'I'm doing this for your own good, so you bitches better hurry up and go down before I lose my patience...' I mused, dodging bullets as I activated my personal computer power to hack into the hidden basement controls.
It was surprisingly secure, but I managed to hack into it quickly and waited until King Shark was upon me to kill the lights before I turned invisible and started moving.
Activating my machine assembly and morphing powers, I began mass producing Sentry Guns and Sentry Spiders from the materials in my inventory and leaving them in hidden spots where no one could see for now.
"I can't see him. He must have turned invisible," Deadshot said with particular certainty in his tone, and no one bothered to question his words since he probably had a nightscope in his helmet.
"He might be trying to escape. Hurry up and block the exits," King Faraday instructed as he gestured to the closest exit, and the government agents obliged as they retrieved their flashlights to help them navigate in the dark.
"We've got people already working on bringing back the lights... and someone hurry up and help agent Flag before he bleeds to death, for fuck's sake," he added.
However, Deadshot and the other supervillains remained in position, which was pretty clever since I'd immediately drop my original plan and go after them if they broke formation.
Still, they remained quiet. However, Harley, being the loud-mouth psychopath she was, began laughing, much to Faraday's and everyone else's confusion.
"If ya think he's left, then yer more delusional than ya look, pal!" Harley said with a loud, mocking laugh as if Faraday's words were the most foolish thing she's ever heard.
"He clearly ain't had enough," she added, shaking her head, and I ignored her sigh-inducing words as I kept planting my machines all over the place, aided by the night vision in my riot gear and silent step perk.
"The tasty-looking blonde is right. I can still smell the blood," King Shark said, growling as he sniffed at the air while inspecting the area, and he came dangerously close to my location multiple times.
"Awe shucks, sharks, you're making me blush...!" Harley said, holding her cheeks as she played coy, squirming her body as if the compliment embarrassed her.
"You realize that means he wants to eat you, don't you?" Looking at Harley's attitude, Deadshot couldn't help but ask from the side in an exasperated tone.
"A compliment is a compliment, buddy; it wouldn't hurt ya to learn to take one," Harley replied with a grin, shaking her head and seemingly prepared to go on, but she was interrupted as the light suddenly came back.
'Damn, they work fast... but that should be enough...' I mused as I deactivated my invisibility and appeared beside Merlin since he had his back to a wall.
Everyone immediately turned to me as soon as I appeared, and Merlin was the first to react, aiming his already drawn bow at me and letting an arrow loose.
I moved my head to the side and dodged, but the arrow still exploded next to my ear. It didn't have any power, but it was so loud that it caused me to stay still, freezing for a second.
A second that Merlin used to escape, and King Shark used to close half the distance between us. The others else weren't standing still as everyone with a ranged weapon started firing while everyone else charged me.
Knowing that Merlin would pull something like to escape, I couldn't care much. In fact, I even left myself exposed as I could have moved faster to avoid most of the trick arrow's effect.
However, I knew Merlin would pull another bullshit arrow from his ass to delay me if I did that, so I let him escape and make the distance. And sure enough, he let his guard down and tunnel-visioned me.
Once a safe distance away, Merlin stopped and turned to me, knocking an arrow into his bow, and that was when I activated my Sentry Guns and Spider Sentries.
I prioritized targeting Merlin, and three Sentry Guns immediately started firing at him, shooting lethal bullets that targeted his limbs, and he was none the wiser.
The bullets met their mark, and Merlin immediately fell to the ground, bleeding from all four limbs as he grunted in pain. That wasn't the end as the other five Sentry Guns I installed activated and began firing on the remaining villains and government agents.
Meanwhile, my Spider Sentries emerged from their hiding spots, clumsily moving their arachnid-like mechanical limbs as they opened fire with pinpoint accuracy.
Though I switched my machines back to no-lethal bullets, they were still threatening enough to distract and keep everyone busy while I dealt with the literal shark in the room. (As in King Shark, 'cause he's a shark, not an elephant, get it?)
The area instantly devolved into utter chaos as the agents and supervillains started running all over the place, trying and failing to find my Sentry guns.
The more perceptive among them, like Deadshot, instantly found my Sentry Guns and identified their threat. However, as priority targets, there was not much they could do other than take cover with the Sentry Spiders slowly approaching them and leaving them with little space to do anything.
'Try and outgun me, will you? Fucking uno reverse card, bitch,' I mused, holding back a chuckle at the chaos as I turned to King Shark, who seemed unfazed by the situation, and for a good reason.
I didn't bother to target the humanoid shark with my machines because even if I did, there wasn't much they could do to penetrate his thick skin, which was most likely even harder than Killer Croc.
King Shark noticed my gaze and seemed to have realized my intention to stop running and fight, causing him to wordlessly grin, showcasing his bloodied, razor-sharp teeth that still had bits and pieces from Captain Boomerang stuck on them.
"Come on, big guy, let's see how tough your hide really is," I challengingly said, and that was all the humanoid shark needed to hear before he started sprinting toward me.
He quickly closed the distance and swiped at my chest with his sharp claws. I dodged to the side, noting how he was faster than me and likely stronger based on how hard he hit me earlier.
Still, he wasn't faster and stronger to the point where I could do nothing, and I had the advantage in skill as the humanoid shark was clearly relying on brute strength with no rhyme or reason behind his moves.
I raised my arms in front of my cheeks and ducked under another swipe, swaying my torso to the right, putting King Shark's exposed side right within punching distance.
I delivered an energy-infused hook to what I assumed was the humanoid shark's liver, to which he stopped moving for a second. I capitalized with an uppercut to his chin. He flew backward and fell flat on his back.
However, King Shark quickly bounced back on his feet and charged me again immediately as if he didn't suffer any damage and my attack only seemed to make him angrier, which is an achievement by itself considering how pissed off and ready to bite people's heads off he already looked.
'Fucking super subdermal scales...' I frowned at how little effect my blows seemed to have on the enraged humanoid shark and opted to try something other than blunt force.
I waited for King Shark to close the distance and attack again before I maneuvered myself behind him, retrieving my sword and imbuing it with energy.
I swung with all my might at the back of his knee and felt the urge the curse loudly as I only got a small scratch and a drop of blood for my effort before King Shark turned to me and attacked.
'How about this, then...?' I quickly closed the distance, dodging two more swipes and a mouth full of sharp teeth as King Shark tried to bite my head off before punching at his side again.
I activated my suit and channeled electricity into the humanoid shark's body once my fist made contact, and he paused spasming for a second before shrugging it off like it was nothing.
I kept dancing around King Shark and electrocuting him at every chance, increasing the electricity and energy output with every hit. But my efforts still proved nothing more than an inconvenience.
I even used the maximum output and electrocuted King Shark with visible electric arcs, which incapacitated him for several seconds before he snapped in a fit of anger-fueled power and even landed a hit on me.
It was strong enough to break one of my ribs, but it quickly healed, and I used the residual kinetic energy from his attack and added it to my own to give him a taste of his own medicine with another hook to the liver.
The attack seemed to affect King Shark, albeit slightly. However, it did affect him, and I finally had a way to damage the humanoid shark's seemingly indestructible body.
I basically had to take everything he threw at me and use it to fuel my attacks by absorbing the energy from his attacks with my Energy Conductor Perk, but it was all I had at this point.
