Batman Return of the Dark Nights
Written by: Panthera
Disclaimer: The characters within this story belong to DC Comics and Warner Brothers I have just borrowed them for a while. No harm is meant I will return them unharmed when I'm finished the only character contained within that is not DC is that of Zanah she is an original character created by me and my friend. Now, on with the story.
Chapter Ten
The next Day Zanah woke before everyone else and taking her bike she left the Wayne Manor and went into town. She pulled to a stop in front of a weapons shop and looked around, a chill running down her spine. Something was wrong, she didn't know what but it was there nagging at her. Scanning the area she saw no sign of Daggett's men so she let the sensation pass as paranoia. She then turned and stepped into the shop as a cop drove past her.
"Hello Miss. How can I help you?" The clerk asked.
Zanah looked up and replied, "I need a good wet stone." Before she turned her attention back to the various blades on display.
"Okay, is there anything else I can interest you in?"
"Not right now, no."
"Then your total will be $12.87"
Zanah handed over the money in question and then moved back outside to her motorcycle. As she stepped out the door she saw a cop standing over her bike with a citation in hand. Zanah walked over to the bike and asked, "Is there a problem officer?"
"Ma'am I need to see your license and registration for the vehicle."
"Why?"
"Don't get an attitude with me girl. This vehicle was reported stolen yesterday," he said.
"Look you're mistaken this bike belongs to a friend of mine and he knows I have it."
"Open the seat," he ordered.
"What is your badge number?" Zanah snapped.
The officer draws his gun and points it at her. "Open the seat."
In spite of all the warning signals going off telling her something was wrong with the situation she knelt down by the bike to open the seat. She noticed immediately that the clasp had been tampered with. Opening the seat cautiously she found sitting right on top in plain sight was a clear bag with white powder in it. Taped to the outside of the bag was a razor blade. "What the hell? That's not mine. You don't honestly believe…" she began.
"Put your hands behind your head please ma'am."
"No."
"Ma'am if you fail to do as told you'll be charged with resisting arrest."
"We both know that bag wasn't in their five minutes ago. I'm willing to bet you put it there and I have a pretty good idea who paid you to do it."
Seeing the girl had no intention of following his instructions he grabbed her by her jacket collar and threw her to the ground. He then reaches over and picks up the bag sticking it in his pocket. Zanah shook her head dazed. She rolled onto her back and started to get back up.
"You're under arrest. You have the right to remain silent; if you give up that right anything you say or do can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one then one will be appointed to you…"the cop began but his words were lost to Zanah as he picked her up off the ground by her collar and threw her against the wall. He then took one are and pulled it behind her back snapping cold metal on to her wrist. He then twisted the second behind her finishing restraining her.
Zanah cried out in pain as blood dribbled down her chin from her split lip. "Let go of me," She shouted. When he ignored her she kicked off the wall and threw her body into him. He stumbled backwards as she rose to her feet. The cop then pistol-whipped her in the back of the head. Zanah saw a million stars as her vision blurred before everything went black. The man grinned wickedly as he lifted her still form and dragged her to his car. Climbing into the driver's seat he glanced in the rearview mirror and watched as his face shifted back to Mat Hagen's scared features. Pulling out a jar he took a small amount of cream and rubbed it into his face restoring the healthy look once more.
Zanah eyes opened but all she saw was black. Recalling the earlier confrontation she guessed that she was no doubt blindfolded to prevent her from identifying her current location. Trying to move she noted her hands were still restrained by handcuffs and that she was apparently sitting in a chair.
"Zanah my dear girl how are you," Daggett asked removing the blindfold. His cold, calculating brown eyes were met by a fierce glare from her ice blue ones, which had instinctively turned to his location.
She repressed a shudder at the sound of his voice it had always made her skin crawl. She gave no reply wanting nothing more than to kill him. The man had kept her prisoner for as long as she could remember using her for his dirty work. Assessing the situation and knowing she was trapped she bites back her intense rage fearful of his wrath even as she tried to read his face.
"Come, come Miss Vansen you escaped from the corporation again, were out on your own for a year this time, and then did such a great job dealing with my men. You must be quite pleased with yourself."
