Batman raced through the night, his insides feeling like a bag of broken glass was shifting around in his stomach. The pain in his guts however paled next to the uncertainty in his mind. He had begun his crusade to fight evil and crime and here he was forging an alliance of convenience with Catwoman. And while Selina could be amoral, placing thrills and self-interest above any other considerations, she was a far better choice as partner then the Roanapur gunslinger. Life was sacred to The Caped Crusader, even the lives of those who had sworn to kill him. While there was life, there was the possibility of regret and redemption. Hotel Moscow's dark queen and The Gunslinger had fearsome reputations and they had not built them by showing mercy or pity to their enemies. It would be beyond naive to think either of these women would show the slightest hesitation or restrain themselves in unleashing their own kind of hell.
Batman triggered his com-link. "Oracle, Status?" he asked curtly.
"Selina just called. They've made contact with Penguin's forces. It's a warzone down there and if Rock is to be believed Revy's just getting warmed up."
Exactly what Batman had been afraid of, still The GCPD deserved to know what they were up against. "Warn Gordon about Hotel Moscow. His people won't stand a chance if they confront her, especially if Ivy is pulling her strings."
"Just so it's out there, I think you should consider what you're going to do with Balalaika."
"I'm leaving my options open," the caped crusader snapped.
"Bru ... Batman you've seen what she is capable of." Oracle whispered harshly, "She isn't going to leave you a lot of choice."
"She's under Ivy's control. I'm not a judge and jury and I won't make any kind of decision until she's free of that control."
"...At which point ether Ivy is a corpse, or you are. If she's in a bad enough mood she might try for the both of you. Can you ...are you ready for that?"
"Balalaika is pragmatic. If I can give her something she wants more then revenge, she'll quit the field."
"That's one hell of a holy grail you're looking for."
"Then its good I have my own personal digital Merlin. I know you'll find me something Oracle."
"You want me to find something that will keep the woman The Mujahideen claimed was an incarnation of hell itself from going on a killing spree."
Batman chuckled, "Actually what the Warlords claimed was that you could see the coldest levels of hell in her eyes and that she was born of the angel that guards the gates. In the Islamic tradition, Hell has multiple levels."
"Between you and Clark I do not know who has the lock on master of obscure trivia." Oracle grumbled, "Fine, I'll get Rock to help me, his pacing was starting to get on my nerves anyway."
The GCPD were securing the area around their headquarters. A small crowd of gawkers had gathered to watch the goings on. Gordon was directing crowd control when his ringing cellular snatched his attention. The Police Commissioner held a brief and animated conversation before hanging up the line.
"Bad news?" Bullock asked.
"Open war just broke out downtown. Pretty much every triad soldier is in a running gun battle "
"With who the Japanese? ...The Italians?" Sawyer wondered.
"The Gunslinger - there's also been confirmed reports of Catwoman on the scene."
"Yer kidding me, two women are waging a war." Harvey snickered.
Sawyer gave Bullock a dark stare. "Harvey am I going to have to recommend you for sensitivity training again?"
Gordon chuckled at Harvey's panicked look. "...Actually it looks like they might be winning it. They've already taken out a few of Tommy Lao's boys." He reported.
"Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of scum bags if you ask me." Harvey snickered.
"He didn't Harvey," Sawyer growled, "You want me to take care of it Jim?"
"Do the best you can Maggie. You have my full support. Whatever you have to do to get this under control."
Sawyer nodded and shouted to several men to follow her as she departed.
Bullock started checking his watch. Gordon looked at him." Are we keeping you from something Harvey."
"Waiting for the other shoe Commish, you and I both know it'll be dropping any minute now."
The ringing of Gordon's phone was eerily timed.
"You are being invaded Commissioner." the robotic disguised voice said, "The building is going to be taken by Hotel Moscow."
"How, the place is in lock down we just had a..." realization dawned on Gordon, "...Bio-hazard alert."
"Trouble?" Harvey asked.
Gordon nodded, "Big trouble -we have to get back in there now."
The assembled officers rallied. They raced for the front door but a sudden and violent explosion threw them to the ground.
"The shot came from the roof." Gordon pointed.
Harvey cursed, "A rocket launcher -are they kidding?" he whined. "What could they be after in there? Is it a break out?"
"Hotel Moscow doesn't know anyone in Gotham well enough to risk a direct attack like this." Gordon muttered.
"Isn't Crane's fear gas down there?" Harvey asked.
"Along with enough bio-toxin to kill most of Gotham." Gordon snapped. "Options?"
"If it's the bio-crap they're after, then they'll go for the evidence locker." Bullock supplied.
"Then we assume they have an exit plan." Gordon muttered.
"We could try for sewer access but that would take time."
"How much?"
Harvey turned to one of the uniforms, "Hey Evens you're dating that chick who works at sewage treatment aren't you and she always sneaking off for quickies in the service tunnels?"
"I told you that in confidence Harvey."