It was either that or waiting until he ran out of oxygen since he couldn't breathe on land, but I had no idea how long that would take
'This is still going to take a while...'
...
'Fucking go down already...' I internally screamed as I took another punch from King Shark, which didn't feel that different from a meteor falling over your head. Trust me when I say; I know the feeling.
I gritted my teeth through the pain and channeled the residual kinetic energy in my body as I punched at the humanoid shark's face, causing it to jerk sideways.
I've already broken my sword on King Shark's seemingly indestructible hide, along with every melee weapon I had other than my wire, and my trench coat was already trashed beyond repair thanks to his claws.
I even tried channeling my energy into my suit's circuits to electrocute the humanoid shark at the maximum output before he ripped the trench coat into ribbons. It only did slightly more damage than straight-out punching him.
He was physically more powerful than me and more durable. I felt every punch he threw at me as King Shark always managed to tear or break something whenever his attacks connected despite my own supernaturally hard skin.
Heck, even my healing factor was barely keeping up. Though the injuries King Shark gave me would quickly heal, the pain lingered, and it stung like a bitch and a half, let me tell you.
It was nothing like mutilating my muscles with energy, but it still hurt like fucking hell goddammit.
Still, my superhuman stamina, healing factor, and martial arts training, which gave me precision in my attacks, were my advantages over King Shark, and I capitalized on them all.
While King Shark was wildly flailing his arms at me, covered in blood as he bled from all over his body, and panting heavily, I was attacking with maximum precision, targeting his vitals with even breaths.
Though equally bloodied, I wasn't losing blood as every laceration King Shark's claws caused would close in a couple of seconds. King Shark's wounds, on the other hand, lingered, slowly but surely depriving him of his power and sapping away at his stamina.
It took half an hour of punching the shit out of King Shark, and getting the same treatment at the hands of the humanoid shark for him to finally collapse on the ground, unmoving.
I barely stopped myself from falling on my ass as my opponent went down, instant relief washing over me and robbing me of the adrenaline rush, which was a big part of why I was still standing.
I looked around and saw that only three of my Spider Sentries remained standing, along with two of my sentry guns, which was more than I expected, in all honesty.
I sighed as I approached the closest scrap heap, a downed Spider Sentry, and activated my machine assembly and morphing powers, fixing it on the spot in mere seconds.
'Yeah... these two powers are definitely broken...' I briefly mused, but I shook my head as I surveyed the vicinity to see who was still standing, and the results didn't surprise me much.
'King Faraday, Deadshot, Harley Quinn, Lady Vic...' I noted as I approached Merlin to check his vitals, and my expression immediately darkened at the realization there were none.
If Deadshot had all his toys, he would have likely taken out all my machines himself, but he wasn't, and I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth. Like seriously, horse mouths are fucking nasty, not as much as a certain group of people living on a certain island in Europe with a penchant for stabbing others whom I shall not name, but you get the idea.
(Author's note: I'm just joking, people. Please don't stab me XD)
'Well, shit...' I internally cursed as I approached Rick Flag, Copperhead, and the other masked villains I didn't recognize and was pleasantly surprised that only Copperhead shared Merlin's fate.
Rick Flag would bleed out any second now, while the other villains were either similarly half-dead, severely injured, or with permanent injuries, but at least they were alive. The same goes for the government agents.
I kneeled next to Rick Flag and started channeling energy into his body to heal his wounds, and they quickly closed at a visible pace, preventing any further blood loss.
It was something Richard recently taught me, but more on that later.
Unmindful of the remaining three villains and one government agent doing their best to avoid being gunned down by my machines, I proceeded to heal everyone whose life was in danger.
The violin bitch, though severely injured, was exempted from such treatment as I had something else in mind for her.
Once sure there would be no more deaths and blood on my ledger, I sighed as I moved to the center of the secret basement and started firing in the air to get everyone's attention.
"Everybody listen up," I exclaimed as I deactivated my machines, and the area immediately turned quiet as everyone stopped what they were doing, giving me their undivided attention.
"First things first," I said, raising my gun and firing at King Faraday, knocking him out cold to stop him from interfering in my plan before turning to address the still-standing villains.
"The fight's over..." I added as I turned back to the three villains. "There is no real bad blood between us. I won't kill you unless you force me to," I went on, spreading my arms as I put away my gun.
"The way I see it, Amanda Waller is the enemy that we need to be fighting, not each other," I concluded, relaxing my arms and letting them fall to the side as I observed their expression.
"Sorry, puddin', but it's not like there's anything we can do about it," Harley said, sounding all too calm about her predicament as if it was another person's problem.
"We stop fightin', and our brains go kaboom, remember?" she added, chuckling as she made a mock explosion with her hand, and the other two only offered silent agreeing nods.
"Not necessarily," I said, shrugging my shoulders as I approached one of the unconscious villains, flipped him on his stomach, and kneeled next to his unmoving body.
Taking a deep breath, I infused energy into my hand and reached for the back of the villain's neck. I stilled for a second, frowning in concentration as I controlled the flow of my energy.
One second later, I opened my eyes and ripped the explosive chip from his head with a spray of blood, leaving a bloody gash, which I immediately healed before getting up.
"I can take out your explosive chips, and there's nothing Waller can do about it," I said as I held the chip in my hand, activating it and throwing it high in the air.
"I've already disabled the control chips in yours and everyone's heads, and only I can activate them again," I added, and as if on cue, the chip immediately exploded once I stopped talking.
"So you're basically saying that our leash went from one hand to another, bloody great..." Lady Vic said, her tone exasperated as her shoulders slumped in exasperation.
"Leashes are for dogs, and I'm a cat person myself," I said, shrugging as I chuckled. "I'm willing to remove the bombs in your heads, and all I ask is that you hear me out. Nothing more, nothing less," I added, shaking my head.
"It's not like we have a choice..." Deadshot said, crossing his arms in front of his chest as he trailed off, clearly waiting for me to start talking, and I was happy to oblige.
"As I've already said it. Waller is the enemy here, and there's only one way we can get rid of her," I said as I walked towards Merlin's body, picking up his bow.
"We only need to expose her to the people, and they will eat her alive," I added as I turned to the Copperhead's body, knocking an arrow and aiming at his torso.
"However, I can't do that on my own, for that, I need everyone's help," I added as I let the arrow loose, and it found its mark, penetrating the side of the latter's chest and exploding, tearing his body to shreds.
"In other words, I want you to surrender yourselves to the authorities and testify against Waller," I concluded as I walked away from Merlin's corpse and activated the explosive chip inside his head.
Merlin's corpse exploded, and all evidence of my involvement in the two villains' deaths evaporated as I'd already scrambled the basement's surveillance system and fried its database already.
There was still the matter of Deadshot, Lady Vic, Harley, and the many unconscious government agents, but I was sure I could sway the three villains to my side, and the others won't have any credibility once I'm done with them and Waller.
"And go to jail? No thanks," Deadshot immediately replied without even needing to think, and I smiled under my helmet, having already expected his answer.
...
"Jail? No, not with what Waller did to you in the name of the U.S. government, even if it was off records," I said, shaking my head as I scoffed at Deadshot's words.
