03: Dirt Napping
This isn't the most beloved fic but I like it and so does Angelo so we're continuing with it
"A ninja?" Okuda mused. The Geisha nodded, she handed the pictures to him. "Working with the Sparrow Boy?" he shook his head. "Wonderful...the kunoichi is obviously one of the Green Dragons, if that is the case the Sensei is most likely here. Dispatch someone to handle the old geezer"
The Geisha bowed and scurried away.
Okuda lifted the cup of saki to his lips and sipped it.
Tim watched as Naoko attacked the canvas with her paint brushes. "So are you still worried about Mr Valentine?"
"No" Tim replied. "Donnie seems to take care of himself…suddenly"
"Well that's nice…but y'know…he only acts that way when people get confrontational I saw him in Media Studies today…quiet as a mouse, talked to the teacher in a civil tone – which is different in itself but not in any drastic kind of way" she added. "It's like…unless he's pushed he's a sweet, kinda shy boy – with a wonderful ass"
"Well yeah…I mean the first stuff I don't look-"
"Sure ya don't" Tim frowned.
Naoko donned her ninja garb and packed her spell cards into their pouch. She snapped her chained batons onto her hips and checked the loose green ninja clothing she had donned. It wasn't what she liked – it wasn't tight enough, it made her look fat, yeah, but it was also too loose, she could snag it somewhere all too easily. She pulled on the mask over her mouth and nose.
Sliding out the window she pounced onto a lamppost and swung onto a passing puss without a sound.
Robin suited up. "The clan is called the Ryuu Arashi, the Storm Dragon clan or maybe it's the Arashi Ryuu, sources argue over the exact name. They're an organization of ninjas trained to blend in anywhere and to destroy evil in all its forms" Sphinx explained. "They're expert martial artists and barely known – the average man on the street couldn't possibly know about their existence it's their best kept secret for over 800 years. If they're here then this Okuda is pretty dangerous".
Robin stepped out of the costume vault. Sphinx was seated at her computer web and typing away. "Now, here's something else – Okuda is head of a Triad gang, he's pretty nasty – you know, kneecap removals and tongues being cut out – that general thing. He's behind all kinds of weapons thefts…nasty customer. Take care tonight"
Tim pulled on his mask and gave a thumbs up. "Amn't I always?"
"No, not really?"
The thug lit up his cigarette, the call girl was lying at his feet, she was whimpering, her face was bloodied. "We'll get started in a sec honey" the thug growled. "The Penguins got a big job goin so he don't need all his men. I got the whole night"
He frowned. There was a whirring noise…he turned around and the cartwheeling figure planted both feet on his chest, slamming him into the trashcans. The thug scrambled to his feet. "Who you think you are?"
"Whisper softly to me babe" Whisper replied. He spun around and kicked the man's legs from under him. The thug crashed into the trash again. "Hunh. With the rats in the trash – where you belong."
The thug lurched at him and punched him. Whisper gave a gasp and swung around with a kick to the thugs chest. He rushed the thug, his fists flurried and slammed the man into the wall. "Do you like preying on the girls that can't fight back? Here's a warning…some of them do. Wait until you see what some of them can do – oh wait" Whisper pulled two serated, curved and all around wicked blades from his hips. "You won't be alive to see that."
The thug reached for his gun, one knife sliced his hand while the other slashed his holster from inside his jacket. He yelped…the boy pounced on him, his eyes glowed and he pressed their lips together – there was a glow in the thugs aura…he struggled…then wavered.
A cloud of light flowed into Whispers lips, he sucked the strailing cloud in and kicked the man over. "Scum" he hissed. He stopped and touched his forehead with a whimper.
The images of the weapons flashed into his mind. Okuda. The Penguin. Warehouse 33. The guards. Robbard the bald dude. The man's first kill – the call girls he'd hit. The face of the accountant he'd killed. His tattoo – he was having it done on a drunken night. His football – he kicked it right through the goals…
With all his might Whisper forced the memories away. He could remember them from the man's mind…as if they were all in a file he could open at will. "What new powers I have" he laughed to himself.
