A/N: was lucky enough to borrow Red Hood and the Shadow from the generous
and talented Jillybean. Please chek her out - she's a great writer. All
other characters belong to DC. Again, with the borrowing.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
+The Sudan, Kenya+
He attacked with the swiftness of a leopard. He leapt in the air, levelled his staff at the man's throat, and drove it through. Then he moved on to his next closest target. This one was easy - the woman was distracted briefly by her dying comrade, clutching his throat in vain. The Stalker planted his staff in the ground and whipped himself around it. She looked up at the moment his heel made conact with her jaw. She crumpled to the ground, neck broken.
He spared no one. With deadly precision he broke all of the snakish man's henchmen. Finally he paused and glowered into the yellow eyes. The man put up his open hands.
"Is all this truly necessary?" he asked in a cultured tone. "I'm sure we can arrive at a mutually beneficial arrangment, yes? After all, between two enhanced people -"
"Do not draw similarities between us," Stalker growled. "Through your splicing you've proven you have no respect for nature." Cuvier raised an eyebrow. He kept his voice even.
"You misunderstand," he replied. "It is because of my respect for nature's gifts that I've done all this. But that is aside from the point. If you are willing to help me, I can grant you this land - the Sudan - that you so enjoy. Just let me finish my task. Then Africa will be mine, and I will give you the Sudan. Unless you prefer another region - perhaps the Congo?" Stalker took a step closer. Cuvier stood his ground. His voice darkened. "You only stand to gain, Mbele - unless you choose to be broken once again. I know how you came to be."
"Africa is not your plaything," Stalker said coldly. He took another step closer,
Cuvier roared as he attacked and the two men locked in a fierce battle. Kicks were met with claws, punches with fangs. Neither would back down, neither cared that their blood stained the dusty earth beneath their feet.
******************
Stalker wiped the blood from his lip and limped away from Cuvier's limp form. Droplets of blood fell from his knuckles - the skin of Joseph Mbele's right arm was shredded into loose ribbons. He peered at the briefcase, then scowled darkly, and raised his staff to crush it.
" Wait!" Oracle shouted. "We don't know what kind of contaminants are in the vials. Leave the briefcase intact. I need to get it to my lab." Stalker lowered his staff and stepped back.
"Well what are your transport plans for it? Surely you don't expect me to deliver this," he countered.
"I'm sending a courier," she replied simply. Stalker raised an eyebrow. Who could she send here? While this area has roads, it will certainly take days -
"He should be there by now. Big guy, wearing a red cape - and he's probably flying."
Stalker never thought he'd see such a thing.
++++++++++++++++++++
+Kathmandu, Nepal+
"GL, this is Oracle."
"Oracle -" Green Lantern transmssion was interrupted with howling/ screaming.
"Oracle, it's almost secured," he managed, his young voice was strained.
"Thank you GL. Contact me with confirmation. Stay with the vaccines when you're done. Oracle out."
+++++++++++++++++++++
+Calcutta, India+
"Oracle, Big Blue just came by."
"Thanks, Barda. Are you OK?"
"I've had worse - but not by much."
"Sorry."
"No, I need a good challenge. And you gave me everything I needed. Thank you for that."
"Very good then, Barda," Max smiled. "Oracle out."
+++++++++++++++++++++
+Puerto Alessandro, Uruguay+
The two women seemed to fly at their opponents. The fact is, they learned to fight with leaps and high kicks because that was simply the best way to take out targets that were larger and stronger - specifically, policemen, bodyguards, and thugs - all male-dominated careers.
The one called Shadow spun and thrust her heel into a bullish-looking man's snout. When she landed, she advanced quickly and pushed her palm through the already broken nose. The man fell, screaming. She whirled around, and saw a leopard man running towards her. She backed up, attempting to put some distance between them, but her heel was already at the edge of the pier. Her partner, Red Hood, threw her body in front of the man's legs. He fell over her. She winced and waited for the breath to return to her lungs, then jumped to her feet and helped Shadow shove him into the bay.
Two more to go. These had weapons - this was going to be more difficult.
++++++++++++++++++++++
+Gotham Ciy, USA+
Melanie rested the ice pack on the back of her neck, and took out her phone.
His voice was distracted. "Acquisitions. This is McGinnis."
"Ter it's Mel."
His voice softened. "Melanie - what's happening over there?"
She glanced at the door. It was closed, and the dctors were talking to Bruce in hushed but insistent tones."He's awake now. Still hooked up to a dozen sensors, but they say he's stabilized."
"Well that's good. So what else are they saying?"
