The Emperor's Talon

Chapter 4: Of Assassins and Hypocrites

Batman went out for the second time that night. His investigation of past Talon murders showed some obvious connection between victims, for example every one of them had gotten in the way of either Emperor Palpatine or the Court of Owls, but it was hardly enough information for him to calculate who the Talon was after in Gotham. Deciding not to wait until the morning news showed pictures of a dead body, Batman donned the cowl again. He left the Talon, or Richard as Alfred insisted on calling him, in a cell down in the Batcave.

Flying over the streets of his city from the end of his grappling line, he scanned for anything out of the ordinary. There wasn't much. It was past curfew for law abiding citizens, so only the imperial troops, criminals, and hobos were out on the streets. In another hour it would be dawn, and he could no longer cloak himself in darkness. He'd have to hurry.

The former Jedi Knight part of Bruce Wayne's brain often considered the irony of his current night life habits. He had fought the dark side of the Force for years; he had killed many beings in a war to destroy it. Yet now here he was, using the darkness to hide himself and refusing to take a single life either in the service of light or dark. He had always thought the Jedi were good. But Jedi killed, they were as much warriors as they were peace keepers. Bruce had turned his back on that kind of peace when the Empire rose. So many had died in the Clone Wars. And as far as he was concerned, it had all been for nothing. Nothing.

Maybe, he pondered, it was hypocritical for him to be so hard on Richard for being raised as the Talon. The boy had been raised as a weapon, trained for one purpose and one purpose only; to deal out death and fulfill the wishes of the Empire. Jedi Padawans weren't so different; at least, he didn't think his role had been that different. He was raised as a weapon for the republic. And he had killed in the name of the republic. Both were wrong. Raising children as weapons was wrong. (Though, if he had to choose a side, he'd still choose the Jedi. At least they had some moral code.)

Deciding that considering larger questions of morality while he was on a mission could be detrimental to his health, Batman refocused on his goal. That was when he heard one of the Storm Troopers below him mention the Talon. Batman paused on the rooftop above and listened to their conversation.

"You idiots! How could you let the Talon get away? The Emperor will have our heads," said the captain.

"He's faster and smarter than we give him credit for. Besides, we were told that the climate was too cold for him to withstand for long," said one of the others. Batman recognized the dent his baterang had made in the trooper's helmet.

"We would have had him if the Dark Knight hadn't shown up."

"The Dark Knight," scoffed the Captain, "he should be dead. He would be too if you hadn't fouled up this assignment."

Now what did that mean? Batman wondered. As he considered it, he became aware of two things simultaneously. The first being that the Talon had been sent to Gotham to kill him. And the second being a low buzzing noise by his ear. Turning his head slightly to the right, he saw a small surveillance droid. He punched it reflexively and it fell to the rooftop with a loud clunk.

Aware that his cover had been blown, Batman rose to his full and impressive height. The Storm Troopers looked up at him. "Open fire!" commanded the captain.

Flame red blaster bolts shot past the Dark Knight. It was times like these that Bruce really missed his lightsaber, but carrying one now was out of the question. So instead, Batman dodged the bolts by twisting and turning his body just out of range. Then he force-leapt into the air above his attackers. His cape spread behind him like majestic black wings of fury as he descended among the troopers.

They continued to fire at him in close quarters. However, Batman's superior combat skills and subtle hints from the Force were more than a match for the troopers and their guns. He would have taken them all down with snarls of vengeance, had it not been for the second surveillance droid with an energy net. The droid dropped the net over Batman's head. The few seconds it took for him to rip himself free were enough of an opening for the troopers to subdue him with stun shots.

"Looks like we got The Bat after all," commented the captain. He knelt before the Dark Knight bound before him. "Perhaps that Talon didn't make his kill. But the Emperor's mission will be completed." The captain stood and took a few steps back. To his troopers, he ordered, "terminate him."

Batman stared unflinchingly into the barrels of the blasters now pointed at his face. One little slip up. That's all it took sometimes. He felt rather stupid for getting caught like this, but he'd meet his end with dignity. But it never came.