It seemed he could open the mind by touch…or kiss. The man was croaking in the corner, he went rigid, black veins were spreading out from his mouth. Whisper raised an eyebrow, he walked over and touched the body, a cloud of multicolored glowing smoke flowed out of the man's body.
Whisper touched it – it flowed towards his mouth and past his lips… he shuddered and knew what this was. This was the power of death – it was the life the man never used…he looked at the girl and then kneeled beside her.
She was in a bad state…so bad she'd stopped breathing. Whisper checked her breathing, tilting her head back gently but thoroughly to open the airway. He put his ear over her mouth and listened…no breathing. He should call for help, this was an adult – they didn't survive easily…but he had to work fast without looking for paramedics who didn't care about a call girl.
He pinched her nose and blew into her mouth. Once. Twice. Then he checked for circulation…none. Whispered straightened his arms, counted up her rips to find the right point on her chest – too low and he'd crack a bone that would flood her chest cavity with blood.
Whisper gave fifteen chest compressions then returned to her lips. The smoke flowed from his body – it passed into her body from his lips before the second rescue breath. Her wounds healed, her body became stronger and even her hair seemed in better condition. She groaned and opened her eyes to see the blurry shape of a black and red clad figure disappear out of view.
Leaving her alone.
Naoko landed silently behind Robin. "So. You're here"
"Yeah" he nodded without looking around. "Don't see your ninja buddies"
"They're ninja's" she sighed. "That's the Point." Naoko rolled her eyes and kneeled beside him. "I figure you might be of use so I'll hang with you in case you get caught in the crossfire".
"Yeah okay whatever" Tim muttered. "What do I call you anyway?"
"Call me… Dusk" she replied. "Now Robin…what are YOU planning?"
"To catch the Penguin and jail him"
"I mean short term" she responded. Slowly she moved along the rooftop of the warehouse they were on. "For this problem?"
"Well. I figure, get some indisputable evidence of Penguin dealing weapons first – then move in and arrest his ass" responded Robin.
Dusk raised her eyebrows and nodded. "Fair enough". They leapt across onto Warehouse 33. Inside they could see the Penguins men behind the bird himself and the gang members of Okuda's gang behind him. His Geisha was nearby and holding a heavy case in her dainty hands.
"That's him…always with the Geisha's" Dusk muttered as she peered in through the skylight. "He's just showing off."
The Penguin and Okuda moved close to each other and placed their cases on the table, Okuda opened the case his Geisha had placed down and unlocked for him and displayed the weapon to the Penguin who in turn opened his case to show off the money. Robin snapped the camera at it and smiled. He took another shot of the crooks shaking hands.
"This is going to make the BHPD really happy" he said. "Except for the one's on the take…" he shrugged.
Donnie swung the elbow blades he'd gotten from the Tailor in Gotham. The guy had his own website and a grant with the Police Department to help with riot gear. Someone should give the guy an entrepreneurial award.
He slid the bades into the sheaths on his legs and stepped off the rooftop. The guard below was lighting a cigarette, the legs snared his neck – the body twisted and the man gave a soft gasp as his neck snapped.
Donnie slithered down off the body and let it collapse. He hopped onto a dumpster on the opposite wall and leapt up to grab a broken pipe jutting out of the wall. He swung up onto the roof and slid into a skylight.
If he'd looked around a bit more and waited a second more he would have seen Naoko rise up and stretch her back.
Naoko leaned back down to watch the men. "The transactions through…why aren't my comrades storming their asses?" she murmured.
"Technical hitch?"
"Wait a second" Naoko said. "I should try and contact them" she unwound a ribbon from around her wrist and and stretched it out, binding it by coiling it around the fingers on both hands tightly and stretching it taut between them. She focused. "Something's wrong" she murmured. "They aren't receiving they're either not here or -" the alternative wasn't something she could imagine. "They wouldn't ignore a signal" she explained. "This ribbon and a focus of my inner minds eye causes a signal that ninja all respond to!"
