Chapter 14: Divided.

Chicago

In Chicago, while Gotham is facing an unbelievable crisis, both James and Barbara Gordon were in Chicago, looking for proof that may discredit the current Police Commissioner of the GCPD, Quentin Harrison.

Having driven through the day and well into the evening, James Gordon was taking a quick coffee break while Barbara was still in the car on her laptop. She knew about the incident in Gotham, but according to the military reports and Cyborg, the barrier surrounding Gotham that was created by Vandal Savage was impenetrable.

Barbara: "I should be there, damn it."

In a time like this, the bulk of the Bat Family was missing and Bruce on the run, Batgirl would be able to do some good. She had to hope that Avenger and his team could handle this.

Gordon: "How is it back in the city?"

Gordon was leaning on the car, speaking to Barbara. He was aware that she was Batgirl.

Barbara: "Not good. Whatever that shield is, even Superman can't get through. Cyborg can't use his Boom Tubes to enter either, the shield is blocking them."

Barbara sighed, burying her face in one hand.

Gordon: "How do you do this, Barbara? Being Batgirl. It's a lot different than wearing a badge and carrying a gun."

Barbara chuckled half-heartedly.

Barbara: "I honestly don't know. Something comes out of the woodwork and, no matter what the odds are, we solve the mystery and stop the bad guy. I used to do this, just because in my own way, I wanted to prove I could do what you do. Now, ever since I got my legs back, I do it to stop what happened to me, happening to someone else."

Gordon couldn't help but feel proud of his little girl. While he felt as though he raised a Devil with his son, he raised an Angel in Barbara. It didn't change his mind however that he wanted her to stop being Batgirl after this was over. He was proud nonetheless.

Gordon: "Listen Barbara. I hope you do understand why I don't want you to be Batgirl anymore."

Barbara sighed.

Barbara: "You think it's too dangerous."

Gordon: "Look at what's happening in Gotham now. If we weren't working together now, you would be trapped in the city, trying to maintain order by yourself. If I didn't find you before, you would have died. There are other ways to help than dressing up in a costume and scaring criminals."

Barbara: "Batgirl does have a meaning outside of scaring criminals, dad. Batman may be the one who wants to scare criminals, but Batgirl is to give something different."

Gordon: "What?"

Barbara: "Hope."

An hour later, both Barbara and Gordon had reached the Chicago Police Department. Barbara had left her father in the car while she entered the building via the roof.

Gordon: "Do you really know what you're doing, Barbara?"

James Gordon was in the car, handling his daughter's laptop while she was inside the Chicago police department's server room. She was dressed in her batsuit.

Batgirl: "Yes. This is where Harrison worked, so this place should have all the data we need. However, we need to connect to the network physically before we can access it remotely."

What Batgirl said went over Gordon's head who had trouble understanding the technical side of things unless it was explained to him in detail, which there was no time for anyway.

Gordon: "I still don't think this is a good idea for you to be illegally entering a police station, even to look for evidence."

Batgirl connected a hacking tool shaped like a box to the server as she was typing away at the terminal.

Batgirl: "I don't think that the CPD will cooperate with an ex-police Commissioner from Gotham and his daughter. Besides, chances are that Harrison must have already done something to cover his tracks especially if he's working with the League of Assassins. Doing it this way is the better option."

After the security was bypassed, the data began to upload to Batgirl's laptop.

Gordon: "Okay. The upload has started."

Batgirl: "Good. Now just need…"

CPD Officer: "Hey!"

Behind her, a officer drew his gun and aimed it at Batgirl who responded by quickly throwing a smoke pellet at him and he fell to the ground in a coughing fit, but the shout had alerted nearby officers and they were approaching fast from down the hall.

Gordon: "Barbara! What was that?!"

Batgirl: "Just a minor distraction."

Gordon: "No it isn't! Get out of there!"

Batgirl didn't listen for a moment. She had to quickly install a program that would funnel out any data relating to Quentin Harrison. By the time she did, she only had seconds to get out before the entire Police Department was on top of her.

Gordon: "Barbara!"

Batgirl quickly ran and dove into a vent which took her into the ventilation system. She followed it out of the building and into an alleyway where James Gordon was waiting with the car.

Gordon: "Get in!"

Batgirl quickly got into the car and Gordon put his foot down on the gas pedal, speeding away from the building.

Gordon: "Damn it! Why didn't you get out sooner?! You could have been caught, you could have been killed!"

Gordon was incensed that his daughter didn't listen to him.

Batgirl: "I had to install that program or we were gonna be spending the next few days going through the data and Gotham doesn't have days."

Gordon: "You didn't have seconds, yet you risked yourself. And for what? To save time?"

Batgirl: "It's part of the job, dad! You know that!"

Gordon and Batgirl were furious at each other. Gordon for his daughter putting herself in what he believed was unnecessary risk and Batgirl for her father not understanding the importance of what she did. But, both agreed on one thing…

Batgirl: "We don't have time for this."

Gordon nodded reluctantly and handed her back the laptop.

Batgirl: "Let's see what we got."

Nore Steel Mill

At the steel mill, Batman entered through the front door which seemed to be unguarded.

Alfred: "Sir, does this remind you of the many ambushes you've had in your career?"

Batman: "It does, Penny One."

In the alternate hideout that Batman and Alfred were using for their operations, the butler looked back and saw Damian, asleep on a nearby bed.

Batman: "How is he?"

Alfred: "Still sleeping. Whatever hypnotic effect that has been done to his mind, it seems that it won't pass easily."