"Maybe you'll be sentenced for a month or two, and that's if the worst fucking lawyer was on your case," I added as I resumed hiding any evidence of my involvement in the deaths of the two villains.
"And I intend to hire the best lawyers money can buy," I added, calculating where everything needed to be to make it look like Merlin went rogue and killed Copperhead.
"Maybe if we had hard evidence, but we don't. All we got is the word of three convicted criminals," Deadshot, his frown audible in how he spoke as he watched me work.
"The explosive chips prove nothing. Anyone could have planted them in our heads," Deadshot added, crossing his arms and shaking his head in utter dismissal.
"The best we can do is put Waller in the limelight and slow her down with what we got right now," he concluded in a tone that dared me to come with a reply, and Lady Vic nodded in agreement from the side.
"I can get hard evidence. I've already pinpointed the Task Force X database, and I only need time to dig it up," I replied with a sigh and stopped to look at my handiwork, searching for anything I might have missed.
"I can do that without your help, but I'd prefer to do it with the limelight on Waller, not me," I went on as I nodded, finding nothing that would lead back to me.
"If there's no pressure on Waller, she might be able to maneuver around any allegation and turn me into some public enemy..." I remarked as I turned to face the three villains.
"If that happens, I'd have zero credibility, and no one would be willing to take my case, regardless of how much evidence I'd gather by that point," I concluded, shrugging my shoulders as I went silent to let them process my words.
"And you're so sure you can get that evidence?" Deadshot blankly asked, but the mockery in his tone wasn't lost on me, prompting me to chuckle lightly in genuine amusement.
"If I can find this place, disable the security protocols, and hack into the explosive chips in your heads while fighting for my life..." I replied, raising a finger with each feat I mentioned as I trailed off.
"Then who's to say I can't hack into Task Force X database?" I added, my tone assured as I shook my head in disregard at the very notion. "Even if I couldn't, which is impossible, I can always pay someone to break into Belle Reve and get me what I need," I concluded, shrugging my shoulders.
"Let's say we go through with this, we testify, buy you enough time to get the evidence, put Waller Behind bars, and get exempt..." Deadshot said, not sounding convinced by my words as I'd hoped.
"What then? Do you expect us to turn a new leaf and become law-abiding citizens...?" Deadshot said in a disgusted tone as if turning into a law-abiding citizen was the worst thing that could happen to him.
"Why not? You just want the money to get Zoe into college and give her a bright future, don't you?" I asked, and Deadshot immediately froze at the mention of his daughter's name.
"What's your point...?" Deadshot asked, and the words came out more like an angry growl than anything else, his tone turning several degrees colder as he reached for his gun.
"Scary, but we both know that little toy gun won't do shit, and we're just talking here," I said with a chuckle, raising my arms in mock surrender, and Deadshot moved his hand away from the gun with a grunt.
"The same goes for you. You just want money to keep your ancestral estate afloat, right...?" I asked as I turned to Lady Vic, who only nodded in reply without reaching for her gun.
"Well, there are other ways to make money with your skill sets. I can give your two permanent, lawful employment that would provide for both of your needs and then some..." I added, making a money sign with my hands.
"And how you intend to go about that, mate?" Lady Vic quickly asked in an interested tone while Deadshot merely listened from the side, still defensively crossing his arms.
"I'm rich. My toys don't come cheap, you know?" I replied with a chuckle, 'technically' lying through my teeth. I was by no means that rich, and I'd probably spend most of my money on lawyers before the ordeal was over.
However, I will soon be, and that's all that mattered.
"As for what positions you can expect... I intend to use the positive media attention from exposing Waller to kick start a tech company..." I added, gesturing to the side.
"The positions of security counselors that come with a considerable salary will be yours should you accept the deal," I concluded, and the two mercenaries remained quiet, contemplating their options.
"What about me? You're not abouta leaver me out o' this, are ya?" Harley asked, raising an eyebrow as she gave me a suspicious look, to which I could only sigh.
"You are criminally insane. Even if you get an exemption and a clean record, you'd still have to spend some time in a minimum security mental institution," I replied, shaking my head.
"Though it won't be anything like Arkham, and that's all I can do for you," I explained, sighing as I noticed Harley's expression, which looked genuinely offended at my lacking offer.
As much as I wanted to cut Harley loose and forget about her, she would play a big part in convicting Amanda Waller since she was technically insane.
But how could the crazy, unpredictable, and unstable Harley play such a vital role in bringing Waller down, and why would her being insane have anything to do with it, you might ask?
Well, the answer is simple. What Waller is doing, by planting explosives in people's heads and forcing them into a situation where they will most likely die horribly, is blatant slavery.
And what could be worse than enslaving people to death? It's enslaving mentally insane people who technically can't stop themselves from committing crimes and driving them into an early grave.
It was all sophistry and bullshit, but it was essential in winning over public opinion. And I needed that on my side if I wanted to get Amanda Waller to be permanently behind bars with no chance of bouncing back.
"There, it's up to you if you want to stay and let them fix that fucked up head of yours or just escape. Either way, I'll owe you one favor," I concluded and stopped talking to let the crazy blonde think, and her answer came unsurprisingly quickly.
"I'm in."
...
Gotham
The Batcave
"What have you uncovered so far...?" Batman asked as he worked on his supercomputer without bothering to turn around and face his two proteges, who were sharing an awkward look.
"Not much. It's like Harley Quinn along with the other missing villains just disappeared off the face of the earth..." Nightwing replied with a sigh, shaking his head in exasperation.
"The only thing we've managed to find so far, is that some of them are disappearing in The Penguin's club..." he hesitantly added, trailing off at the end of his sentence.
"What do you mean?" Batman said as he stopped working and turned to Nightwing with an intense frown that looked like a diluted Batglare, much to the latter's chagrin.
"The Penguin is holding an underground fighting ring in his club, which you'd know if you weren't obsessing over whatever the hell this is..." Nightwing replied, scoffing as he gestured at the supercomputer, to which the Batglare intensified.
"In any case..." Night wing said, sighing. "All known villains who lost their fights went missing, and no one saw them ever since, like The Condiment King and the Tweedle cousins..." he went on and proceeded to name every all the missing criminals.
"This doesn't sound like The Penguin... there's more to it..." Batman said as he turned back to work on the Batcomputer. "Either way, if that's your only lead, then keep working on it and keep me updated," he added, going silent as if to signal the end of the conversation.
"We already did. I infiltrated the tournament as a contestant. I only managed to tag one of the missing people today, and I know where The Penguin is taking them..." Jason replied and quickly explained how he did it.
"You did good," Batman said, and Jason's eyes widened at the rare praise, but he said nothing as his mentor seemed like he had more to say. "Then there's no need to wait any longer. Let's move," Batman said as he got off his chair, prepared to accompany his two proteges.
However, Alfred suddenly showed up, interrupting them before they could leave.
"Master Bruce, young master dick, young master Jason," Alfred greeted, nodding at the three vigilantes. "You might want to check the new before you leave..."
...
Gotham
Outside Gotham's General Hospital
"In a shocking turn of events, Gotham's newest vigilante, Wraith, claims to have uncovered a government agency exploiting convicts..." The live reporter said, keeping the microphone close to her mouth as she stared into the camera.
