Batwoman: Victorious
Chapter Twenty Five: Repose
You've been their slave for so long; Red Hood's slave for even longer. It's all a sick joke...I thought I was in control, but I was wrong from the start...
"Red Hood's everything we ever dreamed of," a thug mumbled out as Batwoman clenched his collar. "He'll do whatever we need him to...no matter the cost." Furious, Tori thew the man onto the ground. I have no idea what he's planning, but now I know who he's working for.
"Ace Chemicals has been developing an alternative to anesthesia for years," a brown-haired man in a white lab coat explained, setting a phial of liquid into its holder. "Now, we're closer than ever to completing it."
"That's amazing," Beck replied, staring at the potential miracle drug. Not that I didn't know already... "Any risks?"
"Not if we've constructed it as it was intended," the scientist answered.
You know your orders, Beck ran over in his mind, gazing at the phial before him. I can't...but they know who I am; who my friends are...I don't have a choice anymore; my life isn't mine anymore. "Are they going to store it here?" the young man forced himself to ask.
"Yes, but only until we've secured a place for it at our corporate headquarters," the brunette man answered. Acting without hesitation, the scientist took the chemical shelf and departed from the room with it in hand. Staring at the man, Beck felt a massive bulge forming in his throat.
As the full moon fell under the darkness of black clouds, the young man leaned against a wall, his lab coat sheltering him from the cold. "Why do you need the gas?" he asked into his phone.
"Classified, kid," a near-elderly man answered on the other end. "Just get it to us, and you're home free for now. Do whatever it takes." It's your soul lost... Feeling his heart sink, Beck planted his foot on the ground, digging his other into the wall behind him. "Fine," he nearly snarled. "But after this, we're done."
"We'll never be done, junior," the man happily replied. "You belong to us now...Say, how's Jade doing? Or should I ask about Tori? I bet they'd love to get to know us. You know, if you change your mind about our friendship." His blood boiling within his veins, Beck snapped his phone shut, and threw it off the side of the building. Breathing heavily, the young man felt his heart beat rapidly, nearly tearing out of his chest. Cold sweat trickling down his face, the boy felt his head begin to throb; his mind slowly cracking.
"Miss Victoria," Hugo Strange said, looking over his notes and his patient's body language; her eyes were nearly closed, her arms tightly crossed over her chest, and her legs crossed over one another. "Everything about your appearance suggests depression. I haven't seen this in you for some time. What caused you to relapse?"
"I made a mistake," Tori coldly answered. "One I swore I wouldn't make again...but I failed myself."
"May I ask who you made this swear to?" the doctor asked, his glasses refracting the view of his eyes.
"Myself," Victoria answered, anger looming within her entire body.
Clenching the black, armored Batsuit in her hands, glaring down at the eyes of the creature she had become, Tori let her pulse spike. "I can't forgive myself, Alfred," she snarled. "I told myself I'd never trust again...and now..."
"Do not blame yourself, Miss Victoria," the Englishman snapped back at his charge. "You made on mistake by placing your trust in another human being. You cannot make everything your own fault."
"But it was!" Tori screamed, throwing the suit against the wall. Silence filled the room. "...Alfred...I'm sorry. I-I didn't listen to you...Beck and I...I let us become something wrong; something more than friends...even while Jade lays dying at her house. I'm sorry." Collapsing into her beloved friend's chest, the brunette let the hot tears fall from her eyes as she silently sobbed. "I'm the monster...I've ruined everything...I'm so sorry." Feeling his daughter figure's pain, Alfred wrapped his arms around her back. She sought solace; sought someone to place her trust in, just as she had with Vince...with her parents.
Holding out her hand, Tori let the blood of her mother and father pour through her fingers. Trina cried into her sleeve, unable to witness the dead bodies of those she loved. Then, in a bolt of lightning, the Batwoman stood alone in the horrid alley, her white eyes glaring at nothingness. Still, the blood poured down.
Her knees aching as she knelt in the pew, Victoria clenched her left hand with her right, staring down at the floor. I'm sorry...I told myself you didn't exist...But I think you're the only one who can forgive me... The loving, forgiving eyes of the crucifix stared back at the young woman, the dim lights of the church shining down on the entire area. "I'm sorry," Tori silently sobbed, her cracking voice just above a whisper. Beck's out there...the Red Hood's killing himself, and I can't even face myself...I can't face him. I could've helped him...but I failed him. With everything I've learned...I still can't save the ones I love. Maybe people like me aren't capable of love...maybe it only exists for others. Lightning flashed outside, illuminating the church for a moment. "...But there has to be something I can do," Tori whispered, her folded hands resting atop the pew in front of her. "I can stop him..." In the dark corner of the building, two white eyes stared back at the young woman. "Maybe not as Batwoman...but what else am I?"
Laying down beside her on the couch, Beck slowly stroked Jade's long hair. Her face was pail, her eyes bloodshot. Every sleeping breath she took was heavy. Allowing the burning tears to well up in his eyes, the young man stared at his beloved. "I'm so sorry," he whispered. "For everything." Loading a handgun, Beck placed the weapon in his pocket, gave his girlfriend a parting kiss, and walked out into the darkness.
From the top of the staircase, Eva watched the nightmare play out before her young eyes. Jade lay in place, having no idea what was going on around her. Tears formed in the child's eyes, streaming down her soft, reddened cheeks.
Tonight's the night I lose my soul...Dawning the red helmet, Beck took several novelty toys, placing them into his pockets, next to the gun. Images flashed through the young man's mind; his feeling of salvation when he got the call from Ace Chemicals, the freedom of throwing away the mask, kissing Jade, talking to Tori, and standing amongst Cat, Jade, Tori, Andre', and Robbie at Hollywood Arts High. Feeling his eye start to burn, Beck put the happier times out of his mind, and walked out into the pouring rain.