"What in the Galaxy?!" cried one of the troopers. A sleek silver knife had just carved straight through the blaster in his hand. Another was now imbedded in the helmet of the trooper beside him.

"It's the Talon!" screamed the Captain. "Grab him! Finish the Batman!"

Batman's eyes tracked the small lethal shadow that danced gracefully between the troopers. The long white knives in it's hands gleamed in the low red moonlight. Bruce was on his feet again. Although his arms were bound behind his back, he fought with his feet. He didn't know how the Talon had escaped or who's side he was on, but that didn't matter. All that mattered right now was that the Talon had interrupted his execution.

For a moment he locked eyes with the Talon as the boy raised his head. The eyes went from predatory amber to blue for a split second. Batman found himself bewildered by the moment. He was mesmerized by the fluid movements of the child assassin as the knives flashed with precision but also with the flourish of a performer. And then the boy was turning several summersaults over Bruce's head; bringing a knife down through the electro binders that held the Dark Knight's hands captive.

So, thought Batman, the Talon is on my side for the moment. He decided to take advantage of that. One of the troopers tried to shoot him in the back of the head, but the Talon was there first. The sleek knife flew through the trooper's visor and he fell.

"No killing!" Batman found himself shouting at the Talon. He didn't know why, but he did. Maybe he was desperate not to have more blood spilled on his streets or maybe he saw something redeemable about this living weapon after all.

The boy cocked his head at him. Bruce wondered if the Talon was going to attack him next. But instead, he was surprised that the boy dropped the knives and grabbed two escrima sticks instead. And then their dance began in earnest. Batman and the Talon worked together to take down the Storm Troopers. It was over almost as soon as it started.

As they stood breathing in the middle of the unconscious troopers, Batman turned to the Talon. "Come," he said simply. It was a command.

"Why?" asked the boy defiantly. He looked up at Batman with suspicious eyes.

"Because we need to talk."

"You mean, you need to lock me up again."

Batman paused. "That depends."

"On what?" asked the Talon. He looked curious, defensive, dangerous, childish, and hopeful all at once.

"On whether or not you harmed my friend in your escape," answered Batman." Now come. More troopers will be along any moment and the sun is rising." And so it was. Putting his trepidation aside, the boy followed him along the rooftops back to the batcave.

When they arrived, Alfred was waiting for them with a plate of fresh cookies. "Was your second mission successful sir?" asked the butler. He looked completely unfazed by the Talon standing beside Batman free from his cage. Bruce was flabbergasted.

"Alfred, did you let him go?" demanded Batman. It was both a challenge and a question.

'I did indeed sir," answered Alfred as calmly as if Bruce had just asked if he had put the kettle on for tea. Unbelievable. "I hacked the city surveillance droids and saw you were in trouble. Master Richards seamed eager to thank you for saving him from them earlier, even if you did lock him up, so I decided to let him go."

Bruce just gawked at the man dumbfounded. His eyes shot form Alfred to the boy and back again. "You let him go?!" he repeated.

"As I said before, yes."

"Why? He could have killed you!"

"Oh I was hardly afraid of that, sir," said Alfred setting the plate of cookies aside. "The Force showed me that he is to become a part of our lives. I merely decided to have faith in the Force and take a risk. And considering the results, I'd say it turned out rather well."

Bruce was on the edge of screaming at the old man who seemed very unconcerned that he had just let an assassin loose on the streets of Gotham. "He's dangerous!"

"So are you," Alfred pointed out.

"I'm standing right here," Richard interrupted. A little sass crept into his voice. His eyes were no longer amber, but a bright ocean blue. The silver markings had faded from his face and his cheeks were flushed with color. Bruce was taken aback by how different the boy looked now that he had warmed up. He wasn't the Talon all the time apparently.

Alfred noticed the look on his Master's face. He smiled a little. "I had faith. His name is Richard Grayson. And he's as much a child as a weapon."