"In an incident that transpired in a secret underground basement, right below Gotham's general hospital, the vigilante was forced to fight several convicted villains while investigating the recent disappearances in Gotham."
"The finer details are still unclear, but the vigilante claims the agency, Task Force X, is enslaving convicts via explosive chips planted in their heads." The reporter went on, unmindful of the rain pouring over her head as she reported the incident with increasing zeal.
"He further claims, and I quote; Amanda Waller, the agency's director, is forcing the convicts, including those with mental illnesses, to do the government's dirty work and carry out multiple high-profile assassinations, end quote."
"We remain unsure to the truth of the allegation as we were not allowed entry into the alleged secret basement... hopefully, captain Tiegel of the GCPD can shed some light on the matter." The reporter continued as the camera turned to the side, showing Deborah Tiegel standing beside her.
"I'm afraid I can't give any definitive answers as the investigation is still going..." Deborah said, stopping halfway as she turned to her subordinates, instructing them to keep the civilians away.
"However, I can confirm the secret basement's existence, even though it doesn't exist officially, based on our records," the detective added as she turned back to the reporter, and everyone understood the meaning behind her words.
"I can also confirm the presence of multiple convicts who were missing, including those that Wraith, Super Girl, and Nightwing apprehended recently," Deborah went on, then proceeded to name every convict they found inside.
"We also apprehended multiple people who didn't exist in public records, but as I've said, the investigation is still going, and transporting the dangerous criminals into confinement takes precedent for now..." Deborah concluded, shaking her head.
"Is there anything else you'd like to add, captain Tiegel?" The reporter said, nodding in satisfaction at Deborah's reply, already expecting her career to rocket up thanks to this interview.
"Whether Warith's allegations towards Amanda Waller are correct or a simple misunderstanding, it's clear that someone is behind this incident, and we, the GCPD, will do everything in our power to find them, whoever they may be to put them where they belong..."
"Behind bars..." the detective concluded as she turned to leave and immediately started barking orders at her subordinates before taking two steps even.
"And there you have it, folks. The captain of the 52nd precinct and the first to arrive at the scene has spoken..." the reporter said as she watched Deborah leave, then turned to the camera.
"We will now return to my colleagues in the studio until further news come to surface, so stay tuned until then..."
...
Gotham
The Batcave
Batman's expression darkened as he watched the report's conclusion and turned towards the Batmobile. "We need to sort this out, quick," the caped crusader said, and his two proteges shared a look before following along.
"Alfred, contact Barbra and get her on the case too. We need her computer expertise," Batman concluded, waiting for Nightwing and Robin to get inside the Batmobile before speeding away.
"A butler's work never ends, it seems..." Alfred muttered to no one in particular, sighing as he obliged Batman's request.
...
Gotham
The Iceberg Lounge
"Amanda Waller, huh...? Now I finally have a name..." The Penguin muttered to himself, maliciously chuckling as he shut off the television in his office.
He didn't need to be a criminal mastermind to realize Amanda Waller was the one pulling on his strings after watching the report and connecting the dots.
"You really are my lucky star..." he added, broadly smiling as an image of the vigilante who'd been making his problems disappear one by one flashed in his mind.
Now he only had to sit back and watch Gray discredit Waller so that any dirt she had on the mob boss would be null as no one would take her word for it.
He'd wait until she was behind her bars, where he'd arrange for the task force director to 'tragically' take her own life in shame or something along those lines.
The Penguin would, of course, intervene and support the vigilante, financially or in any way necessary if it came to it. However, he had a hunch that any interference on his part won't be needed.
The mob boss didn't know the source of such a hunch, but he always trusted his instinct. It got him this far, after all. What he did know, however, is that he'll owe Wraith a favor for his service, whether it was intentional or not.
"Now, let's see how you fare against the entire government breathing down your neck..."
...
Gotham
Gotham City's Park
"Now he's gone and done it..." Benjamin said, chuckling as he stopped the video about the incident in Gotham's General Hospital and turned to Richard with a hard-to-read expression.
"This is no laughing matter, Ben. It's not like Gray to act so rashly..." Richard said, clearly displeased at his old friend's antics as he paced anxiously with a frown on his face.
"The kid is cautious, sure. But I already told you he'd still snap if someone pushes the right buttons..." Benjamin said, shaking his head with a sigh. "By the looks of it, he must have seen or heard something or someone that did just that," he concluded.
"The kid probably thought he had his anger under control, but he still has a long way to go..." Benjamin went on. "Heck, it even shows in our spars. He's always on edge and quick to anger and make mistakes whenever I try to push him..." he added with a helpless shrug.
"The kid's been angry for so long that he doesn't even realize it anymore, and it became the norm..." Benjamin explained, gesturing to the side in exasperation.
"Still, he's even quicker to recover and salvage the situation before I can take advantage of his mistakes..." he continued, smiling as the numerous times he thought he had Gray in a spar after the latter made a mistake, only for him to recover quickly.
"By the looks of things, he's doing fine fixing his fuck up," Benjamin concluded as he approached Richard and put a hand on his shoulder to calm him down.
"You're right... but let's find him, just in case. He might need our help," Richard replied, nodding at his old friend as he started walking, prompting the latter to follow suit.
...
Gotham
East End
Inside an abandoned construction site
"I thought Ivy said Wraith wasn't willing to help..." Anarky blankly said, cautiously eying the three 'people' he shared the room with, clearly on guard as he crossed his arms.
"People change their minds, kid. Get over it already," said a mechanical voice from a monitor attached to a small robot, showing The Calculator's face.
"Either way. It makes things easier for us, and now we don't have to recruit any nut jobs like The Joker..." The Riddler said, grinning as he twirled his iconic green question mark staff.
"Are you sure you can call anyone a nut job? Have you looked in a mirror lately?" Mothman mockingly said, scoffing at The Riddler's words as if they were the most ludicrous thing he's ever heard.
"Coming from the evil Batman wannabe? Now that's rich..." The Riddler immediately quipped back at Moth Man, who never bothered to hide his desire to become the Anti-Batman, even using similar tactics and gadgets, albeit moth themed.
Mothman seemed ready to keep arguing. However, he had to swallow his words as a green vine grew out of the ground, blossoming into a beautiful, giant flower.
The flower opened, and Poison Ivy walked out, leisurely smiling as she surveyed the room. "Gentlemen," Ivy greeted, nodding at the four villains gathered before her.
"As you all know by now... the situation changed, and our plan must change with it," Ivy said. Everyone nodded, including Mothman and The Riddler, forgoing their conflict temporarily.
"Wraith has taken the fight to Waller, and we only need stand back and watch them tear each other apart, however..." the botanist added, trailing at the end of her sentence.
"I don't need to tell you what fates we'll suffer if Amanda wins the fight..." she continued, her tone severe as she alternated her gaze between the four villains.
"We won't interfere unless necessary, but we must make sure Wraith doesn't lose..." she remarked. "If Wallers wins this fight, she'll remain a thorn in our sides and might even stop working in the shadows and go public if she won over the public opinion.
"None of us want that..."
...
Gotham's General Hospital
"Well, here goes nothing..." I muttered to myself as I exited the hospital, and the news-hungry journalists immediately swamped me, almost causing me to go blind with their camera flashes.