Gordon nodded, "Grab some men and head down there. Get in however you can. If they come out the front I'll try and hold them here."
"Commissioner, what's your status?" Gordon was thrilled to hear Batman's voice over the comlink.
"Blocked, they have us pinned down from the rooftop."
"Acknowledged, pull your people back. When I have the roof secured I'll let you know."
Suddenly Gordon heard a familiar whine and watched in awe as a high tech bike sailed off the skyway streaking across the chasm aiming toward the rooftop of police headquarters.
"Jesus is he crazy?" Bullock whistled.
"Do you really need an answer to that?" Gordon answered, "Grab a few men and head through the sewers."
Balalaika was in the basement detention level when she heard the crash from the upper floors "team one respond," She called, "...Respond!"
"This is Leonid ma'am there is some kind of motorbike up here it crashed through the roof."
"...Through the roof?" Balalaika shook her head, "Unbelievable, well he gets points for creativity."
A lounging prisoner slid up the bars of his cell, "Sounds like someone's got a bat-in-the-belfry." he said,
"We'll have to deal with him." Ivy snapped panicking
Balalaika nodded, "Leonid, rendezvous with team two. Sweep that floor."
"Understood ma'am we will..." a series of sudden thuds cut the man off.
Balalaika called for her men but now only an eerie silence came over the line. Balalaika grinned evilly. "So Mister Bat, I know you are there. Hacking enemy communications is the first step in any infiltration. You have my congratulations I'll have to reassess my opinion of the local criminal element. Taking down a team of my men is no easy feat."
"Why are you doing this, what do you gain?" The Batman asked.
"The destruction of this corrupt city is all the gain I require." Balalaika answered.
"That's Ivy talking, not you." The Dark Knight snapped, "You do things for your own reasons. Think Balalaika, think hard. This isn't like you. Why do YOU want to destroy Gotham city?"
Balalaika paused "I want to destroy this city ... I want to..." Ivy heard the hesitation in her voice. The Russian's iron will was clawing its way back to the surface.
"You want to beat The Batman," Ivy whispered, it was a long shot but Boris had given Ivy enough insight into Balalaika's character "He's the best, the strongest. Every criminal in this city is afraid of him, every one that is, but you. You've beaten his kind."
"Yes," Balalaika whispered dreamily, "I have beaten them, crushed and annihilated them, left them broken, bleeding, and crying for their wives and mothers." The evil smile was back on her face as she spoke into the communications link, "I find you fascinating Mister Bat. Criminals are given to paranoid superstition; it makes sense when you think about it. The image of the bat linked so inexorably with the dark and shadow to harass those who dwell in the dark. I've fought shadows before and found them to be all too human I hope you will provide me with more of a challenge."
"I'm not going to fight you Balalaika, not just for Ivy's amusement."
"I know that you have rules and, according to local rumor, an aversion to killing. If I really want to see what you can do I'm going to have to make it worth your while. Fortunately for both of us, your local police are much more efficient then they are in Roanapur. My cannon fodder shall be along presently, I shall trust you to put on a good show. Mister Bat, I will be disappointed otherwise. Anyone will tell you that disappointment is not a thing I deal with well ... or with any mercy." She cut the line signaling to her men to do the same.
"Are we going after Leonid and the others?" Denisof whispered.
"No, our schedule is a tight one." Balalaika looked at him steadily. "Continue your work on the gas."
Ivy looked at her, "You're really going to flood the building with fear toxin?" She asked.
Balalaika snorted, "An empty building? - Of course not, Mistress. First I will release the jail's inmates, then we'll flood the building. Violent prisoners suffering from vivid hallucinations should prove an -effective distraction for the police and The Bat."
"Why not just hunt him down and kill him?"
"He's trying to distract and delay us. Eventually Gordon and his men will realize the only way to retake this building will be to come though the sewers. The gassed prisoners will keep them busy long enough for us to get what we need and get away."
Ivy followed after Balalaika as the Mob mistress descended to the cellblock level of the jail. She walked past the cages peering at the men inside. They lacked that edge that living in the cutthroat world of Roanapur gave a man but they would do. "One does what one can with the resources at hand." She sighed.
She shouted with all the power her years of military service had given her and the room went silent. "Gentlemen, my name is Balalaika... From the silence, I will assume those of you who have never heard of me, have heard of Roanapur. A place which I assure you, does not tolerate do-gooders interfering in its business. I am going to offer you one chance and only one chance to make yourselves useful. Between you and freedom are a few dozen police and The Batman. In a few minutes, you will have access to enough weapons to deal with both of those problems. So I ask you, are any of you brave enough to step up or has a deranged masked man and the police force he cowed into subservience robbed you of everything that makes any of you worthy of being called criminals?"
"What will you be doing while we throw ourselves at the cops and The Bat." one of the men called out.
Balalaika shrugged, "Truthfully, breaking into the evidence lockup and making off with its contents. Make no mistake, you are a distraction, cannon fodder, but those of you who stand up today will be able to tell your friends you took on The Bat and survived. Is that worth anything at all to any of you?"
