7

So I am very sorry this took awhile. But well, it's a bit longer than usual so maybe that'll help. This is folks, the beginning of the end. To all those who have stuck with this story, I hope you enjoy this. And to my surpise I'm already tossing around sequel ideas. But, its not quite the end. After all we have a lot of fights go through. So without any further rambling, reviews are loves, shouts outs are always welcomed, I own nothing, and as always I hope everyone enjoys.

BRL

"He Did What!?" screamed Wildcat as she decked a street punk. Her leg shot out in a perfect back kick knocking another into a wall.

Batman hissed from above. "He's gone a-wall, he's looking for Spartoi and he's going on his own."

"That Idiot!" bellowed the irate female as she smashed a vicious overhand punch into a third thief, who slammed face first into concrete. Batman whistled as Wildcat worked her frustrations out on the small hoods. Though, he was afraid he'd have to step in soon. Wildcat was so used to fighting super Jokerz she didn't seem to know her own limits, especially when pissed off as she was. "Is anyone running a trace on him!?"

"Trying," answered Batman. "He ditched his bike, disabled his radio, and somehow short circuited the tracker in his suit. So it's not going well. I'm trying to calculate his position from his last known co-ordinates then seeing if I cant plan a likely destination."

Wildcat paused in mid strike…and whistled. "Wow, see Math does help."

Batman sighed. "Right shoulder." Wildcat looked and saw a ganger swinging a pipe at her. She ducked and swept her leg out, knocking the idiot to the ground. A fierce stomp to his stomach kept the fool down.

"So what!? Any word on where he is!?" demanded Wildcat.

"I believe I may be of assistance," said a new voice. Both heroes looked up to see A'lexx and Isis floating there. Isis was in her full armor, while A'lexx sported a suit similar to the old Manhunter. Both looked ready for war as A'lexx landed, folding his navy cloak around him. "Nightwing called me before he disappeared. He said he was going after Medea along, and asked Isis and myself to stay out of the fight. But, as we all know, our…friend is stubborn to a fault"

Wildcat threw her hands up. "That stupid space case twip!"

Batman placed a hand on her shoulder as he looked at A'lexx. "Can you track him?"

A'lexx nodded slightly, a small smirk played across his usually stoic features. "Martians can track anyone, and I know Nightwing's mind better than almost anyone." For a moment, Max's anger at her boyfriend turned to white hot jealously, A'lexx and Isis knew things about Drake he would never reveal, but she squashed the feeling. Right now all that mattered was stopping her boyfriend from doing something dumb. Besides, Drake chose her over them.

Batman nodded. "Good, get to it. When you get his location you don't engage, you understand me!?" Batman spared the two aliens a fearsome look. Wildcat was almost startled, Terry was becoming more and more like the first Batman. Even now he was planning, thinking, strategizing.

A'lexx nodded. "Of course, once we have his location I shall tell you both. But may I ask why?"

Batman smirked slightly. "We need to get some new toys. After all, it'd be rude to show up without any party favors."

Wildcat grinned under her mask. "Oh yea, I got a few new gadgets just for that bitch Medea."

Isis snarled for a moment, but she reined her anger in. Instead she turned to A'lexx. "We should move, he's got a good head start on us, and you know how impatient he gets."

A'lexx shook his head. "No, he'll be patient, but you're right we must move. Batman, Wildcat, I shall contact you telepathically when I have a location on Nightwing. Good day." The two aliens floated into air.

Batman turned as Wildcat fiddled with her gauntlets. "Don't worry Max, we'll find him," he murmured.

"I'm not worried. But when we see that Medea witch, I got something for her." She jabbed her arm out and a disk fired from the armor. The razor sharp projectile buried itself into a brick wall. "And a whole bag of other stuff."

"And the armor," reminded Batman.

Max leered under her mask. "Oh yea, I haven't forgotten about that."

"So you're really gonna use it?" questioned Batman.

Wildcat nodded. "You see any other choice? Achilles is way to strong, that suit gives us a chance."

Batman rested one hand on her shoulder. "That suit almost did the old man in, be careful."

Max nodded. "I will."

"Well, let's get going," stated Terry. Both grappled up to their respective vehicles and took off for Wayne Manor.