Batman: "Judging by the effects, I would have to say that Psycho Pirate was behind this. Only the Medusa Mask can control people with lingering side effects like this."

Alfred: "But, Roger Hayden was arrested last year by The Flash in Central City. He's been in Iron Heights ever since and his mask has since gone missing."

Batman: "Meaning someone else has the mask."

Alfred leaned his head on his arm as his expression became unpleasant.

Alfred: "I bet it was that damn Dr. Argent. The head of the Gotham Orphanage. They must have been programming Master Damian for days."

Batman stopped for a second, looking around for any signs of an ambush. Using the enhanced vision in his cowl, he couldn't see anyone, but he wasn't forgoing the possibility that they may be wearing gear that is undetectable.

Batman: "Once this is done, I'll hunt down Argent and fix what he's done to Damian."

Those words caused Alfred to feel rather unsettled. Deciding that it couldn't be ignored, he addressed the elephant in the room.

Alfred: "Master Bruce. What are you going to do about Master Rivers? You know he won't simply accept that you killed someone and allow you to go free."

Batman's expression dropped. He hadn't forgotten what he had done back in the courthouse, how Jeremiah Arkham had been masquerading as The Joker, causing him to finally snap and kill him. He had broken his rule to never kill, he had now become the monster that he had been fighting his whole life.

Alfred: "Master Bruce?"

Batman: "…"

He didn't respond. What could he say? How could he justify it? Ever since Winston Grace, every criminal in Gotham has been wearing him down and causing damage to the city and it's citizens under his watch. Chinatown, a whole section of the city, was destroyed with his own weapons.

Walking into the industrial complex area where steel was being melted down in large metal vats all around him, Batman looked up and, on the highest railing above, was a relay device that one of the beams of energy that made up the shield surrounding Gotham was attracted to.

Batman: "Alfred. I think after tonight, there will be no more Batman."

Alfred: "M-Master Bruce?"

Alfred didn't believe he heard that correctly. Just as he was going to respond, multiple laser sights were directed all on the Caped Crusader. Unfortunately, Batman was in the middle of the industrial complex area where all of the men had a good shot at him and surrounded him on the railings above. All these men were dressed in black paramilitary gear and were armed with night vision goggles. Any attempt to dash for cover would result in a hailstorm of bullets in his direction and turning off the lights was no good either.

Batman: "Bane's men."

Henchman: "We have you in our sights, Batman! Nowhere to run this time. No Wayne fortune to save you!"

The other men in the room chuckled as they were itching to pull their triggers and end the Bat once and for all.

Batman: "Where's Bane?"

Henchman: "The military base outside Gotham limits. It's not like it matters anyway. You can't get outside the shield and you won't even get out of here alive!"

Batman made a glare at the henchman talking, but not one of contempt, one of challenge.

Batman: "That's all I needed to hear."

Batman quickly pressed a button on his utility belt and all the lights went out which prompted the men to pull on their night vision, but that was what Batman wanted as he threw a capsule from his belt high into the air and it exploded in a flash of pure white light. The capsule was a flashbang that blinded and disoriented all the men that had put on their night vision. This allowed Batman the opportunity to move quickly and take down as many of the men as he could before the blinding effects wore off. Even after they regained their vision, Batman proved to be a tough target to hit when they didn't have the upper hand. It wasn't long before Batman had knocked out all the armed men in the room, however he didn't get out of the ordeal unscathed. He had to pull a knife out of his shoulder and one of the armed men had managed to hit him with a bullet to the back of the head, thankfully his cowl had reinforced Kevlar woven into it.

Alfred: "Batman! What is your status?"

Batman: "Penny One, I have eyes on the device."

Alfred took a sigh of relief.

Alfred: "That's good. I'll check on the others and see if everyone's in position."

Batman climbed to the highest railing and scanned the device that was in front of him with his cowl. Whatever the device was, it was built by someone who knew exactly what they were doing, but every few in the world had the technology and know-how to design something like this for energy this potent.

Batman: "LexCorp."

Vider's Buckles

At the same time, Crow had just finished up, taking down the paramilitaries that had had been stationed there to guard the device. Unlike Batman, Crow didn't have an assortment of gadgets, although she didn't need it. She easily took down anyone she deemed as a threat and in spectacular fashion. She was fast, not The Flash fast, but borderline superhuman. She was able to dodge bullets by reading the body language and moved out of their line of fire and took her enemy down with a single strike to their weakest points.

Crow: "Finished."

Alfred: "Marvellous, Miss Cain. Please hold position until I confirm that everyone's ready."

Crow took her place next to the device and did as instructed to by Alfred. The time she had now was spent with her thoughts.

She remembered about the time she saw the poster about the ballet and she became somewhat interested in it. For Cassandra Cain, having been trained to interpret body language, her other language skills left a lot to be desired and left her severely dyslexic. She couldn't read or write, despite Riley and Stephanie's best efforts. Even the school she was attending thanks to Bruce Wayne was beginning to be frustrated with her lack of progress, even though she was in a class for people with severe learning difficulties.

Crow took off her mask, letting the air get to her face, and then she began to twirl as though she was preforming ballet herself. Riley had promised to take her some time and she was excited for it, but she had the chance to observe a show about it, TV had a lot of interesting things on it that drew Cassandra's attention.

As she danced like those people she'd seen on the TV, she felt as though she was singing without words. She felt free from a cage that trapped her within her own body. Meeting Riley, Stephanie, Harper, and Cullen after years of being used by the League of Assassins had given her a new lease on life that she was determined to live.