"Well then – I hope you can fight" Robin said. "Coz, I think we have to deal with this – right – now." He slinked in the skylight. There was a guard, a swift chop to the neck dispatched him and Robin planted him on the ground to avoid a thud.
Dusk landed between two men and kicked one in the head as she smashed a chop into the throat of the other unfortunate. Robin finished the man clutching his neck for her with a swift kick to the head.
Dusk and Robin moved slowly along the passage to the deeper area in the middle of the warehouse that had been set up for the deal. Guards were all around. "We might have our work cut out for us" Robin said as he removed a throwing bird from his belt.
"Wouldn't have it any other way" Dusk said as she took a three-pronged curved-blade shuriken from her belt buckle. "Let's do this…"
Donnie coiled the whip around the throat of the man and tightened the twist. The man gasped in pain as his gun was pried from his hands and kicked across the ground. "Hey there" Donnie said. He twisted the man around and kissed him, the concentration of venom was much more powerful this time – he could control it… he just had to focus.
The Man collapsed instantly. "What can I say? A guy like me should wear a warning" he sighed as he stepped over the body and picked up the crowbar. He forced open the crate and pulled out the silver orbs, they were about the size of baseballs, maybe smaller. They had red screens on them and two buttons. "Uw! Shiny" smirked Donnie. "Big explosions from one detonator" he swiped a red strip on a button covered handle across the front of the screen.
"Time to play" he tossed the primed grenades around.
Okuda's Geisha scurried from the building with the first case of money, Robbard would escort the second. "It has been an honor" Okuda said with a bow. "I pray we do business again"
"Yeah okay" muttered Penguin.
There was a small explosion of smoke and some of the guards to the left collapsed from the smoke's drugs. Okuda roared something in Japanese. The throwing birds hit two of Okuda's guards as they reached for their guns.
The Penguin snarled and raised his umbrella – he opened fire at the shadows. They ducked down and split up. "Robbard get the brats!" Penguin exclaimed. Robbard pulled his pistols from their holsters and fired. Dusk skidded under the legs of an Okuda thug – the shots hit him. Penguin sighed and pointed the umbrella again, the shots caused Dusk to hesitate and gave two thugs enough time to jump on her and hold her down.
Robin was hit by a concussion blast fired by Okuda. He was picked up by two guards.
"This is turning into such a good day" smirked the Penguin. "Any last words?"
"You suck" spat Dusk.
Penguin shrugged and raised his umbrella. The whirring noises reached his ears. The flipping figure came to a halt after a twisting flip over the railings. He stopped breathlessly.
Robin looked at Dusk. Penguin looked at Okuda. They all shrugged.
"Well that wasn't the desired affect" Whisper sighed. "I'm Whisper. This has been fun – so – go boom" he hit the detonator switch. The Warehouse went up like dry wood on a bonfire. Robbard grabbed the case of money at Penguin's behest. The roof was caving in…Dusk flipped free of her captors and swung her chained weapons swiftly to send them stumbling away.
Debris crushed one of them.
Robin kicked free and rolled to avoid some falling wood from above. He saw Whisper chasing Robbard and frowned. "What is with that guy?" he muttered.
The debris crashed down and blocked the route Whisper had taken.
Robin grabbed Dusk around the waist and fired his grapple at the hole in the ceiling… they shot upwards. They sprinted along the falling roof, Dusk vaulted onto the nearby warehouse 32. Below them the thugs opened fire Robin threw himself at his new ally and they avoided the blasts.
"Geez!" groaned Naoko. Tim muttered something and she climbed off him. "Okay, let's get going" she decided. "My Sensei will know what to do"
Robin tapped his communicator. Sphinx was being unusually quiet – he shrugged it off – she needed more rest anyway.
Sphinx reviewed the images of the boy, Whisper, he was obviously an athlete, his gymnastics were flawless and he was evidently clinically insane. She shook her head and shrugged as she reviewed the file. She picked up the phone. "Hello Alfred, yes I'm sending Tim's latest foe to you…I know he won't like it but Bruce's help would be appreciated."