Meanwhile, Nightwing was winging his way to Arkham. His best lead to finding Achilles was to track down one of the few people who interacted with him. Though Nightwing knew Achilles had long fled his last location, there were only so many he could go and still run his Miraculo business. And there were only so many locations where he could get the necessary chemicals to make it. Nightwing landed on a gothic gargoyle that stuck out of the Asylum. After the last breakout, security was beefed up, the grounds all but crawling with guards. Nightwing pulled his hood and lower masker up, activating his cloaking. With a small grin, he darted inside the Asylum. He sprang from the rafters, landing on a catwalk, overlooking the criminals. Guards patrolled constantly, the cells plastic glass with communication holes drilled in. Nightwing ran a quick scan, locating his target. Once Scarecrow was confirmed to be nearby, Nightwing ran. He navigated the asylum with the help of an electronic map, eventually stopping at a random cell. Inside, Ichabod was toying with a silver sphere. He was assembling and dissembling it over and over. Nightwing looked around, there were at least three guards in the immediate vicinity.

"I know you're there, your cloaking shimmers just a second off every twenty seconds, might as well hold up a sign" cackled Ichabod. "I was almost worried you forgot about me. I've been here for oh so long."

"It's been three days, don't be dramatic," murmured Nightwing.

Ichabod spun, eyes enflamed. But it looked like he was talking to no one. Nor was Ichabod looking right at Nightwing. "Three days three years it doesn't matter! Out there I could create and manipulate! I was the embodiment of Fear! Here…they give me toys and expect me to think about my mistakes. As if I'm some juvenile child!" he roared. The guards all looked up, but since they couldn't see Nightwing, nor expected him there, they merely shrugged and walked away.

Nightwing smirked at the rant. "And I'm so sorry."

"You're here for a reason, you should be courting me, not harassing," snapped Ichabod.

"Where is he?" hissed Nightwing.

"Terminal? I expect the same place as always. How inept are you that you can't find"

"Not him!" growled Nightwing. "Tell me where Achilles is. Where he was holed up."

Ichabod's eyes widened then he sat back, a smirk on his face. "So you know about my friend. Well…to answer your question, I don't know. We always met near my base of operations."

"Don't play dumb Scarecrow."

Ichabod shrugged. "Why shouldn't I? There is absolutely no reason for me to help you, so I shan't."

Nightwing fumed for a moment. Then he sighed. He pulled out a micro chip from his belt and pushed it through a meal slot. "Have fun with that."

Ichabod all but snatched the piece of tech up. "You must really hate this man. Well, I don't know his base, but his miraculo wasn't pure. A spectrogram analysis of the drug revealed high levels of water, chemical contaminants and radiation. The same kind put out by Blight. At a guess he's in the industrial district on the River. Probably an old Wayne Powers facility, one maybe used by Powers himself. But I'd be careful if I was you, Achilles is" Ichabod stopped and looked up. He couldn't detect the tremor in the air. "Nightwing? Well the bird will be crossed off tonight, and I have an escape method." Ichabod opened the silver sphere, grinning at its contents. "All's well that ends well."

Nightwing was already winging towards the docks as soon as Ichabod mentioned water. Nightwing chided himself for not thinking of it sooner. Of course Achilles would move to the docks. Powers had several high-tech facilities located on the river front that were off the books. And of course Achilles would know how to find them. They'd be the best place for him to hole up. Nightwing wished he could summon his bike, on his grapple, boot jets and wings, it'd take almost a half an hour to get to the warehouse district, which was more time for the others to try and stop him. But using the bike meant he could be tracked. So far they would have no idea where he was, so the sacrifice had to be made. And as Nightwing raced across a roof, he couldn't help but smirk at the rush coming from free running across Gotham.

A'lexx floated in the Lotus position, head bent as he spread his mind out. "He's hiding. Both Isis and Tiberius were taught how to shield their thoughts, lest we were captured. However, he knows me, he always reacts when I send out a summons." A'lexx shook his head. "He was in Old Gotham. More than that I cant pin down. The city is interfering."

Batman turned away, walking over to Bruce who was looking at a map of Gotham. "Anything Mr. Wayne?"

Bruce leaned back in his chair. "Old Gotham was where he clicked off, so beyond that I…wait." Bruce leaned forward and began typing furiously. "He's going after Achilles, who needs a large operation to manufacture Miraculo. Even if its not on a distribution scale at the rate he goes through it he needs large equipment."

"And Old Gotham can have that?"

"No," answered Bruce. "But the riverside district can."

Both Terry's and Max's eyes widened. "Wayne-Powers' warehouses!" exclaimed Max.

Terry's eyes narrowed. "Blight had a few bases set up there. Wouldn't be hard to retro fit them for making drugs."

"Get there, now!" snapped Wayne. "And take the aliens."

Isis snorted as A'lexx landed. "As if we'd be left behind. Well done my dear," she murmured into A'lexx's ear.