She wanted to continue to fight crime however. To save those who can't save themselves. But, she felt inside, that her current identity as Crow was not enough of a reason to fight. She needed something else.

A symbol. Like Riley's. But different.

?: "How pathetic."

A voice called out from the darkness and Cassandra ceased her dance and faced whoever was standing there. Even though the face of the person couldn't be seen, Cassandra knew who it was and shock formed on her face.

Cassandra: "You… Not you…"

?: "Are you really surprised? That I wouldn't come to see what David Cain had done to you?"

The figure stepped into the light and revealed herself to Cassandra.

It was Lady Shiva.

Cassandra: "Mother."

Shiva: "Cassandra."

Cassandra: "Why? Here?"

Shiva: "As I said: I wished to see the result of David Cain and Michael Rivers' work. Seeing you and Riley Rivers. You two were supposed to be the future of mankind, yet I see wasted potential."

Shiva took a step towards Cassandra which prompted her to take a fighting stance.

Shiva: "Do you intend to fight me, girl? I can see that you have been influenced by Rivers' way of thinking. You believe that taking lives is evil, that we don't deserve to be the judge, jury, and executioner as he would put it. I saw you fight these men and you could have killed them all easily, but you didn't go for the killing blow."

Cassandra didn't respond, she remained rooted to the spot, ready for a sudden attack.

Shiva: "I always had enough respect for Michael to not go after his son. I saw that as his responsibility to handle. You are another matter. David should have not been so soft on you."

Cassandra: "He… Never soft… Ever."

Cassandra responded with angry stutters which brought amusement to Shiva.

Shiva: "You think he was hard on you? If anything, he treated you quite special. He had high hopes for you. Hoping that you would become queen to the new Ra's al Ghul and bring a new age. He was sorely deluded."

Shiva spat her last words out with venom as she took a fighting stance and motioned for Cassandra to attack.

Shiva: "Enough talk. Fight."

Cassandra ran at Shiva and punched and kicked at her with the almost precision, but Shiva was evading as though a child was fighting her. With impatience in her expression, she grabbed Cassandra by the throat and held her tight as her daughter struggled to free herself.

Shiva: "You're still doing it. Even though you know what I'm capable of, you still refuse to strike a killing blow."

Shiva snarled at Cassandra who held onto her mother's wrist, trying to pry it off her, blood pouring from her mouth and onto Shiva's hand.

Cassandra: "Not… Kill."

Shiva: "Useless girl."

Shiva released Cassandra, only to chop her in the neck and knock her down.

Shiva: "As you are now, you are not even worth killing. I will leave you to your fantasy of living your life with no blood on your hands, but rest assured…"

Shiva looked down condescendingly at her daughter.

Shiva: "One day, you and I will face off again. I better be more satisfied with your development or I really will end you."

Leaving Cassandra immobile on the ground, but still conscious, Shiva reentered the shadows and, just as quickly as she appeared, she was gone.

Unable to move, Cassandra felt seething anger at being unable to stop her mother. She was nothing but a child compared to her.

She would never give into killing, but could she ever beat Shiva without the willingness to do so?

Lajo Spas

Just like Batman and Crow, everyone had been successful with securing the conduits responsible for keeping the barrier up. Bluebird had also reported as being in position near the city's central substation. Once the conduits and substation had all been turned off, Vandal Savage would be reachable and maybe this nightmare could be stopped.

The last conduit was inside Lajo Spas which was Avenger's objection. However, Emma Grace was expecting him inside and she told him that Kerry Rivers and Charlotte Troy were with her. No matter what, he had to shut down the conduit, but what was Emma's game here? Why wait for him here while she could have been inside Wayne Tower with Savage?

He stepped in and the first thing he imagined seeing was an armed guard, but the place was completely deserted.

Avenger: "Emma?"

Emma: "In here."

After calling for Emma, she responded from inside a room where a dim, slightly flickering lights were coming from. He walked towards the room and felt a rush of heat push against his body, his black attire seemingly absorbing it. When he opened the door, the sound of flowing water pouring and the satisfied sigh of Emma Grace a few feet reached his ears.

Emma: "I simply adore these spas. My skin certainly thanks me for coming to them often."

Emma was sitting inside a hot spa bath, her form naked as the day she was born, her blue eyes meeting Avenger's own brown hidden behind the white transparent material. The room was dimly lit by candlelight with roses littered around the outline of the bath while the woman herself was resting and relaxing in the translucent water.

Avenger: "Would you like me to stand outside?"

Avenger, at this moment, was in no mood to play the role of a gentleman. This woman was holding his mother and younger sister hostage and it took everything he had to not drag her out of the bath and force her to talk, but doing so could do more harm than good.

In response to Avenger's question, Emma kicked her leg in the air and ran her hand temptingly down it.

Emma: "Why? I asked for you to enter. You may even join me if you wish."

Avenger: "I'll pass."

Emma: "Really? A shame."

Emma spoke disappointedly as she lowered her leg back into the bath. She gently and sensually spread water over her porcelain skin with her hands, glancing out of the corner of her eyes at Avenger, hoping that he was watching.

Avenger: "Where's my mother and Charlotte?"

Emma: "They're safe. I wouldn't bring you here, just to tell you that they've been harmed."

Avenger could smell the scented candles mixing with the roses. The scene in front of him was reminiscent of a romance movie or novel, even though in this situation, when there is death and destruction just outside, it was inappropriate for his tastes.