Listening to the electronic beeps, Tori prayed for Beck to answer his phone. However, he never did. Clenching her fist, the young woman looked at her sister. "Trina," she said, trying to keep her voice from breaking.
"What's up?" the older of the Vega girls replied, turning to her sister.
"I...just wanted to tell you...Just that I love you," Tori declared, feeling a small part of her heart growing warmer.
"Love you, too, baby sis," Trina happily replied. Tori smiled, then turned her attention back to her phone. Suddenly, the young woman felt a pulse flowing in her other pocket. Her heart beat turning into a vicious pounding, Victoria left the room, locked herself in her bedroom, and read the data on the Bat-Wave. "God, no," she gasped out. Ace Chemicals; Armed Robbery.
Walking down the sidewalk, Red Hood scanned every man, woman, and child that passed him by. One by one, they all froze in horror. Resting atop a gargoyle, Batwoman felt lightning flash behind her as she scanned the city through the pouring rain. Her cape blowing violently behind her, Tori recalled her training with Ray, Sonya, and Ra's, her first day at Hollywood Arts, her first date with Vince, his parting from her, her first kiss with Beck, the friendship she'd forged with Jade after so long, and the time she stood aside Cat, Andre', Beck and Jade, Robbie, and Trina in the hallway. Everything was about to change; there was no escape from this: there was no going back.
Making his way up the stairs to Ace Chemicals, Beck felt his superiors breathing through him. On his way up, two scientists were guarding the door. "We can't allow you on the premises," one of the men boldly declared. Red Hood looked up, not muttering a word, and pulled out the gun. In a flash of light, the two fell; their blood coating the windows behind them. Thrusting a grapple into the air, Batwoman descended on Los Angeles, then extended her wings, entering a violent glide through the darkness. I have to stop him...it's the only hope either of us have, she told herself as the icy wind viciously bit at her face.
Landing at Ace, the Batwoman observed the two dead bodies. "...No," she begged to herself, realizing how far her friend had fallen. Charging inside, Tori tore through room after room. "Hood!" she cried out, rage and fear dominating her voice. Hearing the voice of his enemy, or maybe the voice of a friend, Beck quickly removed the phial of laughing gas, then turned to his fellow scientists. "Thanks for the hint," he said, disguising his voice. "They don't let newbies know where they keep the goods." The dead bodies didn't respond.
Suddenly, Batwoman smashed through the door, standing face to face with the Red Hood. "It's over," she said. "Give up and we can settle this." Her vocal disguise was fading.
"I don't think so," the Hood replied, throwing down a phial and coating the air in smoke. Charging through the smog, Batwoman followed Beck onto a platform above several tanks of acidic chemicals.
"Stop this!" Tori called out, though Red Hood didn't stop. "Beck!" Suddenly, the young man haulted, and turned around.
"H-how do you know my name?" Beck stuttered, his hand fumbling around for the gun. Stepping closer, Tori grabbed the bottom of her cowl; ready to surrender. Her heart rate sped up as she relaxed, and prepared for the ultimate confession. "Stop! Don't get any closer!" Stepping back, the boy collided with a metal bar, knocking it loose and breaking the railing.
"Beck, no! Stop! It's me, T-" Batwoman cried out, desperate to stop her friend. Terrified, Beck took a step back, and fell from the platform. Lunging forward, Tori outstreched her arm, missing Red Hood's by seconds. Screaming in terror, the boy plummeted downward, his hand raised upward for a friend to take it. "No!" Tori screamed, clenching the edge of the railing. Then, Beck's body collided, and was consumed by the acid. His agonized screams tore through the air as a white-bleached hand splashed out of the liquid. Closing her eyes, Batwoman listened as police sirens sounded outside.
"Batwoman!" one of the officers screamed. "She threw that kid into the acid!" Outstretching her wings, Tori dove down, and glided over the police and into the night, praying that the paramedics would be able to rescue her friend as soon as possible. The acid won't kill him, but it's the effects that terrify me. Please, let him be okay. Screams and gunfire sounded in the night's sky as the Batwoman escaped the nightmarish scene.
"I failed, Alfred," Tori confessed. "Beck's in the hospital, the police have evidence that Batwoman's a criminal. I just...I failed." Arriving at the hospital, Tori welcomed a crying Cat into her arms, and sat down next to Andre'. Out of all the teens, Cat took Beck's accident the hardest...except, of course, for Jade. Shuttering, Tori let Cat's tears overpower her own.
"Beck, please!" Jade cried as the doctors forced her out of the room. Her throat agonized with tears, the girl tried to fight back. "Beck, please! Why won't you see me?"
As time went by, Cat fell asleep in the chairs, her swollen, puffy eyes sealed with tears. Tori sat down next to Andre', and looked into his saddened eyes. "Can I cry on your shoulder?" she asked, her voice broken and vulnerable.
"Okay," Andre's cracking voice managed to whisper. The young man took Victoria into his arms, and held her face in his shoulder.
Laying back in his bed, his face bound with bandages and gaws, Beck rolled onto his side, spotting a female nurse. "The mirror," he begged. "Give me the mirror..." The woman tried to fight the request. "The mirror!" Handing Beck the mirror, the woman watched as he undid his bandages one by one. Then, he gazed at his white-bleached reflection. From the silence of the horror of the scene, Beck began to laugh. Slowly, with each moment passing by, the young man's sanity broke; the murders he'd comitted, the friend's he'd pushed away, the crimes he'd suffered through. As his laughter grew louder, a smile froze on the boy's face, and he smashed the mirror on the corner of the bed. Crying, Tori drowned herself in Andre's comfort, desperate to find solace. Alfred dropped his head, holding Trina's shoulder.