You are Roman Sionis, son of Andre and Ana Sionis?" asked the figure in the shadows, speaking in a dignified, cold tone.

"Who wants to know?"

"My name was once Henri Ducard," said the man, as he stepped from the shadows, "But for years now, and forever more, my name is… Ra's al Ghul."

"The Head of the Demon?"

"Impressive, you speak Arabic." The man stepped from the shadows. He had greyed brown hair and a goatee, and wore a black suit, shirt and tie. He held a briefcase, "I believe I have a proposition for you. You want the Batman dead… and so do I… among other things. If we work together, I believe we can have a fruitful relationship."

"I'm listening," smiled the masked mobster, "Tell me everything."

"Hello, Miss…?" Bruce Wayne, garbed in a tuxedo that cost more than most people's annual income, strode down the central staircase of Wayne Manor, hand outstretched, towards a tall, thin, blond woman in a green dress.

"Jet, Mr. Wayne," smiled the woman, as he took her hand and kissed it gently, "Jezebel Jet."

"Of course… the celebrity guest," smiled Bruce, "Miss Jet, a pleasure."

He inclined his head slightly and with lightning speed and precision swept two champagne glasses from a tray and handed one to Jezebel.

"To you, Miss Jet," he smiled and they struck glasses, with a chink.

He opened his mouth to continue speaking, when they heard screams and gunshots. Jezebel said something which Bruce did not hear, as he slipped away, racing for the building's lower east wing's foundations… the Bat Cave.

Roman Sionis swaggered into Wayne Manor's atrium, surrounded by a group of thugs, and beside him stood Ra's al Ghul, whose mouth was stretched into a thin smile.

"Ladies and gentlemen, remain calm, and you will likely remain breathing," called Sionis lazily, "We only plan on one death tonight."

"That would be mine, I assume." Sionis turned in a flash, to face The Batman, who held his shuriken poised.

"Ah, Batman, our resident vigilante," Ra's smirked.

"You! How…?"

"Ra's al Ghul is a symbol. And a true symbol can never be destroyed. The League of Shadows will rise again… and Gotham will fall." Ra's chuckled, "Over your dead body. Take him!"

The thugs ran at Batman, who moved swiftly and easily, knocking them aside. Soon, they lay senseless, the guests gone. Ra's and Sionis closed in on the Dark Knight, who tensed, like a lion ready to pounce… and then saw Roman bend over and pick something up, holding it raised. It was one of Batman's shuriken.

"Burn, Batman," he smiled… and there was an explosion. The room was ablaze, crumbling.

"NOT AGAIN! NEVER AGAIN!" Batman shouted in horror and then Ra's was upon him, and knocked him across the floor.

"FATHER! NO!" There was someone else in Wayne Manor. A woman, garbed in black, clutching a katana, a samurai sword, ran in at Ra's, "NO!" She swore in Arabic and struck him a fierce blow, which knocked Ra's down, and he slammed into a burning table, unconscious.

"Talia!" Batman could hardly believe it, as the Arabic woman glanced over to him. Bang! A bullet whirred past the Dark Knight's ear, and skimmed by Talia's head, knocking her to the ground, "NOOO!"

Batman ran at Sionis:

"YOU BASTARD!"

And with that Sionis laughed, sidestepped, and hurled the shuriken, well past Batman… past Talia's limp form… and the hurled blade ripped Ra's' throat from his neck, blood spurting everywhere!

"What…?" Batman stared, and then Sionis, laughing manically, stumbled… and tumbled back into the flames, "ROMAN!?"

As the hall ceiling plunged in, Batman ran towards Talia… and rubble fell, blocking his path to her. Talia was stirring as Bruce tried to find his way over… and as she opened her eyes, her gaze fell upon Ra's, her father, one of Batman's weapons having killed him, and on Sionis' burning body.

"You bastard," she hissed, and threw her sword like a javelin. It buried itself deep in Batman's shoulder, and she was gone… he stumbled, he fell… and fired his grapple cord, smashing through the window of the manor, blood pouring down his uniform…