Emma: "You should relax, Riley. You must have been overworked with what's been going on in the city and you need to rest."

Avenger: "I can clearly see what you're trying to do. What about my brother? Has he outlived his usefulness?"

Avenger spoke sharply, much to Emma's offence. She stopped relaxing and leaned on the side of the bath, looking straight at him.

Emma: "That's not fair to say! Don't get me wrong, I do care about Rick, but I'm not in love with him."

Avenger's scowl became even fierce.

Avenger: "So you led him on, like I knew you were, and you stoked his insanity. He was sick and needed help, and you made him worse. Do you know fully what's he's been doing? Do you know that he set an entire complex on fire? How many he's hurt?"

Emma made a crestfallen look.

Emma: "I had to lead him on. It was the only way I was going to get back my father's empire. I never imagined that I would eventually own Wayne Enterprises, but I couldn't let my father's death be in vain."

Avenger: "Do you expect me to feel sorry for you?"

Emma: "No! I…"

Emma made an unpleasant click of her tongue.

Emma: "Now look, you've gotten me all tense."

Avenger: "I apologise, Miss Grace."

Avenger spoke disingenuously. He realised that he had to finish up here, there was no time to have a moral debate with Emma Grace who has proven to do anything to get what she wants. She stands out of the water, causing Avenger to turn his head.

Emma: "Be a dear and get me a towel, please."

Avenger walked over to the side and grabbed one of the white towels that rested on a towel rack. Grabbing one, he tossed it to Emma unceremoniously. Catching it, Emma made a sigh.

Emma: "You could have been romantic about it."

Emma wrapped the towel around her body and stepped out of the bath. Her words enraged Avenger to the point that he snarled at her.

Avenger: "What is romantic about this situation?! People are dying all over the city! A madman is trying to become a God and you're just relaxing in a spa bath, pretending it's not happening!"

Emma: "I know it's happening. But, what do you want me to do about it? I serve to gain more if Vandal become a God and takes over the world. I will not just be the most powerful business figure in Gotham, but the entire world."

Avenger: "Then why are you trying to sabotage him?"

Emma raised her eyebrow and tightened her grip on the towel she wore.

Emma: "What do you mean, darling?"

Emma spoke with a smirk.

Avenger: "It took me a while to figure it out, but the businesses you set up when you left Arkham Asylum. They make the initials V.A.N.D.A.L. You were trying to tell someone who was behind this whole thing. Why do that, if you weren't trying to betray him?"

Emma made a brief surprised expression before forming an impressed smile.

Emma: "It's true. I don't really want Vandal to be successful in his endeavour. Him becoming a God and creating a new world for himself would be terrible for business, after all, what use will there be for Grace Enterprises if I'm already in Savage's inner circle? I doubt he would allow someone like me to have a place anyway."

Avenger: "So you're trying to betray him before he betrays you."

Emma: "True. I was hoping that you'd take him down and I could remain in control of Wayne Enterprises, transform it into Grace Enterprises, and move onto the next step."

Avenger: "What next step would that be?"

Emma stepped forward towards Avenger, her lips pursed slightly as she aimed for his own, but Avenger wasn't about to be caught off guard again and grabbed her shoulders, keeping her away.

Avenger: "The last time you kissed me, you poisoned me, remember?"

Emma: "That was necessary. You would have gotten in the way if I didn't."

Avenger was beginning to become very impatient. He had enough of Emma Grace playing these games with him, especially while other people's lives were in the balance.

Avenger: "What do you want, Emma? What do you want from me?"

Emma made wide eyes in surprise, but her expression quickly turned to amusement.

Emma: "We both know what I want, Riley…"

Unwrapping the cloth that was around her figure, Emma allowed the towel to fall to the ground around her feet. An act which shocks Avenger as despite the events that were transpiring around him, seeing a naked woman was gonna take most people off their game for a brief moment. She wrapped her arms around the back of his neck, getting as close as she could.

Emma: "I've told you in the past. I want you by my side. You and I are made for each other, Riley Rivers. You're above this vigilante nonsense, you deserve more than a woman who would leave you for nothing other than money."

Lauren…

Emma: "You deserve a family that aren't filled with secrets. You deserve a true woman who will allow you to be whatever you want to be."

Emma spoke gently, her words carefully spun to appeal to the man in front of her. Using her body as a weapon and her words as ammo, Emma moved her face forward toward his, her lips finally connecting with Avenger's own. Having never been in such a situation before, Avenger struggled to regain his reason. Nothing that was happening was what he wanted and he had to escape from this now before he completely lost himself.

What was wrong with him? He asked himself. He should be pushing her off right now! But, he felt like since defending Bruce Wayne… Now before that, witnessing his father abandon his ideals to become a killer had made Riley Rivers think about what he was fighting for and why he chose to fight.

He never truly wanted to be Avenger. It was something that he did because the police and legal systems weren't enough at the moment. He wanted to avenge his father's death, then he wanted to be the deterrent against Batman, now he wanted to save Gotham. But, it was a hypocrisy to be against breaking the law when he did so every night. He even lied in court to defend a man who was guilty.

Was he going to become like his father?

Emma: "Just relax, darling. You and I are all alone in this building. Vandal Savage will be dealt with, don't worry. You and I don't need to lift a finger."

Emma was pushing against Avenger, trying to pin him against the wall, pressing the seductive attack on him.

Emma: "Become mine, Riley."

Avenger: "No."

Avenger regained control of his senses and pushed Emma back who couldn't believe what was happening. He picked up the towel and shoved it against Emma who held it in shock.

