Nightwing
Issue 7
George Jones


London Police Headquarters rooftop
12:14PM

The clouds dispersed to allow the glow of the moon to illuminate the skyline. Nightwing stood opposite Police Superintendent Robert Reed.

"We received an anonymous tip off an hour ago about a gun import that's coming in at half 1 tonight. We have no idea who it could be, can't imagine its Falcone, he's laying low at the moment; he's got a lotta heat"

"You want me to meet its arrival?"

"I would do it myself but since the attack on the Maltese Falcon, Ramsey's gone off the rails. Falcone's now totally untouchable so if this import is his and I intervene; I'm out of a job or worse"

"Okay I understand, you got any details on whereabouts it's coming in?"

Reed reached into his jacket and gave Nightwing a small slip of paper.

"Usually these things come in by ship and then get transferred by van to wherever there headed"

A knock came from the door that led out onto the rooftop; a voice came from behind it.

"Who's up there? Why's the door locked?"

"You better go; official policy is to arrest you on sight"

"Sure and thanks"

Nightwing leapt off the rooftop whilst Reed went over to the door and opened it. He was met by Paul Andrews, an honest but naïve beat cop.

"Sorry Sir, I didn't realize it was you"

"It's alright Andrews, just wanted some fresh air"


London Dockyards
1:36PM

Nightwing sat perched atop a crane that peered over the docks. He sat patiently, waiting for the ship to arrive. He checked his equipment. Then checked it again, Force of habit.
A lone van drove into the yard and parked down the bottom of the jetty.

"Bingo"

From down the river came a small yacht, it backed up next to the jetty and halted.

Time to move.

Nightwing jumped from crane to crane down the dockyard until he was directly above the van. Nightwing took out his escrima sticks and fell silently, landing onto the bonnet of the van. Dick buried his escrima sticks into the blacked out windscreen, smashing it into thousands of shards. Dick was stunned, nobody was inside the van. The steering wheel was connected to a remote controlled device and in the passenger seat sat a...

"Bomb..."

Nightwing turned and jumped. The bomb detonated, sending Dick crashing into a group of rusty barrels and the van up in flames. It was a trap and Nightwing had walked straight into it. Nightwings suit was torn in several places; blood ran from his mouth, nose and a nasty gash above his eye. He blacked out for 2 seconds. He was awoken by a metal boot heel at his neck. The KGBeast.

"Ha-ha! I expected better. The Bat would be disappointed in you..."

The KGBeast raised the gauntlet which held his razor sharp blade into the air, ready to deliver the killing blow.

"...'History shows us shows there are no invincible armies'-Joseph Stalin, 1942"

"You talk too much!"

Nightwing reached and pulled a batarang from his utility belt and buried it into the KGBeasts' ankle. Blood sprayed onto Dick's face as his enemy stumbled backwards. This gave Nightwing the opportunity to escape; Dick staggered to his knees and hobbled a few steps away.

"моргала выколю, падла..."

The KGBeast reached into his own utility belt and took out a taser. He fired it at Nightwings back. Sending 50,000 volts through his spine, Dick crashed back onto the floor.

"...You're starting to piss me off boy..."

Nightwing raised his upper body off the ground. The KGBeast walked back over to Dick and stamped him back down. The gargantuan Russian then picked up an iron chain and whipped Nightwing across the back, Dicks screams echoed through the dockyard.

"...I was going to end this quick but now I'm going to finish you nice and slow..."

Nightwing started to crawl across the floor, his body was racked in pain.

"AAAAHHHH!"

The KGBeast delivered another sickening blow to Nightwings back with the iron chain. The KGBeast rolled Nightwing over with his large metal boot and picked him up high into the air by Dick's neck. He began to tighten his grip, squeezing the air from Nightwings lungs.

"Applied pressure to your jugular veins will prevent blood flow to your brain, resulting in unconsciousness, leading to total asphyxia. Don't fight it..."

Nightwing tried to struggle but the grasp was getting tighter.

"...Let yourself fall into the darkness."

Nightwing spat blood in the face of the KGBeast.

"Gauntlets"

Nightwing's gauntlets reacted to his voice activation and sprung out, Dick slashed both his arms across the KGBeasts broad chest, the Russian released his grip. Nightwing fell to the floor, reached for his grappling hook and fired it into the heavily armored body of the KGBeast. The grappling hook knocked the breath out off the Russians and dropped him to his knees. Dick then delivered a devastating spin kick to his opponents head. Nightwing grasped the Russian by the neck.

"Who sent you to kill me?! And if you think you're not gunna talk, let me remind you. We have all night and you have plenty of bones to break"


The Maltese Falcon Nightclub
9:58AM

Jackie sat inside his newly refurbished office; he was joined by Charlie Franzese.

"Boss, I don't think it's wise to try and kill a cop. Especially the Police Commissioner"

"I'm gunna have him whacked before he has me whacked. He's not gunna be happy tomorrow when I don't send anyone with the 40K. That means no more protection, its gunna mean war"

"Do you really think we can go to gang war with the police? That's crazy talk Jackie"

"Are you going to question every decision I make?"

"No Boss, it's just-"

"Just nothing, I want you to get the news to Mario in Gotham, tell him to get the word out that I need some soldiers and I'm willing to pay big for the service. If we're going to war Charlie, we need an army"

"Yes Boss"

"And has there been any news from our Ruskie friend?"

"No news, I don't think he's one to give daily update reports"

"Don't get cheeky. Now go and do as I ask"

"Sure Boss"

Charlie left the room.


24 Hours Later
London Police Headquarters
Police Commissioner Ramsey's office

Ramsey stood next to his window, peering across the London skyline. A knock came from the door.

"It's open"

Ramsey turned to face fellow bent cop Alexander Maynard.

"Sir, Falcone's men didn't show at the drop off"

"That sonvabitch, guy obviously thinks he's untouchable. Guess we'll have to show him otherwise"

"You want him roughed up?"

"I want him 6 feet under"

"Dontcha think that's abit rash? I mean, we can teach him a lesson without killin' the guy"

"If you can't handle this personally, then get someone who can, I don't care. Just get it done and make sure it doesn't come back to us in anyway"

Maynard nodded his head and walked out of the room.


Next Issue: Guest appearance of The Boy Wonder, Damian Wayne!