"Remove my cuffs and we'll talk," she snapped furious to yet again be in his presence. She had hoped to never again be in the same room with the monster before her. Daggett waved his hand and one of his resident thugs walked over removing the cuffs from her wrists. Zanah brought her hands in front of her a rubbed her wrists restoring the circulation of blood to her hands and relieving the throbbing, before crossing her arms over her chest. "Now we can talk."
Daggett moved from her side taking a seat behind his desk. "You've caused me quite a bit of trouble lately Zanah. But it's time to come home."
"I want out Daggett. I'm sick to death of being your puppet."
"That's not possible."
"I'll keep my mouth shut. Just let me go. I'll leave Gotham and you'll never here from me again."
"Zanah you're the best student my little school ever had. If you had been home then the Wayne hit would have run smoothly."
"I've had enough. I want out."
"Very well. To gain your freedom you must complete one more task for me."
"What is it? "
Daggett tossed her a cell phone and replied, "I'll contact you with the details."
"If I do this I'm out?"
"Yes," Daggett lied having no intention of ever letting his prize assassin walk away.
"Fine. Tell your goons to stay away. I won't be as nice as I was with your boys in the bathroom." Zanah said and then she turned and exited the building. Spotting her bike out front. She watched as a man finished rubbing off the seat with a rag and moved away satisfied no fingerprints remained. Zanah glare at the retreating figure before checking to make sure everything was in order and nothing out of the ordinary was in the seat compartment. Finding nothing she closed it up and got on the bike speeding away. As she left a dark car followed after her.
Daggett grinned pleased soon Zanah would be back under his control where she belonged the young woman had caused him a great deal of trouble as of late but once she was back he'd break her of her willful ways. She like all of the others would fall into line. He laughed as he lit his cigar. Taking a puff he pressed a button on the intercom, "Send Mr. Hagen in."
"Well Mat you did a fine job bringing her in."
"Thank you Mr. Daggett, now about my payment."
"Ah yes, if you'd follow my associates they deal with the matter," Daggett said pointing to his two men. Hagen nodded and followed after them. Once he was gone Daggett shook his head.
"Sorry Hagen but your getting to careless, and I can't have lose ends," Daggett said as he snuffed out his cigar he then turned his attention back to other more pressing matters.
Hagen followed the two men down the hall into the production room for the compound. He stood waiting to be given his three cases wanting to get out of there. Daggett made him nervous the man was evil. "Can we hurry this up please? I need to get home." Hagen said with disgust.
The two men grinned evilly. One of them closed the door as the other grabbed hold of Hagen by the arms. Once the door was locked the two proceeded to beat the greedy actor with disgust he was no better than a junkie, hopelessly addicted to the face altering cream. Deciding that since he wanted the stuff so badly he could have it. They took one jar of the stuff and poured it down his throat before showing him into the already contaminated batch from the day before. Watching as he struggled to make his way to the surface.
Hagen felt the compound burn through his system stinging his eyes filling his nose and throat threatening to suffocate him as he screamed at having ingested an entire jar. Several minutes later the two men pulled him from the vat and threw him in the back seat of his car. They drove him away from the building hiding his car in a now deserted part of Gotham. They then returned to Daggett's office.
"Is it done," Daggett asked.
"Yes sir, Hagen will no longer be a liability."
"Good." The phone rang and Daggett picked it up.
"Boss you're not going to believe where she's staying," came the voice of a man.
"Where is she?"
"At Wayne's place."
"Send her mother in for her once she has completed my task."
"What is it she's going to do now sir?"
"Free Jervis Tetch from Arcum I have use for his talents."
"Understood."
Daggett hung up the phone and sat back pleased things were starting to look up. He had been furious to learn of the failure to eliminate Wayne and Gordon. His temper only flared more knowing that Batman was indeed alive, not to mention having Catwoman as a threat to his plans now to apparently. But soon things would be back on track. Gotham would be his it was only a matter of time.
At Wayne Manor…
Bruce and Julie sat in the dining room discussing plans for their up coming wedding.
"Bruce we need to talk about setting a date. I was thinking after the 4th of July, or maybe around Christmas. I know you have a busy schedule…" Julie said. She went on talking but Bruce didn't hear a word of what she was saying. He may have been sitting next to her and drinking his glass of wine, but his mind wasn't there. His mind was busy running through the events of the past few weeks.