"They're still discussing things. But it sounds like he's lost all kidney function, so they want him to get dialysis every other day."
"Oh - he's not going to like that. It drains him. And he barely goes enough now, you see how he is."
"I know, but they told him he can get a home dialysis machine, and that if he lets it go like this again, it would be fatal." She paused and closed her eyes. "I wish I had good news for you, Ter," She could picture him running his hand through his hair.
"Yeah, I know. Thanks for the update though. Uh, why didn't you IM me?"
"Head still hurts when I look at the screen - can't," she said.
"Yeah right. Well I gotta go - but call me if anything else happens."
"OK. Bye. Good luck if I don't see you later."
"Thanks Mel. Bye."
Mel closed her eyes again. She wondered if Dana knew about her, either about her role as Batgirl, or her 3-day romance with Terry from six years ago. She sighed. During her time at Quinzel's, she hardly had time to notice how lonely she was. Sure, Jack was always there for her, but late at night, with only her thoughts as company, she felt so painfully alone....
The doctors exited Mr. Wayne's room. They looked frustrated. Melanie waited several moments before entering. She peeked her head in and saw him reclined in the hospital bed, eyes closed but not sleeping. He inclined his head in her direction as she peered in.
"Did you catch any of that?" he grumbled, eyes still closed. Melanie smiled slightly. She truly liked Bruce Wayne.
"I caught enough to know you're not going to follow the doctor's orders," she said softly as she took the chair beside him.
Bruce sighed and turned to look at her. "I'm getting too old for all this."
"Too old to live?" she asked gently.
"Too old to put out all this effort - it's time for me to go, Melanie. I don't have children to worry about - including all of you, anymore - and I know the businesses can take care of themselves. Although, I never thought it would be like this."
"What do you mean?"
"I thought it would have ended earlier, actually," he smiled amusedly, "with an explosion, a shootout, a vat of acid - something like that, Not here, of an old person's disease." He paused for a moment. "But I'm glad it didn't end earlier."
"Terry would be glad, too," she nodded.
"Yes. These last years have been better than the twenty that preceded them. He gave me back my life - even though he really knows how to piss a man off," he smirked wryly. Melanie laughed.
"Yes he does," she agreed. Melanie quieted, thinking of how much Terry would miss Bruce. The old man must have read her expression, as he quickly changed the topic.
"How's the headache?"
"Still there, but the ice is helping - thanks for the tip," she smiled again, also relieved to be off the depressing subject. Bruce shrugged.
"You get knocked around enough, you figure things out."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+Puerto Alessandro, Uruguay+
"Aii, that was messy, girlfriend," Hood commented as she prodded the unconscious python woman with her toe. Shadow looked around at the bodies and weapons. She was sweating under her mask and breathing heavily. What she really wanted was to peel off her sweaty costume and go soak in a hot tub for the rest of the day.
"Yeah - disgusting," she agreed. She glanced up at her friend. "You think they'll take these breathing ones to prison, or the zoo?" Hood laughed.
"I'd hope to see them in a circus somewhere, it would serve them right. Where is this courier guy, anyway?" They both scanned the horizon and the sky for a moment before Red Hood opened the comlink. "Hey Oracle, where's your guy?"
"He's on his way. Checking the GPS - give him one more minute."
"Copy that, Oracle - it just feels too wierd standing around here surrounded by freaks and mutagens." Oracle laughed.
"I bet. Just cool off a minute longer. You can handle it."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Red Hood wondered how to approach the Kryptonian. Although he was much older than anything she'd truly be interested in, the title "Man of Steel" was just too intriguing to leave alone.
"So, you're friends with Batman?"
Superman laughed easily. "As much as anyone could be his friend, yes, I suppose I am one of his oldest friends. Well, that goes more for he first Batman. But the second one saved the JLA, so I owe him, to say tte least." Supes was so personable, Hood thought. She smiled. He took the attache from her and cast a gaze around the pier.
"You girls did a lot of damage! So, what are you going to do about all these splicers?" Shadow's smile faded and she looked up at him a little sheepishly.
"Well, seeing how we've been on THAT side of the law, do you mind making the call to the police for us?" she did her best puppy dog-eyes. She and Hood really despised dealing with the police....
Superman grinned. "Sure - I'm used to being he boy scout, it's no problem at all."
After a few minutes, Superman left. Hood and Shadow watched him fly away. "Ai," Hood started, "your boy's got the hook up, he knows Big Blue." Shadow grinned.
"You don't know the half of it, girlfriend. That guy's got so many secrets." She looked up at the city skyline and sighed. "They really fixed this place up nicely - the earthquake was only 20 years ago, and look at their downtown."