Emma: "Why..?"

Avenger: "The man you want me to be, Emma, doesn't exist. I know who I am and I will remain that way, no matter what."

Emma shook her head incredulously.

Emma: "I was going to give you everything! Me, give your family a better life, anything! And yet, you tell me no?!"

Avenger: "Yes. I don't know what you have planned for Vandal Savage, but if it's different than him being before the world court for his crimes against humanity, it's not what I want. You may not like being told no, but that might be the problem with you. You're ambitious and you've never been told no. Never a good combination."

Emma clutched the towel into her chest and she gripped it hard enough that she almost drew blood.

Avenger: "I also have a feeling that you've been working with the League of Assassins. Because you seem to know about my father, am I wrong?"

Emma didn't respond, but her words during her 'assault' confirmed it for him.

Avenger: "No matter if you say it or not. I have a job to do and you better be gone by the time I come back or you'll be back in prison."

Avenger turned his back to Emma and began to leave the bathroom.

Emma: "Don't leave."

Avenger stopped for a second, listening to whatever reason that Emma was about to give.

Emma: "I made a deal. If you leave this room, I can't protect you. I promise you that you will die."

Emma was telling the truth. He could hear it in her voice. They must be watching the area outside the door, so once he walked out, he would be attacked by those guarding the conduit.

Avenger: "I'll take my chances. I'd rather die saving this city than allow it to go to Hell."

Avenger left the bathroom and Emma behind, who glared after him with the utmost scorn.

Emma: "I don't take no for an answer, darling."

Once outside the bathroom, he shut the door behind him…

Argent: "You shouldn't have left that bathroom."

The man with the golden face stood directly across the room from Avenger. The mask making a frown as he approached.

Avenger: "Where are the two people that you took?"

Avenger warned the man standing across from him, knowing that he must have been the one who Emma had kidnap his mother and sister.

Argent: "The girls is upstairs. I often allow for my girls to marinate for a bit under my control before I partake in them. The woman isn't here. Someone came by and took her somewhere else."

Argent's mask formed a sickening grin as he spoke about Charlotte and nonchalantly talked about Kerry, both angered Avenger.

Avenger: "If either of them are hurt…"

Argent: "You'll do what? I have the upper hand here."

Out of the shadows appeared multiple people all dressed in assassin garb surround the two. All brandishing swords, sai, and other weapons. Avenger had seen these sort of people before and they were definitely the League of Assassins.

Argent: "I have friends of my own, even though I don't need them. You're about to join the women and young Robin…"

Staring straight at Avenger, the mask that Argent wore made a neutral expression.

Argent: "You are mine now, Avenger. You will obey my every command."

Speaking in an silkily, monotone voice, Argent smiled underneath the mask as Avenger remained rooted to the very spot he stood. Believing that Avenger was frozen, he got closer and closer.

Argent: "Miss Grace never told me who you were, even though it's evident that she does. So, I'll fix my curiosity by seeing who's under that mask…"

Argent reached for the mask… Only to get punched in the face as a result. The mask receiving a dent from Avenger's fist. The fallen masked man looked up, his mask making an expression of confusion.

Argent: "H-How?! The mask is supposed to put you under my control."

Avenger did feel as though something was trying to enter his head, but having beaten the Mad Hatter's mind control which rewrote years of his life, it felt as though he knew how to push the invasion out.

Avenger: "Sorry. I've had my mind toyed with before. It's not happening again."

Argent quickly got back to his feet and ran down the corridor which led to the stairs. By this point, the assassins readied their weapons and took a stance. They all attacked him at once and he fought back. Dozens of men attacked him at once and they could not lay so much as a finger on him. A kick here, a palm thrust there, a lot of punches. It didn't take too long for Avenger to take down these well-trained men, again displaying his martial arts prowess.

Pursuing Argent, he ran down the corridor and up the stairs before slowing to a stop. The corridor had multiple room which Argent could be hiding in, so he listened and moved slowly through the corridor. After getting halfway down the corridor, the door next to him opened abruptly and Argent burst out with a iron pipe.

Argent: "Die bastard!"

Avenger easily grabbed Argent's wrist and kneed him in the chest, knocking the wind out of him. He doubled back and fell back into the room he came out of. He tried to crawl away from Avenger who stalked him.

Argent: "Girl!"

Argent called out for someone and, much to Avenger's horror, Charlotte came at him with a knife. He was easily able to stop her, although gently to avoid hurting her, but she struggled against him as though she couldn't recognise her own brother. Avenger took the knife from her and stood up, Charlotte bashing her little fists against his leg, but they didn't affect him. Argent backed into a wall as Avenger approached with the knife with his teeth bared and face contorted in rage.

Argent: "P-Please, I-I didn't..!"

Raising the knife up, Argent cowered, believing he was about to be stabbed, but instead the Medusa Mask is ripped off his face and the knife is plunged into it and into the wall next to his head.

Avenger: "Shut. Up."

The mask, as though if it was alive, gaped as though it was screaming and it melted onto a puddle on the ground. Charlotte's eyes returned to their usual vibrant colour again, but the strain of what had been done to her caused her to pass out, her brother catching her before she fell, gently placing her down. Argent tried to blot out the door, but Avenger caught him again and pinned him against the wall.

Avenger: "Where's the conduit?"

Argent: "On the roof! On the roof! Just please let me go!"

He was pitiful and pathetic. Tears of fear streamed down his face as he pleaded for his own safety.