Max had already pulled her mask up and hopped on her bike. "Flirt later we got to get to Drake!" She gunned out of there. Around her chest was a solid cuirass, with the bat symbol etched into it.

Terry shook his head as he pulled on his own cowl. "That girl. Isis, A'lexx I'll see you there, one big fight, like something out of the old man's stories. Should be schway." Batman jumped into the Batmobile and rocketed off after Max.

A'lexx smirked as he and Isis leapt into the air. "Schway indeed."

It didn't take long for Nightwing to find the warehouse. No, now with Medea returned any anonymity Achilles sought would be destroyed as Medea, ever one for dramatics, all but lit a beacon for Drake to find her. That's not to say the warehouse was lit with flood lights and Medea was waving a bat signal on the roof. But the warehouse, located at the end of a lonely pier, well away from the others, was the subject to a lot of movement. Trucks and flatbeds were moving in and out with regularity and armed guards patrolled the grounds. To a passerby, they might have seemed simply like dock hands, but Drake knew them for what they were, even if their weapons were concealed. Drake flew over the water, approaching from the warehouse's south side. With all the focus on the equipment being brought in, the south water side was neglected. Nightwing grinned. He activated his cloaking as he flew overhead, flying right past guards. He landed on the roof, two wingdings in hand. The projectiles were airborne before Nightwing even finished standing up. They struck two guards, the others all spun, guns at the ready. Each guard sported a ski mask and a set of goggles, a vest, rifle and pistol. Three converged on each downed guard. Nightwing smirked. He threw two smoke bombs and raced towards the open skyline. The guards fired into the air and at each other, Nightwing suppressing a laugh as he leapt into the open skyline. He landed on a rafter, the floor of the warehouse a buzz with action. Guards all looked up, some hearing the gun fire, others responding to radio calls.

Medea stood at one end, sitting at a work bench, hunched over a chemistry set, Achilles next to her. Floating in the air were Bast and Sen. "More than I expected," Nightwing muttered. He looked down at the scrambling guards. "Then again."

"He's here," murmured Achilles to Medea.

"I know, he's watching us," answered the doctor. "Your brother always examined a social scene before entering. Will you calm those morons down! I need absolute focus!"

Achilles nodded as he stopped towards the nearest guard. "Kill the bloody alarm you fools!" roared the Miraculo user. Nightwing cocked an eyebrow as he slipped deeper into the shadows. The activity underneath him slowed as guards, hesitant, listened to Achilles who stalked across Medea's lab like a caged beast. "How long do I have to sit and wait Dr?"

Medea chuckled. "Until he decides to make a move." She made a note as something in the chemistry set reacted.

Nightwing counted, he made at least a dozen guards, more outside and three dozen workers. Not to mention two angry aliens, who now sported new weapons if Sen's arm was anything to judge, and a Miraculo user who was falling apart at the seams. Drake knew this Achilles, he had increased his doses, he was agitated, hyper almost, manic. For a brief moment regret filled Drake, help would have been nice. But that moment passed, and Nightwing began analyzing how best to take down each opponent. He reached into his belt and pulled out two special bolos. After his last run in with the Tameraneans, Max and Bruce had gotten together and created certain weapons to deal with them, these were the only ones Nightwing had managed to grab though. These bolos would absorb the solar energy that powered the Tameraneans, rendering them powerless, and hopefully, unconscious.

Nightwing took a deep breath and rocketed into the sky. As he flew, he threw the first bolo. It wrapped around Bast before she could scream, and a blinding flash of white surrounded the girl as she tried to break the bonds. The Bolos held. When the flash cleared, Bast's body looked almost…shriveled. She floated in the sky for but a moment then plummeted into the ground.

Sen roared as he dived towards his sister. Nightwing hit him with the next bolo. And he fell too. Nightwing smirked as he landed, his cloaking fading away. "So? Who's next?" asked Nightwing. Achilles threw his head back and laughed.

"My brother, you didn't think it'd be that easy did you!?" cried the older fighter. Achilles' face soured when he saw both his aliens were unconscious though.

Nightwing grinned as his sticks appeared. "They'll be down for a while bro, so, shall we?"

Achilles snarled. "Get him!" Guards sprang out of seemingly everywhere, as they charged Nightwing.

Medea didn't bother to look up from her work. "Sending the guards after him, how utterly melodramatic, you sound like some two bit supervillain my child."

"I'm handling this Dr." snapped Achilles.