"I'm in, I'll do whatever you want." said a large black man. One by one, the others nodded in agreement.
Balalaika nodded and turned to Denisof, "Release them."
Ivy watched as one by one the men who didn't know this woman and owed her nothing accepted weapons and one by one headed out knowing they would be taking on their worst fear. And they looked eager.
Balalaika had a power to make others do her will that came from the sheer power of her personality. Ivy shuddered at the thought of what she could do with this woman at her side the world itself would be at her feet...if she could maintain her control.
Balalaika pulled a gas mask on her face and shouldered a weapon.
"Where are you going?" Ivy asked.
"I went to a lot of trouble to get my hands on that rocket launcher I'm not leaving it for some costumed loony." Balalaika snapped before turning to Denisof, "You are in charge until I return. When Penguin falls that rocket launcher is our ticket out of here."
"Don't you mean if he fails?" Ivy asked.
"I've known Revy a long time Mistress, so yes I mean when he falls."
Tommy Lao heard another explosion behind them and shuddered. "What the hell was that?" he cried
Penguin cackled, "That Thomas would be Geri and Peri with a little something from the summer catalog. a prototype based on the Barret, vehicle mounted. but the real sell point is the light weight construction means its perfect for the happy homemaker who just has to make it go boom in a big way."
Tommy looked back and saw another of the cars his gangsters were driving, blown skyward.
"Those idiots of yours are killing my guys." He grabbed at Penguin who slapped his hands away menacing him with a blade from the umbrella in his hand.
"Your thugs don't matter, nothing matters except the Green" The Penguin snarled before rising up and opening a utility door in the back of the cab climbing into the trailer of the truck.
"You lied to me." Tommy whined.
"Gee what are the chances that a lair would lie especially to another liar? Now be a good lad and keep that crazy girl from stopping us"
"How am I supposed to do that?"
"If the murderous maiden gets close to the cab, use the assault rifle beside you. It's just like a camera, point and click just try and keep your thumb out of the way."
Revy hauled open an inspection hatch and dropped into the back of the truck she looked around seeing a large machine that was the EMP bomb.
"Great, found you; now how do I break you?" She snarled.
"Sorry love, Uncle Oswald needs this toy intact."
Instinct drove Revy to dive for the floor before bullets raked the air. Penguin stepped forward shooting as she rolled aside behind some boxes and fired back.
"You're really going to blow up the city cause some freaky chick has screwed with your head." Revy mocked, "That is so lane, it's not funny."
"The green is so beautiful my dove. You would know that if you let her in. But its too late for that" he raked the boxes with more gunfire.
Revy heard Selina though the comlink, "Revy I hate to be pushy but these geisha are getting a little close with that rifle fire and I'm running out of things to doge behind. The soldiers are almost all dead." Kyle reported.
"Can you stay behind the truck for a little bit?"
"Why?"
Revy stood up and shot at Penguin but the man was wearing some kind of body armor. Her shots did nothing.
She tuned quickly shooting at the lock for the truck's cargo doors. The huge doors swung wide showing The fleeing Catwoman. The geishas fired at Kyle. She weaved again, allowing the AMR round to fly past Revy and Cobblepot. The shot hit the EMP Bomb, which shuddered with the impact.
"Awesome," Revy cackled, "lets see you fry the city with that dumbass."
"You really don't build 'em to last down in Roanapur. Do you?" Penguin cackled, "This was constructed with hi-test casings. One shot won't break it." A high whining came from the thing and Penguin's face fell, "It will apparently however damage the detonating system causing the whole thing to charge up until it fires off at max discharge level."
"...So its an EMP bomb." Revy asked.
Penguin sighed, "Honey as a rule, it's not a good idea to be standing right next anything that explodes with the force of a bolt of lightning." He raised an umbrella pointing it at Revy, "Not that you'll have to worry about that."
He fired and both he and Revy was shocked when a missile launched from the point of the weapon. Revy danced aside and the missile continued out into the night.
"...A missile launcher, you built a missile launcher into an freaking umbrella?"
"It's a theme," Penguin snarled, "Everybody has one, cats, bats, clowns. I like birds and umbrellas." he raised another umbrella, "Besides that was wrong one. So long sweet pea."
He fired and Revy felt the vicious punch of a shotgun blast. She was flung out the back of the truck, landing with a crash, onto the hood of a pursuing police car. Revy wasn't sure what was more shocking. That she had survived Penguin's attack thanks to the body amour she was wearing, or glancing around to find herself looking into the surprised eyes of Maggie Sawyer. "Nice timing Sawyer, I see cop response time has improved since I was a kid."
Revy looked up and saw the missile arcing back toward them.
"What the hell?"
Penguin got a wide nasty grin on his face. "Smart bomb," he said with a smile, he pressed a switch and a red targeting light appeared on Revy's chest. "I'm especially proud of the beam guidance feature."