Argent: "It's just… Little girls and boys. Their smiles, their innocence, their purity. It… Arouses me. I can't help myself…"

Avenger grimaced for a second. His sister had been in the hands of this man for an unknown about of time, if he had done anything to her…

Argent: "I swear! I didn't touch her! Just… Just let me go!"

Avenger: "You really are a monster."

Avenger dragged him back into the room and took out a pair of handcuffs in his utility belt, but before he could put them on Argent…

BANG!

The glass window caved in as a bullet traveled through it and blood spurted from Argent onto Avenger who quickly stared at the window and caught sight of a middle-aged man scaling past towards the roof of the spa. He released Argent's corpse and picked up an unconscious Charlotte and brought her into the bathroom and rested her against the wall.

Avenger: "I'll be back soon, Charlotte. I promise."

Leaving the bathroom and closing the door behind him as well as locking the door to the room they were in from the inside, Avenger jumped out the window and used his grapnel gun to quickly reach the roof where the conduit is, but the man who shot Argent was there too.

Quentin: "About time you got here."

The Commissioner of the GCPD, Quentin Harrison was standing between Avenger and the conduit keeping the barrier up. Not just that, but he was holding someone at gunpoint.

Kerry Rivers shuddered, unable to move as her head was hooked by Quentin's arm and his free arm was pointing a gun at her head.

Avenger: "Commissioner Harrison."

Avenger said it with no surprise in his voice. The League of Assassins was here, so he expected for Quentin to be here as well, but he didn't know that he'd be holding his mother at gunpoint.

Quentin: "I'm disappointed in you, Avenger. I really am."

Avenger: "If someone should be disappointed, it should be everyone in this city. You've been doing nothing but furthering the agenda of Vandal Savage this whole time."

Avenger stated accusingly.

Quentin: "So Emma Grace has told you or you've figured it out. Either way, it doesn't matter. But, I'm not here to serve Vandal Savage. You see, it's all a personal matter for me."

Avenger: "I thought so."

Quentin made a rare expression of surprise.

Quentin: "How so?"

Avenger: "First of all…"

Avenger narrowed his eyes at Quentin.

Avenger: "Are you going to apply more of that cream containing the Clayface mutagen?"

Quentin didn't react visibly. He took a plastic tub containing cream and looked at it, then at Avenger.

Quentin: "So you know about that."

Avenger: "You hired Hank Wriggly to take samples of Clayface's body which you engineered into a cream. You then managed to take the identity of Quentin Harrison and take advantage of Sebastian Hady to become Commissioner. In fact, I doubt that the real Quentin Harrison is even still alive, is he?"

Chicago

After hacking into the Chicago Police Department database, Barbara found little about Quentin Harrison other than the fact that he reappeared a short time ago after being missing for years.

Gordon: "How can he just pop out of nowhere if he's been gone for that long?"

Barbara: "What if he's still gone? What if the Quentin Harrison we know now, isn't the right one?"

Gordon began to consider that possibility. And it forced him to acknowledge something that he was ashamed to admit.

Barbara: "What is it?"

Barbara spoke out of concern.

Gordon: "I do know that Quentin Harrison was a part of the botched STING operation that killed many. The one which Michael survived."

Barbara: "Are you thinking that Quentin may have not survived?"

Gordon: "Only Michael would know for sure. If only he wasn't buried in Gotham cemetery."

It then came to Barbara. The fact that the League of Assassins stole a portion of Clayface from him during the Arkham riots and the fact that he'd come out of nowhere without suspicion. Quickly searching the data they gathered on the laptop from the CPD server, it revealed that both Michael Rivers and Quentin Harrison were partners in the homicide department at the time of the STING operation.

Barbara: "Dad. I need to tell you something."

Barbara went on to explain about Michael Rivers. That he was actually a member of the League of Assassin and had faked his death to leave the city and join them again. She left Riley's name out of it to avoid revealing his identity as Avenger, only saying that Avenger stopped him from cloning and killing the Justice League which resulted in the explosion of the Watchtower.

Gordon was flabbergasted to say the least as well as horrified. Michael Rivers was one of Gotham City's best police officers when he was there. He had done him a disservice by demoting him to beat cop when Sally Martini blackmailed him during the events of Blind Justice, but he took it and still served the city.

To hear that he had been a criminal all along…

Gordon: "… What is it about Gotham that turns good people into monsters?"

A sense of hopelessness was evident in his voice. He leaned his head on the steering wheel in disbelief while Barbara allowed him to get it out of his system.

But, one question remained in her mind.

If Quentin Harrison is dead, where's the body?

Roof of Lajo Spas

Avenger: "You put the real Quentin Harrison's body in your grave, didn't you?"

Quentin didn't answer, but his impressed smile remained. He dragged Kerry over to the conduit and handcuffed her to it before turning back to Avenger. He dropped the gun onto the floor and began to fiddle with his face as though he was finding a seam… And then he stared tearing at his own face.

Quentin: "I suppose I don't need this anymore."

Ripping the skin off his face like a mask, underneath the layer of seemingly aged and elderly skin, was a coloured man in his late twenties. He takes off the greyed hair that he wore, revealing his black hair.

Kerry could see the man's face from where she was and, when she did, her entire body froze. She was confused, should she be happy or terrified? Because the man that was standing before her…

Avenger: "Michael Rivers."

In front of Avenger was the current Ra's al Ghul, leader of the League of Assassins, and his own father.

Avenger: "Why did you come back here?"