Everything was going as planned so far. I personally contacted editors from the Gotham Gazette and Daily planet news agencies, and they were quick to respond, immediately swarming the hospital after I sent them some shallow information about the situation.
I also contacted Deborah, and though skeptical, she owed me too much to gloss over my words, so she obliged and was the first to show up at the scene.
Amanda Waller might have more recourses, people, and connections all over the country, but there was little she could do about the current situation now that I've blown it out of proportion.
Gotham was an ecosystem on its own and had a unique set of rules that governed over every aspect, whether it be politics, organized crime, and everything in between.
Amanda Waller as an outsider had a limited influence here and wouldn't be able to twist the situation to her advantage. Meanwhile, I had a police captain on my side and dirt on everyone that mattered in this city, and I wasn't afraid to use it to my advantage.
I had the home field advantage, and it wouldn't be difficult for me to win over the public opinion thanks to my Computers skill. The internet was one convenient tool for propaganda if you knew your way around it.
In any case, I had other plans to win over public opinion, but why tell when I can show?
The reporters immediately began barraging me with questions while keeping their distance. I surveyed the area, located the ones from the agencies I called, and gestured for them to come closer.
"I still have work to do, so please make your question brief and to the point," I said, gesturing to the side as I looked at the female reporter who quickly approached me.
"When you contacted the daily planet, you said you stumbled upon the secret basement while investigating a missing persons case... would you care to elaborate?" the reporter asked, moving the microphone closer to me.
"It's no secret that multiple villains have gone missing in the past couple of days, including those already in confinement," I replied, nodding at the reporter.
"I decided to investigate the matter. Eventually, my investigations led me here..." I added, trailing off to indicate the end of my reply as I waited for the reporter's next question.
"Investigating missing criminals? Wouldn't you say there are more worthwhile endeavors to spend your time on as a vigilante?" The reporter asked, raising an eyebrow, to which I could only smile.
'This woman...' I mused, holding back a chuckle at the questions that may have sounded disrespectful and needlessly aggressive to most people. I was not most people and understood the reporter's intention.
She was giving me a chance to overrule such doubts and nib them in the bud before they even formed, likely her way of thanking me for giving her such an opportunity to improve her career prospects.
And if my reply and the reason I gave for my action weren't compelling or reasonable enough, she'd still be one of the few journalists who managed to embarrass a vigilante on live television. It was a win-win situation for her.
"Maybe there were better things to do with my time, but those people, though they've made wrong choices..." I said, trailing off as I gestured towards Deadshot and the other villains in chains and cuffs, accompanied to police cars by officers.
"Are still people with rights, and make no mistake here, they are the victim here, and as such more than worthy of my time," I added as I watched the police officers load the villains into the police cars and drive away.
"No one deserves to be enslaved, especially not in such a way. Such acts go against every principle our civilized and free society stands for and must not be tolerated under any circumstances." I concluded, crossing my arms and going quiet as I waited for her next question, satisfied with my answer.
"Well said. However, you must be certain of your words to accuse a distinguished political like Mrs. Waller of orchestrating this Suicide Squad of villains as you call it," the reporter questioningly said.
"I'm more than sure of my words, and I intend to stand by them to the very end. I have solid proof of Waller's involvement in this matter," I replied, nodding my head.
"I will not be sharing any as of now as that would give her time to maneuver and twist the truth, but you can be sure I'll be taking it to court when the time comes," I added, shrugging my shoulders.
"But you realize that as a masked vigilante, your words and the evidence you present might not hold much credibility in the court of law?" the reporter asked, genuinely confused at my words.
"I understand. However, it won't be Wraith, the masked vigilante, that will go to the court," I said, smiling as I reached for my riot headgear with my hands.
"It will be Grayson Whitlock, a seventeen-year-old kid born and raised in Gotham," I concluded, maintaining my smile as I turned to the camera and instantly felt a weight falling off my shoulders.
...
Gray's hideout
"You little demon..." I sighed as I threw myself on the new couch, too tired to even care about Soot tearing it apart with his claws while looking me in the eye as if to assert his dominance.
Though tired, I was in a noticeably good mood. My improvised plan went smoothly, flaunting the precious principles of freedom, equality, and justice that people loved dearly, creating bots that filled social media with posts riling up the people.
Despite all that, there were still people speaking up against me, which was understandable as many of those people have suffered greatly at the hands of super villains and were more than happy to see them enslaved and sent to their deaths.
Either way, making everyone agree with me is impossible, so I didn't bother. However, making them have doubts and second thoughts was very much possible, and that's what I achieved by unmasking myself.
Though surprised by my young age, the reporter kept the questions coming after a brief silence, like why I go out of my way to fight crime despite being so young.
I immediately narrated a bullshit backstory about how the trauma from my first encounter with Firefly and the helplessness I felt drove me to put on a mask and go out there, risking my life. How I met him again and spared his life was the main selling point for my propaganda.
If a 17-year-old kid can forgive and spare the life of the villains who traumatized him enough to become a vigilante, then why can't a bunch of adults do the same?
Many people will still speak against me, but I've already given a positive example to follow, so, even more will show up to defend my case, which was all I needed.
I didn't need everyone to be on my side: only the majority of those willing to speak up and drown the voices of others. That's social media propaganda 101 for you.
'It's been a while since I checked on the system... might as well...' I mused as I brought up my system's interface to see what new notifications have accumulated over time.
[+2 levels to the Brawling skill]
[Brawling (level 49)]
[+3 levels to the Crime skill]
[Crime (level 44)]
[+3 levels to the Acrobatics skill]
[Acrobatics (level 30)]
[+5 levels to the Computers skill]
[Computers (level 45)]
[+2 levels to the Gun Mastery skill]
[Gun Mastery (level 27)]
[+3 levels to the Medieval Weapons Mastery Skill]
[Medieval Weapons Mastery (14)]
[+8 levels to the Mechanics skill]
[Mechanics (level 44)]
[+7 levels to the Scholar class]
[Scholar (level MAX)]
[+21 stat points]
[+8 accumulated class levels]
[You have reached the maximum level for your current class. Would you like to select a new one now?]
'My skill levels are looking a bit more decent right now, the important ones at least...' I mused as I browsed my available classes, which were only Archetype-specific ones, other than the Linguist.
Technically, I was ready to take my next Mad Scientist class, but I wouldn't be able to do much with it since I'll be busy dealing with Waller in the coming days.
'Might as well...' I shrugged as I selected the only remaining common class.
[You have gained a new class: Linguist]
[You have gained the skill: Language]
[Language (1): If you want hablar Español, sound good ordering at a French restaurant, or read the Old Church Latin edition of the Necronomicon, you need to learn a few languages. This skill covers any language other than one's native tongue]
[+8 levels to the Linguist class]
[+24 stat points]
...
Gray's hideout
'Finally fucking done...' I mused, smiling as I peered at the finally completed forge, having finished during my break time.
It's been two days since the fight, and I haven't been able to do much since my battle with King Shark proved too strenuous, and its effect finally showed when the last vestiges of adrenaline left my body.
I felt so exhausted that I immediately collapsed on the couch after I dismissed the system interface, and even 12 hours of sleep weren't enough to alleviate the physical and mental stress.