His thoughts drifting to the night of the charity ball and the sight of Selina that night and the discussion they'd had. Moving from that moment to having seen her again that night as Catwoman. The thought of which brought him to focus on the trouble with Daggett's goons and her warnings, which he had ignored. Then his mind focused on Zanah's fears that Selina might be in danger and his refusal to listen and the events that followed that night when he changed his mind. His torrent of emotions was stopped before they could fully develop by Julie's voice shouting his name.
"Bruce!"
He blinked startled.
"Bruce you're not listening to me."
He could see the hurt in her eyes and it bothered him that he had caused it. "Julie…" he began.
"You were thinking about her," Julie said bitterly.
"I nearly got her killed the other night," he said.
"What are you talking about?" She asked half curious.
"She's been warning me that someone's after me since she got here. I didn't listen. She found out the commissioner was in danger and saved him. She was taken." Bruce said he took a swallow of his wine before continuing. "Zanah told me she was in trouble I didn't want to listen. I was so angry, thought she was just trying to manipulate me. I found out late last night that whoever is after me tried to kill her." Bruce shook his head with disgust. "She's done nothing but put her neck on the line for me and I left her to die Julie. Because I was angry at her, I left her to die."
"Bruce she's still trying to manipulate you. Why do you think she would help Gordon? Simple, because she knew what he meant to you. She was looking for a way to get back into your good graces."
"I know that Julie…" he began.
"Really Bruce, I'm not so sure," she said.
"I'm sorry Julie. I've just had a lot on my mind lately," he said.
Alfred walked into the room at that moment. "Forgive me for interrupting sir, but Miss Kyle is here to speak with you."
"I'm busy at the moment." Bruce said having no desire to face her again.
"Of course sir. I'll tell her to call back later then," Alfred said. He then turned and left.
"I'm sure you have Bruce, and I can understand that. I'm sure you're confused. If you want to talk let me know, but I think in the mean time I better go," she said.
" Wait, don't go."
"No, you've got some thinking to do. Call me if you want to talk," she said calmly before she got up and left. On her way out the door she walked past Alfred and the woman in question. She shot Miss Kyle a cold glare before exiting the house.
"Miss Kyle Mr. Wayne is busy you'll need to come back later."
"Is Mr. Grayson in?"
"Yes ma'am."
"I'll speak with him then."
"Speak to me about what Miss Kyle," Dick asked as he came down the steps.
"About your troubles here Robin," she purred softly.
Dick blinked stunned by the response but let it slide. He would have to ask Bruce how much Selina really knew later. "Follow me," he instructed. Selina followed the young man into the study and watched as he closed the door. "What is it now Miss Kyle?"
"I was wondering if you guys knew who was behind al the problems in the city," Selina replied. She leaned against the door watching him closely.
"Why do you ask?"
"Well, since I'm on his bad side it would be nice to be able to avoid crossing paths."
"I see your point. We believe it is Roland Daggett."
"Bruce's main competitor. Make sense. Okay I'll steer clear of him," Selina said and with that she turned and left.
Dick moved back into the hall as Zanah walked in. he noticed immediately her slit lip and swollen wrists. "Zanah are you all right? What happened?"
"I'm fine. I just had a little trouble with the local street gang," Zanah replied. She ran her fingers through her hair and sighed wishing that was really the case as she fought off a dizzy spell.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yep, just a couple scratches and a bump on the head nothing to worry about. I'm going to lay down for a bit. I'll see you later Dick." She replied before she moved upstairs to her room. Almost as soon as she closed the door her cell-phone rang. "Hello."
"Miss Vansen your task is to spring a man by the name of Jervis Tetch from Arcum."
"Fine I'll get the nut out and then I'm gone," Zanah spat before disconnecting the call. She threw the offensive object away from her with disgust wishing that she were free of Daggett. She made a list of things she would need in her head and hoped that Mr. Tetch was no threat to her.
Daggett won't let me go. I'll have to leave this place soon. If I stay he'll make me do things I don't want to again. They'll take me back to hell. I won't go back. I'll have to go back to living on the streets. I just hope that I can disappear for good this time.