Avenger growled at his father. Ever since it had been revealed that the League of Assassins had a role in this entire event, ever since he fought Ubu, Avenger had known that he would encounter his father eventually. Now that he's standing in front of him, all those memories of being beaten and bloodied over his years of training with the man, came flooding back.

Michael: "Why did I come back, you ask? Why ask a question that you already know the answer to? I came back to fix this city."

Avenger: "Let me guess: by destroying it?"

Michael: "Don't be sardonic. You knew that I was going to return. You've known that ever since we fought on the Watchtower. You knew that I would come back. You robbed me of the opportunity to fix the world, but that doesn't mean I can't start with Gotham."

Avenger: "No. I'm gonna stop you and Vandal Savage."

Michael made a chuckle.

Michael: "Look around you. The city's in chaos. The people are showing their true colours and turning on each other. When it comes to it, the people of this damned city only care about themselves. Like that freak downstairs that I shot."

Michael clenched his fists, his expression becoming more foul.

Michael: "Why didn't you kill that man? You could of done so easily. I didn't expect for you to accept to Emma Grace's advances, but I would imagine that you would have been compelled to end the life of that sick man, Argent."

Avenger: "I don't…"

Michael: "You don't kill. While you keep your hands clean of blood, Argent, in case you hadn't realised it, is a pedophile. He was allowed to become the head of the Gotham City Orphanage and he's used that to abuse many children. How can you justify giving someone like that power like that? Charlotte could have already been victimised and you didn't punish him in the way he deserved?"

Avenger didn't respond. He knew that his father wouldn't listen to him no matter what he said. He felt like he couldn't kill Argent even if the worst had happened to Charlotte, he couldn't just kill people for vengeance…

Kerry: "Michael…"

Kerry called out to Michael who turned towards her and made a half-hearted laugh.

Michael: "I almost forgot about you, Kerry. We haven't seen each other since I shot Kieran Troy with the arrow, but you didn't know it was me."

Kerry was stunned. She felt as though the man in the skull mask from a while ago was Michael, but she wouldn't believe it, not for a second. This man was significantly younger than what Micheal should have been, but there was no mistaking it.

Kerry: "But… You're alive."

Michael looked confused and then slowly turned his head towards Avenger.

Michael: "You didn't tell her."

Avenger took a step back out of fear. He never wanted to tell his mother about the abuse she suffered at the hands of Michael, how it drove her to cheat on him with Kieran which gave birth to Charlotte, and the terrorist that he had now become.

Michael: "You haven't told her what has happening? You've just led her to believe that I'm dead? You've lied to her and allowed her to live a lie."

Avenger: "What do you want me to say? Tell the truth and learn what you really are?"

Michael: "I thought that admitting the truth and defending the innocent was your way! Instead, how many of your own rules have you broken!?"

Michael yelled at Avenger.

Michael: "You defended a guilty man, even though you knew he was guilty. Why do you think I outed Bruce Wayne? I did so to test your resolve and I discovered something: you're just as much of a hypocrite like I am."

Avenger: "I am nothing like you."

Michael: "You've felt it, haven't you? Your own morals slipping. Let me tell you from experience, that's how it starts. This is what happened to me. I realised a long time ago that everything I knew was wrong and then it started happening…"

Avenger: "No! Not me!"

Avenger made the first move and the first mistake to act out of emotion. Michael sidestepped him and chopped him in the side of the neck. Realising his mistake, Avenger got some distance from his father.

Michael: "The fact that you'd attack me like that means that there is some element of truth to what I'm saying."

Avenger: "I did what I did to save others."

Michael: "I do what I do to save everything."

Kerry watched both Avenger and Michael, confused as to what was happening, what this debate between her supposedly-dead husband and this vigilante. She couldn't shake the feeling that not only did they know each other, but she knew Avenger too…

Avenger charged again and threw a few strikes at Michael who evaded each one and caught his right arm in a lock. He then punched Avenger in the ribs violently before pulling him down, his face falling into his knee. Stunned, Avenger couldn't block a side kick straight into his stomach which sent him nearly tumbling off the roof, but he recovered. Trying to attack again didn't work for Avenger either as Michael struck back with pinpoint accuracy.

Avenger was being picked apart.

Michael: "This is futile."

Michael stated as Avenger stood back up, ready to fight, blood trickling from his mouth and right eye.

Avenger: "I beat you before and I'll beat you again."

Michael: "Last time, I considered you my son. Now, you're nothing to me, but another obstacle."

Kerry's eyes widened as she heard that. She stared at Avenger with horror on her face.

Avenger: "…"

Even though he accepted that his father was no longer the man he knew, the fact that he could say that without hesitation, still hurt. If blood was coming out of his eye, tears would come out instead. He cried tears of blood as he stepped forward towards Michael, his guard up.

Michael: "I gave Emma Grace the chance to make you see the truth. I've revealed to you the truth. That you and I are the same, you just don't know that yet. But, it's too late now."

Michael rushed forward and broke through Avenger's guard, jabbing his fingers into his lower stomach which caused a feeling of nausea and he then elbowed him in the upper back, causing Avenger to fall to his stomach.

Michael: "You knew that attacking me head-on would result in defeat and yet you fought with your fists and not your brain. I taught you better than that, Riley."

Kerry looked down on Avenger as Michael grabbed him and forced him to look back at Kerry.

Michael: "Have you not realised yet, Kerry? Can't you recognise your son?"

Kerry: "It can't…"

Michael: "It can."