"Yeah," Red Hood nodded, "in fact I saw some really nice shopping centers when we came through. What do you say we get cleaned up and go spend some dinero?"
"Think they have any spas?" Shadow asked, massaging her shoulder with one hand, "and hotels with hot showers and nice fluffy beds?" Hood laughed.
"Yeah girlfriend, let's go. We earned it."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+Gotham City, USA+
Nightwing balanced lightly on the fire escape railing, just above Batman. They watched as Martin Daniels exited the warehouse and walked across the street to his car. There was no one with him. After he closed the door, and before he put the key in the ignition, Batman swooped down upon him, landing on the hood. Nightwing remained behind as backup. Martin's eyes widened for a moment. Then he calmly returned the Batman's gaze and rolled down the window.
"Do what you want, my life is of no consequence anymore." He spoke like a man who was already dead - peaceful and bold.
"That's not true, Martin. I think the world community would love to know your charitable plans for them."
"It's done, Batman," his voice raised slightly, in challenge. "You may have forced me to work faster, maybe a little sloppier, but trust me, my project has been completed."
"Hardly," Batman replied darkly. "Have you heard back from any of your operatives?" Martin straightened slightly.
"You're bluffing," his voice remained calm. "You are just one man, and my plan was global - each part executed simultaneously."
Batman smiled. It sent a chill right through to Martin's soul. "Just one man with a lot of friends. Martin," he continued, "you're going to prison."
Martin looked down for a moment, and just before looking back at Batman, he glanced quickly at the rooftop. Nightwing followed his glance.
"Duck!" he yelled as Batman rolled off the car, milliseconds before a sniper bullet pierced the spot on the hood where he once stood. Like a shot, Nightwing activated his boot jets and flew in pursuit of the snipers. He zagged wildly so they couldn't get clear aim, then released a pair of bolas. The two snipers secured, Nightwing ducked down at the rooftop, scannig the area for other threats.
Martin was now standing on the pier, next to his car. He had a gun, but held it down at his side. Terry glanced at it uncertainly. He didn't think Martin would shoot him, but all natural insticts say run, when a gun is involved....
Batman and Nightwing watched in stunned horror as Martin silently brought the gun up, placed the barrel in his mouth, and dispatched a single bullet. There was nothing either of them could have done to save him.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++
+The Sudan, Kenya+
He attacked with the swiftness of a leopard. He leapt in the air, levelled his staff at the man's throat, and drove it through. Then he moved on to his next closest target. This one was easy - the woman was distracted briefly by her dying comrade, clutching his throat in vain. The Stalker planted his staff in the ground and whipped himself around it. She looked up at the moment his heel made conact with her jaw. She crumpled to the ground, neck broken.
He spared no one. With deadly precision he broke all of the snakish man's henchmen. Finally he paused and glowered into the yellow eyes. The man put up his open hands.
"Is all this truly necessary?" he asked in a cultured tone. "I'm sure we can arrive at a mutually beneficial arrangment, yes? After all, between two enhanced people -"
"Do not draw similarities between us," Stalker growled. "Through your splicing you've proven you have no respect for nature." Cuvier raised an eyebrow. He kept his voice even.
"You misunderstand," he replied. "It is because of my respect for nature's gifts that I've done all this. But that is aside from the point. If you are willing to help me, I can grant you this land - the Sudan - that you so enjoy. Just let me finish my task. Then Africa will be mine, and I will give you the Sudan. Unless you prefer another region - perhaps the Congo?" Stalker took a step closer. Cuvier stood his ground. His voice darkened. "You only stand to gain, Mbele - unless you choose to be broken once again. I know how you came to be."
"Africa is not your plaything," Stalker said coldly. He took another step closer,
Cuvier roared as he attacked and the two men locked in a fierce battle. Kicks were met with claws, punches with fangs. Neither would back down, neither cared that their blood stained the dusty earth beneath their feet.
******************
Stalker wiped the blood from his lip and limped away from Cuvier's limp form. Droplets of blood fell from his knuckles - the skin of Joseph Mbele's right arm was shredded into loose ribbons. He peered at the briefcase, then scowled darkly, and raised his staff to crush it.
" Wait!" Oracle shouted. "We don't know what kind of contaminants are in the vials. Leave the briefcase intact. I need to get it to my lab." Stalker lowered his staff and stepped back.
"Well what are your transport plans for it? Surely you don't expect me to deliver this," he countered.
