Chapter Twelve: The Doctor Is In

Liam gritted his teeth in pain as he got back up on his feet, his chest burning in agony. Another part of him was burning with rage though as he knew exactly who that kind of attack belonged to. It was the one person he held responsible for all of the problems in his life including his own fathers' insanity; Doctor Phosphorus.

Quickly he retrieved his stiletto and put it away as he hid behind a rather thick pillar so he could check just how bad of a hit he'd taken. Taking as deep a breath as he could, Liam looked down at himself and felt instantly dizzy and nauseated. Most of his shirt was gone and his skin was horribly burned with slight green/yellow tinges to it. He looked away and took off his cape, ripping it into strips quickly so he could bandage himself. As he was halfway done with that however, an awfully familiar voice spoke loudly from the shadows.

"Well White Knight, you seem to be a long way from home. I wonder why you came to Jump City of all places? Was it because you knew Robin would come here later? Was it to redeem yourself and make yourself stronger? Or, perhaps…" The voice questioned, fading out as Liam finished bandaging himself.

Looking just around the edge of the pillar he tried to pinpoint where the voice was coming from. But he couldn't seem to focus and as things got hotter there seemed to be less and less air to breathe. As things got more disorienting he couldn't seem to keep himself steady.

"It was to run away from your guilt!" The voice said loudly in his ear.

Liam jumped back just in time to avoid being punched with a radioactive fist which instead crunched the metal it hit. As Phosphorus pulled his hand away Liam watched the pillar melting slowly and soon buckling at its new weak point. It crashed down and landed atop of one of the domed reactors while the glowing neon figure stared at him with a grin.

"Speaking of being a long way from home, shouldn't you be in your special cell at Arkham?" Liam asked breathily, trying to formulate a plan in his dulled mind.

"Normally yes but your father was so worried about you that he sent me to check-up and see how you're doing. He's coming to visit you know."

"So I've heard. I'm not all that thrilled though. He doesn't do too well with normal people." Liam commented as he backed into the walkways' railing. Grasping it to steady himself he then said, "Then again, I guess that's why he chose to have an insane freak like you on his team."

Doctor Phosphorus looked at him, his grin now gone from what Liam could tell, and a disappointed and insulted expression replacing it. Then, charging two more of those radioactive spheres in his palms he shouted, "How immature of you!" With that he launched them at the White Knight.

Liam, who'd been expecting this, flipped himself over the railing and launched one of his titanium knives at Phosphorus. Landing on the catwalk below he ran off as quickly as he could, taking out his grappling gun as he did so. It was just as he shot it off and swung away that the thin metal he'd been on was blasted by a stream of neon green light and instantly melted to nothing. He saw this and sighed as he landed in the higher up catwalks hidden in the shadows of the ill lit building.

Letting out a quiet and pained breath Liam silently snuck along the thin metal paths, looking around the building for a way to either escape or take-down Doctor Phosphorus. There were plenty of air vents he could go into but that would be rather loud and get his enemies attention right away. He could also attempt to get back to the way he came in and leave through there. But once again, it was a risky option and like the other it left the problem that he'd later have to deal with Phosphorus somewhere else. And with that problem came the other that if he did wait to finish him there could be hostages/ victims next time.

He crouched down next to a cable that held up the walkway he was on and shut his eyes, pausing to think. It was only when he open them again, answerless, that he saw his answer before him. There was a special reactor with an opening and closing lead dome over it and the switch was right on its' side. If he could get Phosphorus inside it and shut it before he could get out, he could overload him and kill him(if he didn't disintegrate first).

"You know Liam, the longer you play your hiding game with me, the more time my friend has to kill you two little girlfriends. Just thought I'd let you know that." Phosphorus said loudly as he cautiously looked for the White Knight.

Liam froze and felt his heart jump. How did he know where his friends were and more importantly which one from the list could be attacking them? Or, was this a bluff Doctor Phosphorus was pulling to get him to come out of hiding and act irrationally? Calming himself as best as he could, the White Knight took out his grappling gun and aimed at the button on the side of the reactor. Taking a deep breath he pulled the trigger.

Raven came out the end of the alley by the home for troubled families that Liam had told her to go to. Apparently a girl named "Faux" would be here waiting for her and would be able to make sure she was safe. Of course Raven didn't need the protection, even though his concern was sweet, and desperately wanted to go back and help him. But, he'd be upset and before she could turn around for the millionth time a figure dropped out of the shadows and landed in front of her.

Raven watched and took in the figures appearance, immediately thinking of Cat Woman. But, even though she looked similar, this girl was younger and had a much different mask and color scheme. Also, her hair was a burgundy color whereas the Gotham villain's was black.

Hiding her cautious surprise Raven asked, "Faux?"

"That's me. Where's White Knight?" She asked in return.

"He's back at the power plant fighting Stalker and a guy named Guillotine. I wanted to stay and help but he made me leave."

"Of course. He told me to keep watch of this building, in case one of his "buddies" comes after it while he's busy."

"Why this place in particular?"

"Beats me. Maybe he has a connection to it while he's not in super hero mode." Faux answered, only thinking about that possibility now.

Just as Raven was about to ask how Faux had met Liam there came a noise from the nearby manhole. They both paused and looked at the ground, wondering what could have made that sound. After a few seconds it came again and this time it was clearer than before. Waiting they heard it a third time and finally figured out it was metal clanging against the ladder of the tunnel leading up to the surface.

Faux drew out her dagger as Raven pulled up her hood and lifted up a trash can (obviously with her powers) to attack with. However, just as they readied themselves there came smoke from the manhole and what sounded like the sizzling of a wick. Putting away her weapon the Cat Woman look alike grabbed Ravens' wrist and pulled her away just as the top of the tunnel exploded in a bright burst.

The two girls still took the impact of the blast and landed on the ground dazed but thankfully unscathed. Quickly they got to their feet, knowing Liam had been wise to have them wait here in case and enemy had appeared while he was absent. Then they prepared to fight and watched as a figure emerged from the smoke wearing a gas mask and holding what looked like a blow torch in one hand and a machete in the other. This was the foe they were to face.