Michael then ripped off Avenger's mask, revealing his beaten face to his mother. Although handcuffed, Kerry felt her body's strength fade and her heart felt as though it was going to break. Her son was a vigilante? But, it did make sense. The mysterious disappearances, the all-night work, not answering the phone constantly, the strange feelings she had been getting. And the memory of a ski mask she found in Riley's room before being attacked by Hush during Blind Justice.

All of it came back to Kerry. Her son was The Avenger.

Riley: "Mom…"

Riley didn't want Kerry to ever find out, fearing the shock would cause her more pain than she had since Michael's death, but in a single action, the man who was his father had destroyed every effort that Riley had to go through to keep this secret.

Michael: "What's this?"

Michael's hand dove into a pouch on Riley's leg and pulled out his baton which ironically belonged to him originally.

Michael: "You still have my baton? Even after you found out who I really was? I thought you would have throw it away."

Michael took the baton and then kicked Riley in the ribs, knocking the wind out of him. It took everything he had to avoid losing consciousness. He could hardly breathe and his heart felt as though it would burst from his chest.

Kerry still couldn't believe what she had just witnessed as Michael grabbed her face and forced it towards his.

Kerry: "Michael… I don't understand."

Michael: "Of course, you don't. Why would you? There is much we have to talk about, Kerry. There is much you don't know."

Looking up at the conduit, Riley realised that he wasn't gonna be able to get past Michael to get to it. At this point, Michael was simply toying with him. He had to make one last ditch effort to turn off the conduit. It was the only way that the team was going to get close to Savage.

Riley: "Penny-One. Give the signal."

Michael: "Um?"

Riley dived forward and pressed the switch of the conduit. The beam of energy that connected to the device stopped entirely as Riley hit the floor.

Michael: "Damn it!"

Michael realised what happened. The beams of light that were coming from the other conduits around the city vanished completely and the power in the city suddenly cut, engulfing the urban jungle to darkness. The team of heroes had managed to shut off the conduits and the power in the city and, as a result, the barrier that surrounded the entire city began to dissipate.

Michael looked at Riley in anger. With the barrier now down, the military would have no choice but to enter the city to keep up appearances and it also opened up the potential for other groups, such as the Justice League, to interfere also.

Michael: "Do you have any idea of what you've just done?!"

Michael picked up Riley by his collar.

Riley: "I've opened the door for those who can stop Savage."

Michael: "No. You've doomed us all. Goodbye, Riley."

Releasing Riley, Michael delivered a single palm strike to him which sent him over the edge of the rooftop and down towards the street. While Lajo Spas wasn't a large building in comparison to most skyscrapers, an normal human would die from the fall.

Kerry: "RILEY!"

Kerry screamed out for her son as she saw him fall out of sight. Believing that her son was likely dead, she slumped downwards only held by her handcuffs. She sobbed as Michael went to the edge of the rooftop, expecting to see his son dead on the pavement below…

Michael: "No…"

He wasn't there. He had disappeared, but Michael knew that was impossible. He had beaten Riley to the point that he couldn't have saved himself.

Quickly turning back to Kerry, Michael unlocked her handcuffs, allowing her to lash out at him with slaps and hammerfists.

Kerry: "You sick bastard! You can't be Michael, you can't! You killed my son! Our son!"

Easily restraining her, Michael stared straight into her eyes and she felt her strength leave her. Those eyes that used to give her such comfort, now gave her so much dread that she couldn't even move.

Michael: "Riley may have caused me some problems, but we still have some time for family. You and Charlotte are coming with me."

Kerry: "No… Don't you dare touch her!"

Michael: "Already treating her like a daughter, huh? Too bad her real father isn't here when he should. He's next after Riley."

Michael found Charlotte inside the room with Argent's deceased corpse and he took both her and Kerry somewhere else.

As for Riley, an Asian woman wearing a long black coat was carrying him away from the Spa.

Outskirts of the Danger Zone

Outside the barrier, both the Army and the Justice League (Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and Cyborg.) were aiding with the evacuation effort when Cyborg got a ping on his scanners.

Cyborg: "Everyone! The energy is vanishing. The barrier's coming down!"

The energy that composed the barrier was dissipating which caused a shocked scowl to appear on General Eiling's face.

Eiling: "What the Hell…"

He mused as his soldiers suddenly became overwhelmed with the amount of people that were running out of the now darkened city thanks to the power outage caused by Bluebird.

Eiling: "Damn it! Get these civilians under control!"

Eiling's orders could barely be heard through the screaming and the panic that was stampeding through them as even the Justice League tried to keep order. Green Lantern was working overtime to use his light constructs to quickly transport people to a safe zone set up by the military.

Superman: "Batman and the others must have done it. With the barrier down, we can stop Savage once and for all."

Eiling marched and pushed his way through the crowd and jabbed a finger at Superman.

Eiling: "And risk Bane blowing up his nuke?! No one goes into that city without my say so!"

?: "Is that right?"

From high into the air, a cold and chilling presence caused a stop to the panic as they looked up and immediately recognised the figure that was floating in mid air. An Egyptian male dressed in black and yellow peered down on those beneath him as the feeling of strength and authority poured from him.

Eiling: "Sh*$..."

Eiling cursed in shock and fear as the figure drifted downwards causing everyone to step back, even Superman became worried, though he was careful not to show it on his face. Wonder Woman stood firm next to him while Cyborg and Lantern took a step back, the latter showing more caution than fear.

As he landed on the ground, a short black cape gently flowed in the wind as sparks of blue lightning seemed to dance at his feet. The symbol of a lightning bolt down his chest…

Black Adam: "I come for Savage."

Chapter 14 End.