"I'm sending a courier," she replied simply. Stalker raised an eyebrow. Who could she send here? While this area has roads, it will certainly take days -
"He should be there by now. Big guy, wearing a red cape - and he's probably flying."
Stalker never thought he'd see such a thing.
++++++++++++++++++++
+Kathmandu, Nepal+
"GL, this is Oracle."
"Oracle -" Green Lantern transmssion was interrupted with howling/ screaming.
"Oracle, it's almost secured," he managed, his young voice was strained.
"Thank you GL. Contact me with confirmation. Stay with the vaccines when you're done. Oracle out."
+++++++++++++++++++++
+Calcutta, India+
"Oracle, Big Blue just came by."
"Thanks, Barda. Are you OK?"
"I've had worse - but not by much."
"Sorry."
"No, I need a good challenge. And you gave me everything I needed. Thank you for that."
"Very good then, Barda," Max smiled. "Oracle out."
+++++++++++++++++++++
+Puerto Alessandro, Uruguay+
The two women seemed to fly at their opponents. The fact is, they learned to fight with leaps and high kicks because that was simply the best way to take out targets that were larger and stronger - specifically, policemen, bodyguards, and thugs - all male-dominated careers.
The one called Shadow spun and thrust her heel into a bullish-looking man's snout. When she landed, she advanced quickly and pushed her palm through the already broken nose. The man fell, screaming. She whirled around, and saw a leopard man running towards her. She backed up, attempting to put some distance between them, but her heel was already at the edge of the pier. Her partner, Red Hood, threw her body in front of the man's legs. He fell over her. She winced and waited for the breath to return to her lungs, then jumped to her feet and helped Shadow shove him into the bay.
Two more to go. These had weapons - this was going to be more difficult.
++++++++++++++++++++++
+Gotham Ciy, USA+
Melanie rested the ice pack on the back of her neck, and took out her phone.
His voice was distracted. "Acquisitions. This is McGinnis."
"Ter it's Mel."
His voice softened. "Melanie - what's happening over there?"
She glanced at the door. It was closed, and the dctors were talking to Bruce in hushed but insistent tones."He's awake now. Still hooked up to a dozen sensors, but they say he's stabilized."
"Well that's good. So what else are they saying?"
"They're still discussing things. But it sounds like he's lost all kidney function, so they want him to get dialysis every other day."
"Oh - he's not going to like that. It drains him. And he barely goes enough now, you see how he is."
"I know, but they told him he can get a home dialysis machine, and that if he lets it go like this again, it would be fatal." She paused and closed her eyes. "I wish I had good news for you, Ter," She could picture him running his hand through his hair.
"Yeah, I know. Thanks for the update though. Uh, why didn't you IM me?"
"Head still hurts when I look at the screen - can't," she said.
"Yeah right. Well I gotta go - but call me if anything else happens."
"OK. Bye. Good luck if I don't see you later."
"Thanks Mel. Bye."
Mel closed her eyes again. She wondered if Dana knew about her, either about her role as Batgirl, or her 3-day romance with Terry from six years ago. She sighed. During her time at Quinzel's, she hardly had time to notice how lonely she was. Sure, Jack was always there for her, but late at night, with only her thoughts as company, she felt so painfully alone....
The doctors exited Mr. Wayne's room. They looked frustrated. Melanie waited several moments before entering. She peeked her head in and saw him reclined in the hospital bed, eyes closed but not sleeping. He inclined his head in her direction as she peered in.
"Did you catch any of that?" he grumbled, eyes still closed. Melanie smiled slightly. She truly liked Bruce Wayne.
"I caught enough to know you're not going to follow the doctor's orders," she said softly as she took the chair beside him.
Bruce sighed and turned to look at her. "I'm getting too old for all this."
"Too old to live?" she asked gently.
"Too old to put out all this effort - it's time for me to go, Melanie. I don't have children to worry about - including all of you, anymore - and I know the businesses can take care of themselves. Although, I never thought it would be like this."
"What do you mean?"
"I thought it would have ended earlier, actually," he smiled amusedly, "with an explosion, a shootout, a vat of acid - something like that, Not here, of an old person's disease." He paused for a moment. "But I'm glad it didn't end earlier."
"Terry would be glad, too," she nodded.
"Yes. These last years have been better than the twenty that preceded them. He gave me back my life - even though he really knows how to piss a man off," he smirked wryly. Melanie laughed.
"Yes he does," she agreed. Melanie quieted, thinking of how much Terry would miss Bruce. The old man must have read her expression, as he quickly changed the topic.
"How's the headache?"