Luckily, Little Soot's bowl was full, so the little demon was content to let me rest without bothering me too much. I also had my pre-programmed software do my work, scanning the Task Force X database for any vulnerability while I recovered, so I didn't waste any more time than I could afford.
The Penguin also decided to pause the tournament and postpone it until the heat died out, so I didn't miss anything in my two days of acting like a comatose couch potato.
Still, after two days of sitting on my ass and doing nothing other than meeting Richard and Benjamin to assure them everything was under control, I was in top shape and eager to get to work.
And the first thing I did was finish the forge because it was kind of an eyesore, just sitting there, half-complete, and now I can finally devote the entirety of my time to taking down Amanda Waller.
I've already made the necessary calls to my 'pals' in the GCPD to make sure no one would distort the facts or untwist what I twisted, which no one could at this point, not even Batman.
The Caped Crusader won't be allowed anywhere near the investigation. I made sure of it.
Even higher-ups from the justice department did their best to prevent any outside interference in Waller's case, whether it was from superheroes or anyone else.
They were understandably pissed at the idea of such a secret agency operating under their noses, for a good reason, too, since it was a severe blow to their already plummeting reputation.
They also seemed to view the situation as an opportunity for redemption since the general populace has viewed them as nothing more than incompetent nincompoops since superheroes started popping up all over the country.
Though people called me a vigilante, I didn't go about it as one would. I unmasked myself in front of live TV and declared my intention to see the matter to the end through the legal system.
I wouldn't be surprised if the anti-superhero political movements and the superhero haters in law enforcement agencies used my actions to discredit the justice league, and I wouldn't care either.
It wouldn't affect me either way since I was over the vigilante act already, even if I stepped into the light earlier than I originally planned because of my dumb fit of anger.
I might not be the wisest or most scheming person out there, but I'm quick to adapt. And I will turn things my way. It's swim or sink at this point, and I had no intention of drowning, thank you very much.
'I might have to create drones or something to do this kind of work when I'm busy...' I mused, looking at the finished forge before cracking my fingers out of habit as I activated my personal computer power and went limb.
...
Gotham
GCPD
"What do you mean I can't investigate the scene?" Batman asked, his tone blank as he stared into Commissioner Gordon's eyes, clearly displeased.
"It means what it means. And before you ask, I can't help you even if I wanted to," The commissioner replied, struggling to light up a cigarette due to the intense breeze hitting the GCPD rooftop.
"What do you mean?" Batman asked, getting straight to the point. His frown was visible even through the mask as he watched Gordon finally light up his cigarette and resume speaking.
"It's out of my hand..." The commissioner replied, deeply inhaling a puff of smoke. "The higher-ups want captain Tiegel from the 52nd running the show, and even I can't interfere in the investigation," he added, releasing the smoke from his lungs with a heavy sigh.
"You superhero folks have been doing the justice department's work for too long..." Gordon said, shaking his head. "You did too good a job and bruised more than a couple egos," he added, shrugging his shoulder as he threw the cigarette to the ground, stomping it.
"And when that boy unmasked himself for all to see, he was no longer one of ya'll, not in their books, at least," Gordon explained, trailing for a second before he continued.
"A win for the boy would be a win for them and a loss for superheroes, or so they think" Gordon concluded as he raised his head after extinguishing the cigarette, but Batman was no longer there, to no one's surprise.
The commissioner let out another sigh as he headed back inside.
...
Metropolis
Clark Kent's apartment
"Do you really have to go, honey?" Clark asked, holding on to his wife's hand, clearly reluctant to let her go. "You know how I feel about that city..." he added, trailing off at the end of his sentence.
"You know as well as I do that I have to," Lois replied, smiling at Clark as she stepped closer and planted a kiss on his cheek. "I just can't stand to see that rookie taking sides, and I already talked to Mr. Perry about it," she added, wiggling her finger.
"And you still haven't told me who you're supporting on this case yet?" Lois added as she retrieved her hand from Clark's and quickly put on her heel.
"You already know whose side I'm on, but I can't say it on record, not as Superman. The justice department made it very clear they don't want our kind anywhere near the case," Clark said, shaking his head as he leaned on the wall, appreciating his wife's charming figure with a smile.
"Fine. Be that way. But note one thing for the record — if Superman ever does speak up and I don't get the exclusive..." Lois said, trailing off as she finished putting on her shoes and picked up her purse.
"Then one Mr. Clark Kent better start checking his Linguini for Kryptonite..." Lois concluded, sending her husband a playful air kiss as she closed the door and left.
...
Gotham
East End
"I've already enthralled multiple high-ranking officers in the GCPD. They should be able to keep The Bat off the case..." Poison Ivy said as she surveyed the room, her gaze alternating between the four gathered villains.
"How are things going on your ends...?" She blankly asked, her gaze stopping at the small monitor that showed the Calculator's grinning visage.
"I've already leaked every piece of dirt I have on Waller and the others involved in the task force..." The Calculator quickly replied. "I didn't need to pour oil on the flame, though. The people were already going for their torches and pitchforks," he added with a chuckle.
"It's like someone's been riling the people up already and doing a damned good job at it," he concluded, his grin becoming more pronounced and somewhat impressed.
"I've warded multiple attempts to erase the digital evidence from the basement stored within the GCPD systems concerning Waller's case..." Anarky said from the side once The Calculator went silent.
"Now that I think about it... wasn't Wraith responsible for exposing your scheme? How does it feel to protect an enemy who bested you?" Moth Man said after hearing Anarky's words as he turned to face the latter.
"Anarky only has one enemy, the oppression of the system, and Waller is one of its cornerstones," Anarky replied with a scoff, turning away from Moth man in utter disregard.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, kid," Moth Man said with a chuckle, crossing his arms as he turned to Poison Ivy. "I've taken out a dozen spooks snooping around the city looking for the boy, so we don't have to worry about him 'mysteriously' disappearing," he concluded.
"Riddle me this, Moth Man, what do you call someone who does unnecessary things and takes pride in his futile actions?" The Riddler said as he smacked his cane against the ground.
"A cheeky deadbeat," The Riddler added with a broad grin, splitting his face. "If you can take care of those so-called spooks, then they were no threat to the boy to begin with," he added, shaking his head.
"Remind me why we brought this guy along again?" he asked as he turned to Poison Ivy, and Moth Man immediately snapped before the botanist could try to de-escalate the situation.
"Try saying that again, you useless joke!" Moth Man growled as he approached The Riddler, ready to make him swallow his words along with his teeth.
"I'll say it as many times as you're willing to hear it-" The Riddler replied, his grip tightening on his cane, clearly prepared for the fight, which never happened thanks to Poison Ivy's interference.
"Gentlemen, this is not the time for inner conflict," Poison Ivy said as she willed a giant green vine to emerge from the ground, separating the two villains.
"We have more important things to worry about for now... feel free to slit each other's throats once Waller is down for the count..."
...
Gotham's Diamond District
The Iceberg Lounge
As he sat behind his desk, going over the details of his most recently purchased flower shop, The Penguin grinned at how perfectly it fit as a front to launder money and distribute his illegal product.
Now with Waller and Black Mask out of the picture, he was free to focus on doing what he did best; making money and running a crime ring without worry.