As for Nightwing, he was ripping through the guards. These men were supposed to be the foot soldiers of Spartoi, they all sported limited strength and durability enhancements, more than a match for any soldiers of the day. But, none were meant to replace the actual super heroes they guarded, nor were they prepared for a battle hardened vigilante armed to the teeth with the best technology available. Nightwing ripped through them. His sticks battered aside those foolish enough to try and fight him in close quarters. Those who tried to shoot him more often than not found their comrades in their crosshairs, as Nightwing never stopped moving.

Achilles nodded as he watched. "Good, good form. I'm glad to see our last fight wasn't a fluke. And your defense, impressive. Your work was well done Dr."

Medea nodded as she made a new note. "Yes, yes his skills are quite intact." She stepped back from the set. "Though," she continued as she watched. "He lacks the killer instinct we tried so hard to give him." Achilles didn't bother to correct his creator. "Go. Get your brother." Achilles nodded.

He leapt off the raised laboratory platform and rushed forward. "He's mine!" Achilles squeezed his fists, his injector rigs activating. Miraculo filled his blood as Achilles roared. Nightwing swatted aside a guard as he spun, barely bringing his sticks up in time to block an axe kick. It actually sent the teen back. Achilles grinned. Nightwing snarled. And the brothers attacked each other.

While Achilles and Nightwing fought, Medea snapped her fingers at the still standing guards. "Don't be stupid, free the twins idiot!" The guards hopped to it. The first two who touched the bolos screamed as electricity arced off the bolos. A defense mechanism Max designed, the snares converted the absorbed energy into a defensive weapon to prevent the aliens from breaking free. However, its power was spent after only one jolt. The next two, more cautiously, disentangled the trapped aliens. Sen came too first. With the limiters off he launched to his feet, eyes blazing as he searched for his target. "Tiberius!" bellowed the brute as he powered forward. Bast, hit harder, was slower to recover, but managed to stand on her own all the same.

Nightwing caught Achilles' kick between his two sticks, spun and hurled his brother into the charging Sen. Three wingdings appeared in his hand as Nightwing sprinted to the left. He threw the projectiles only to rocket off his feet, smoke billowing from him. Bast, an arm wrapped around her stood, her free hand glowing. Nightwing bit back a curse as he stood up. "You'll pay for that Tiberius," hissed Bast.

Nightwing grimaced under his lower mask. "Wouldn't be the first time you said that to me." Then he was hauled up.

"Yea, but this time we get to have fun!" growled Sen. He coked a vicious arm back, only to hiss. He stumbled back, hands diving for his groin.

Nightwing thunder clapped the Tameranian then kicked him in the jaw. It didn't do much, but it did stun the alien for a moment. Then Achilles smashed a chair across Nightwing's back. "You really cant believe you can beat all three of us."

Nightwing pitched forward, rolling with the force before spinning around. "Who said anything about winning? I'm getting you, and Spartoi out of the lives of everyone I care about. If that means dying, while fighting you all, I'll do. No prob. Sides, with me gone, you won't need my aliens will you!?"

Achilles actually stopped and stared, flabbergasted. "You think, you really think we wont dragged them back if you're dead!? How arrogant are you!? You think so important that they're without use because you're gone. You idiot. Even if all three of you are dead, your bodies will be still be of use. All you've done is played into our hands. Like a child."

Nightwing snorted as his sticks came up. "Who said I didn't know that? You think I came here without a backup plan? Something to make sure you did never could bother them again? I was trained to be Batman, the brains of the Big Three. I wouldn't charge into a fight I knew I couldn't win without a plan B!"

Achilles paused, Nightwing had his back against a wall, he was standing, but breathing heavy, his suit was singed, and he was alone. "I think you're bluffing."

Nightwing pulled his lower mask down. "Try me," he answered with a smirk. Just as Achilles went to attack, the sky line smashed apart.

"Nightwing you're a damn fool!" screamed Wildcat as she gunned her bike through the warehouse.

Medea snarled as a blaster appeared in her hand. "Shoot that girl out of the sky!"

Bast and Sen launched into the air, Spartoi guards scrambling for guns. Then the rest appeared. The Batmobile blew apart the warehouse doors as A'lexx and Isis charged in. "Martian!" roared Sen as he powered dived at his enemy.

A'lexx merely cocked an arm back, and crashed a punch into Sen's jaw. "Sen."

Batman rocketed out of the Batmobile, landing on Medea's lab. "So you're the crazy woman who's responsible for all this?" He cracked his knuckles. "Beating you is gonna be real schway."

And just like that, the fight became a battle, with two evenly matched sides.