"Still there, but the ice is helping - thanks for the tip," she smiled again, also relieved to be off the depressing subject. Bruce shrugged.
"You get knocked around enough, you figure things out."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+Puerto Alessandro, Uruguay+
"Aii, that was messy, girlfriend," Hood commented as she prodded the unconscious python woman with her toe. Shadow looked around at the bodies and weapons. She was sweating under her mask and breathing heavily. What she really wanted was to peel off her sweaty costume and go soak in a hot tub for the rest of the day.
"Yeah - disgusting," she agreed. She glanced up at her friend. "You think they'll take these breathing ones to prison, or the zoo?" Hood laughed.
"I'd hope to see them in a circus somewhere, it would serve them right. Where is this courier guy, anyway?" They both scanned the horizon and the sky for a moment before Red Hood opened the comlink. "Hey Oracle, where's your guy?"
"He's on his way. Checking the GPS - give him one more minute."
"Copy that, Oracle - it just feels too wierd standing around here surrounded by freaks and mutagens." Oracle laughed.
"I bet. Just cool off a minute longer. You can handle it."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Red Hood wondered how to approach the Kryptonian. Although he was much older than anything she'd truly be interested in, the title "Man of Steel" was just too intriguing to leave alone.
"So, you're friends with Batman?"
Superman laughed easily. "As much as anyone could be his friend, yes, I suppose I am one of his oldest friends. Well, that goes more for he first Batman. But the second one saved the JLA, so I owe him, to say tte least." Supes was so personable, Hood thought. She smiled. He took the attache from her and cast a gaze around the pier.
"You girls did a lot of damage! So, what are you going to do about all these splicers?" Shadow's smile faded and she looked up at him a little sheepishly.
"Well, seeing how we've been on THAT side of the law, do you mind making the call to the police for us?" she did her best puppy dog-eyes. She and Hood really despised dealing with the police....
Superman grinned. "Sure - I'm used to being he boy scout, it's no problem at all."
After a few minutes, Superman left. Hood and Shadow watched him fly away. "Ai," Hood started, "your boy's got the hook up, he knows Big Blue." Shadow grinned.
"You don't know the half of it, girlfriend. That guy's got so many secrets." She looked up at the city skyline and sighed. "They really fixed this place up nicely - the earthquake was only 20 years ago, and look at their downtown."
"Yeah," Red Hood nodded, "in fact I saw some really nice shopping centers when we came through. What do you say we get cleaned up and go spend some dinero?"
"Think they have any spas?" Shadow asked, massaging her shoulder with one hand, "and hotels with hot showers and nice fluffy beds?" Hood laughed.
"Yeah girlfriend, let's go. We earned it."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+Gotham City, USA+
Nightwing balanced lightly on the fire escape railing, just above Batman. They watched as Martin Daniels exited the warehouse and walked across the street to his car. There was no one with him. After he closed the door, and before he put the key in the ignition, Batman swooped down upon him, landing on the hood. Nightwing remained behind as backup. Martin's eyes widened for a moment. Then he calmly returned the Batman's gaze and rolled down the window.
"Do what you want, my life is of no consequence anymore." He spoke like a man who was already dead - peaceful and bold.
"That's not true, Martin. I think the world community would love to know your charitable plans for them."
"It's done, Batman," his voice raised slightly, in challenge. "You may have forced me to work faster, maybe a little sloppier, but trust me, my project has been completed."
"Hardly," Batman replied darkly. "Have you heard back from any of your operatives?" Martin straightened slightly.
"You're bluffing," his voice remained calm. "You are just one man, and my plan was global - each part executed simultaneously."
Batman smiled. It sent a chill right through to Martin's soul. "Just one man with a lot of friends. Martin," he continued, "you're going to prison."
Martin looked down for a moment, and just before looking back at Batman, he glanced quickly at the rooftop. Nightwing followed his glance.
"Duck!" he yelled as Batman rolled off the car, milliseconds before a sniper bullet pierced the spot on the hood where he once stood. Like a shot, Nightwing activated his boot jets and flew in pursuit of the snipers. He zagged wildly so they couldn't get clear aim, then released a pair of bolas. The two snipers secured, Nightwing ducked down at the rooftop, scannig the area for other threats.
Martin was now standing on the pier, next to his car. He had a gun, but held it down at his side. Terry glanced at it uncertainly. He didn't think Martin would shoot him, but all natural insticts say run, when a gun is involved....
Batman and Nightwing watched in stunned horror as Martin silently brought the gun up, placed the barrel in his mouth, and dispatched a single bullet. There was nothing either of them could have done to save him.
++++++++++++++++++++++++