However, his smile stiffened as he raised his head and noticed a tall figure standing over him, casting a towering shadow. The Penguin sighed as he raised his head and locked eyes with two glowing white orbs.
"You sure took your sweet time. I thought you'd be here much sooner..." The Penguin said, regaining his smile as he peered into the white eyes of the man standing before his office, staring him down.
"Is the caped crusader finally losing his touch, perhaps?" The mob boss asked, chuckling as he looked Batman up and down, seemingly in a good mood as he let go of the paper in his hand and reached for another.
"I know Wraith tracked down Waller through your fighting ring..." Batman blankly said, cutting right through The Penguin's bullshit and getting straight to the point.
"What's your end game? What's your relationship with Amanda Waller?" Batman said, smacking the desk and slapping away whatever unsuspecting office appliances were lying on top before The Penguin could reach them.
"Fighting ring? What do you take me for, a mob boss? I'm a simple, honest businessman," The Penguin replied, barely holding back a flinch at the caped crusader's display, knowing full well the latter wasn't above using violence to get answers.
"But let's say I was involved in this accident for argument's sake..." The Mob boss said, resisting the urge to summon his bodyguards when he noticed Batman's dwindling patience.
"I'd be a victim, believe it or not. A mere puppet, forced to dance for the puppeteer, or be thrown away to rot in a dark cardboard box..." he quickly added, sighing as he shrugged his shoulders.
"Only for another puppet in the theatre to break free and cut its strings loose without it even knowing..." The Penguin concluded, helplessly spreading his arms apart and letting them fall to his sides.
"I'll take your word for it, but this isn't over, Cobblepot," Batman said, and as if on cue the door to the Penguin's office opened as Orca burst into the room, causing the mob boss to look away from the caped crusader.
"I heard a noise, boss. Is everything okay?" Orca said, surveying the office with a pair of sharp eyes and finding no trace of anyone other than the Penguin himself.
"Nothing is wrong, my dear. In fact, I might even dare say it's all going swimmingly," The Penguin said, grinning as he calmly picked up the office supplies from the ground and resumed working.
...
The Batcave
"So... you've been in contact with Wraith more than any of us... what do you think he's up to, Dick?" Barbra asked, taking off her mask to let her mane or red hair breathe after a long night of patrolling the city.
"Not as much as I'd liked. The kid reminded me of Jason first; the same anger and attitude..." Nightwing replied, thoughtfully humming as he leaned on the supercomputer.
"He didn't strike me as the sort of pull this kind of thing... not with how concerned he seemed with protecting his secret identity..." he added, shaking his head.
"Bruce was always the one with the eye for reading people. You'd have to ask him when he gets back..." Nightwing went on, gesturing to the side.
"Either way, I don't think Bruce would like whatever the kid is doing. You know he can be," he concluded as he moved away from the supercomputer to let Barbra work.
"That's where you're wrong, Dick," Batman's gruff voice sounded from the side, accompanied by the sound of deliberate footsteps echoing all over the Batcave.
"Amanda has crossed the line countless times, yet I could never do anything about her because of my position in the League," the caped crusader said as he stopped beside Nightwing.
"We've all known about her but were helpless to do anything. She is working under the unofficial blessing of the government..." Batman went on, briefly turning to see what Barbra was working on before shifting his focus back to Nightwing.
"The Justice League was necessary to defend the planet against powerful extraterrestrial threats, but it put too many restrictions on how we do things," the caped crusader concluded. Although his expression was blank, Dick knew his mentor was holding back a sigh.
"Was...?" Nightwing asked, immediately catching on to his mentor's peculiar wording and hard-to-read tone, to which Barbra froze and stopped working for a second before she gathered her bearings and resumed.
"Was," Batman briefly confirmed, clearly not intent on elaborating. His two proteges knew the caped crusader well enough to realize they won't be getting any answers, prompting them to drop the subject.
"I paid Cobblepot a visit, and it's as I suspected. Waller coerced him into organizing the tournament so she can have more recruits," the caped crusader remarked, blatantly changing the subject.
"We can't directly interfere in the case because the justice department doesn't want us or any cape near it, but we have to keep an eye on Wraith..." Batman concluded, crossing his arms.
"I thought you said you didn't mind letting the kid go after Waller," Nightwing asked, raising an eyebrow as he pointed out the contradiction in his mentor's words.
"I don't," Batman briefly replied as he uncrossed his arms. "However, Wraith might have an alternative motive, and until we find out what that is, we can't let him off our sights," he added, shaking his head.
"I've noticed several of Gotham's villains, Riddler, Calculator, and Mothman, performing random acts that are indirectly helping Wraith.." Batman went on as he stepped forward towards the supercomputer.
Barbra understood his intention and moved away, watching as the caped crusader brought up the three villains' profiles and the recent crimes, which Batman suspected were their handiwork.
"The police have discovered seven dead bodies of unknown origins with no public records, likely soldiers or servicemen, judging by their physiques and scar sets," Batman went on as he magnified Mothman's profile and victims post mortem reports.
"Those people are likely to be connected to Waller, and the way they died match The Mothman's MO," he continued as he zoomed in on the injuries that were their cause of death and matched them with Mothamn's confirmed victims.
"Dick, you and Jason are on this one. Fill him in when he comes back, and find Mothman as soon as possible," Batman instructed as he turned to Dick, and the latter nodded.
"As for you, Barbra..." the caped crusader said as he turned to face Batgirl, patiently waiting for her instructions. "There are countless social media accounts dedicated to riling up the public against Waller by releasing information from unreliable sources," he added as he brought up many posts from multiple accounts that seemed legitimate but were, in fact, fake.
"This sounds like something the Calculator would do. I want you to investigate and keep me updated," he concluded, stepping away from the computer, to which Barbra immediately went to work.
"What about you, Bruce?" Nightwing asked after waiting for Batman to finish giving out instructions, clearly curious about what his mentor planned to do meanwhile.
"Riddler has been visiting villains and gangs all over Gotham. Everyone he's visited has been lying low ever since..." Batman explained. "I'll track him down and see what he's up to..."
...
Gotham's 52nd precinct.
"Y'all pro-modern-slavery-people should be ashamed of yourselves. If a 17-year-old kid can forgive and forget, then why can't grown-ass men and women who never met a supervillain in their life do the same?"
#FUCK_WALLER
"I respect what Wraith is trying to do. Heck, I even know people he saved from muggers and rapists. But Waller hasn't done anything wrong. Those scumbags deserve much worst."
#JUSTICE_DONE_RIGHT
I couldn't help but chuckle at the hashtags as I browsed through my phone to pass the time while waiting inside the police station. Social media was currently a shit storm of controversy, so much so that I didn't even need to fan the flames anymore.
There were people calling Waller every vulgarity known to man, while others supported what she was doing. A minority even went after me and called me names I never knew existed, but for everyone one of those, there will be ten defending me, even amongst Waller supporters.
My plan was working, and even people who disagreed with me didn't come after me personally except for a few, even if they criticized my actions, while I could not say the same about Waller.
Even Waller's supporters weren't supporting her personally, but her actions and plan, and very few people rose to defend her whenever someone talked shit about her. They only defended the idea of using supervillains the way Waller did.
In the end, it didn't matter much; it was all smoke and mirrors to buy time until I got solid, condemning evidence, and any publicity, negative or positive, would help me kick-start my company once the shit show was over.
"It's time... everyone is outside waiting for you..." Deborah said as she approached me, prompting me to raise my head and smile at her as I put away my phone.
Deborah has been surprisingly tactful towards my sudden unmasking and would only give me weird looks occasionally. She clearly had something to say but didn't for some reason, and I was content to leave it that way.
"Let's get a move on then. Can't have those reporters going skittish..."
...
As he stood on the podium set up in front of a police station, Grayson smiled as he looked at the crowd of journalists, clamoring to get his attention with an unending barrage of questions and several police officers standing guard over the vicinity.
He scanned the area, and his eyes flashed in recognition as he spotted a brunette wearing a smart business suit with a knee-length, beige skirt and a white shirt.
"You there," Gray said, gesturing towards the woman, causing everyone to go silent as the reporter stepped forward, clearing her throat.
"Lois Lane with the daily planet here," the reporter introduced herself, getting a nod of acknowledgment for her efforts from Gray, to which she paused for a second before she continued speaking.
"Mr. Whitelock, before you unmasked yourself on live television, you were known as Wraith to most people, and they are curious. Is there a story behind that name or something you came up with at the top of your head?" Lois asked, briefly looking down at her notes.
"Even my old man doesn't go by Mr. Whitlock Gray or Grayson is fine. But to answer your question, I didn't actually come up with that name..." Gray replied, chuckling as he shook his head. "That honor goes to the criminals I apprehended when I first put on the mask and started fighting crime," he added.
"Though I imagine it might have something to do with my gadgets and how I fought," he concluded, shrugging his shoulders.
"Can you give us an example, Mr. Whit— Grayson?" shouted one of the reporters, and several others vocalized their agreements, causing Gray to smile and nod.
He reached for his belt and instantly disappeared, only to appear in front of a camera, slowly materializing in full gear, the glowing orbs of his riot gear being the first to emerge due to their intense light, causing the unfortunate cameraman to flinch.
Before anyone could make sense of the situation, Gray repeated the action and reappeared on the podium in his regular clothes with a mischievous smile splitting his face.
"Because of that, some criminals started calling a demon, a ghost, and whatnot. It was Wraith that stuck, so I didn't give it much thought and took it as it is," Gray said as he turned to Lois, clearly intent on hearing out any questions she might still have.
"I see, but the name has given you a specific type of reputation... would you say that made your job any easier?" Lois asked, nodding her head at Gray's answer.
"It definitely did. A good number of criminals would panic when they see me and make mistakes or just run off..." Gray said with a light laugh. "Though, the ones that ran are probably dying from embarrassment after realizing they were running from a 17-year-old kid," he jokingly concluded.
"17-year-old or not, there are videos on the internet that show you moving in ways that make even boxing and MMA champions pale in comparison..." Lois quipped, trailing off as she set the tone to ask her next question.
"You must have a great teacher to master fighting like you do. Would you mind shedding some light on who this person is?" she quickly added, smiling at Gray.
"I have a great teacher, but he's so much more than that. He found me at my lowest point and guided me to become the man I am today," Gray said, his smile turning a degree brighter as he spoke about his teacher.
"I've often imagined how I'd end up if I didn't meet him... and lets I didn't like what I saw," he added, his expression darkening for a brief second as he sighed.
"In any case, that's all I'm willing to share about the old man. He's camera shy," Gray jokingly concluded, his expression reverting to normal as he put on a leisure smile.
"But would say your teacher put you on the path of becoming a vigilante?" Lois asked, finally showing her fangs with venomous questions, which Gray immediately saw through.
"No. My teacher only offered me guidance; unconditional guidance with no strings or expectations attached..." Gray replied, clearly displeased by the question, as he gave the reporter a knowing, meaningful look.
(Author's note: for those of you who are confused, reporters usually insert these kinds of seemingly well-intentioned, but underhanded questions whenever they interview famous people after making them relax with a couple of easy-going questions. If Gray answered that Richard did put him on the path, then it would open the door to suspicion and accusation that Richard manipulated Gray, a confused kid, into becoming a vigilante, thus recklessly endangering Gray's life)
"I started fighting crime after stumbling onto a criminal assaulting a helpless woman. I helped the young lady and enjoyed the feeling of helping others, so I did it whenever I could," he concluded.
"Then moving on..." Lois said to change the subject nodding at Gray to indicate she got the hint. "I have several questions concerning the recent turn of events. Would you mind answering them?" she continued, and Gray gestured for her to ask away.
"By unmasking yourself, you have painted a target on your back that many people, including the criminals you've had conflicts with, would aim for..." Lois asked, trailing off at the end of her sentence.
"What measures have the GCPD taken to preserve your safety and wellbeing from such potential threats?" she asked, turning to look at Deborah, who was standing not far away from Gray at the podium.
"I wouldn't have exposed myself if I wasn't perfectly confident in my ability to protect myself..." Gray said as he smiled at Lois before turning towards Deborah.
"However, captain Tiegel here insisted that I'd have a police escort whenever I'm out to ensure my safety..." he added, sighing in exasperation as he shook his head.
"But what made you decide to unmask yourself? It couldn't have been an easy decision for you," Lois asked after a brief second of silence which she used to write something down.
"I took off my mask because I've realized that vigilantism is futile, in this city, at least..." Gray said with a sigh. "I've personally saved more people than I care to count, but what have I done for them other than that?" he added, his tone turning grave as he leaned on the podium.
"As long as they live in this city, it won't take long to find themselves in the same situation, and I can't be there to save them every time no matter how hard I try..." he went on, helplessly shaking his head.
"Most people look at Gotham and see nothing but a crime-infested hell hole, which is not far from the truth..." he continued, lightly gesturing to the side.
"But they don't look too deeply into it. Unlike Metropolis or Star City, the bad guys are regular humans here, and for everyone you beat, two more would pop up in their place," he explained.
"Do you know why that is? Because people flock to them. Why wouldn't they?" he remarked, frowning as he went quiet and scanned the area for anyone willing to answer, but no one did.
"They don't have any other option. Take Black Mask, for example; most of the people in his gangs are regular people who turned to crime to feed themselves and their families," Gray answered the question after waiting for a couple of seconds.
"This city is cursed. It takes good people and turns them into hardened criminals with no choice but to take from others what no one else would give them," he said.
"Most people currently rotting in Black Gate right now were once honest kids, raised by god-fearing parents to do the right thing, only to grow up and realize that doing the right thing doesn't put bread on their tables. Not in Gotham," he added, lightly slapping the podium in the heat of the moment.
"But what if those kids had the same opportunities as the ones from other cities? Would they still flock to the likes of Black Mask? Would they go through college and get decent jobs instead?" he asked. No one answered.
"It's hard to tell, but unless Gotham changes for the better and gives them the opportunities every child deserves, we'll never know," he went on.
"Heros don't simply fight crime and save lives. They inspire people. And I wish to inspire change in this city. I unmasked myself to do that, not as a masked vigilante but as myself, someone who had been through hell in this city and still stood tall." he added, smiling as he calmed down.
"Because in the end, not all heroes wear capes. It's just that the most inspiring of them happens to wear a red one..."
...
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