She smiled as Alfred gave her the usual questions about her health and Tim's health.
Robbard swung the case at Whisper, knocking the teen aside. "That's a nice bracelet I want one just like it" Whisper smirked as he glared at the handcuffs securing the case to Robbards wrist. "In fact…I think I'll take that!"
"Come and get it kid" spat Robbard as he raised his pistol and fired. Whisper cartwheeled aside and kicked off a wall. He cracked the whip and lashed the gun from Robbard's hands. He cracked the whip again and scored a red gash across Robbard's left cheek. Then he coiled the whip back around his waist.
Robbard swung a punch at Whisper who twisted aside and kicked out sending older man stumbling backwards. Whisper then leapt forwards and kicked up into Robbards face. The gangster lunged forward again. Whisper gave a laugh and caught his attackers wrists, he placed a foot on the man's chest and flipped him over. Robbard hurried to his feet. Whisper pulled out two elbow blades from his leg straps and swung them slowly at first before building up speed. He surged forwards. Robbard pulled out a gun and fired.
Dusk and Robin landed on the rooftop of the building. The sand garden was undisturbed as they moved across the stepping stones to the prochway. Naoko pulled it open. At the other end of the room was her Sensei. Meditating.
"Okay before you fly off the handle I was just there to observe the other ninja's in…" Naoko stopped and ran forwards. A long thin platinum hairpin was impeded into a fatal nerve cluster. Her sensei was dead – the emerald on the pin glimmered wickedly…shuddering Naoko kneeled by her Sensei.
"Who did this?" she murmured.
"A professional" responded Robin. Naoko sighed.
"I let my Sensei die…I am dishonoured" she removed her mask. Despite himself Robin gasped her name – she twisted and stared at him. "Tim!" she murmured at last.
Okuda paused momentarily – there was someone in the room with him. He frowned. "Who's there?" he called as he rose from the desk he'd been working at.
"Can't you see me?" a voice mocked from his left. "I'm right here" this time it came from above. "But you never really saw me…did you?" he turned around and the woman lanced a hair pin into his throat. "Minimum blood, maximum speed – goodbye Okuda-san". The crime boss collapsed. "I'll take over now thanks."
The body gave a gurgle and a high-heeled boot shoved it into the corner.
Penguin brooded on his way up to his offices. "Ruined by kids" he muttered. "Never let them forget it". Birdie and Dove stood beside their boss in bowler hats and fishnets looking sultry and understanding all at once.
The doors opened and everyone froze. The two guards in the room were dead, one lay with his neck at an odd angle, neatly presented across the coffee table. The other was run through and propped up against the mini bar.
Reclining on the mini bar was Whisper. "Hey!" he sighed. He finished off a glass of champagne. "Okay so – I know it's not exactly tidy but I didn't want them ruining a business deal." Penguin raised his umbrella. "HEY! Let's calm down" the whip crack was a blur in the air and the umbrella skittered into the elevator.
"What do you want kid?" The Penguin hissed as he nursed his gloved right hand.
"A deal – I want you to shut down the other operations in the down trodden districts and hand control of that place over to me"
"And what do I get?" Penguin growled as he sat down at his desk.
"Well you get me as your little friend – I'm very handy to have around" he waved a large bare hand at his prospective employer. "Plus a right Hand man is what you need right now"
"I have Robbard"
"No you don't" the hand landed on the desk. Whisper wriggled his actual fingers at the Penguin. "We engaged to hand to hand combat…I walked away with his hand and left the other pieces to be cremated…he shouldn't have shot me – I had to come back to life because of him" he touched his lips thoughtfully. "It pissed me off to no end". He gave a little laugh.
Penguin looked at the hand. "What about the money?"
"Got burned up, I had to get out fast" yawned Whisper.
Penguin mulled over the proposition for a moment. "Fine…you're in"
"Let's shake on it" Whisper said. Penguin grasped the hand and they shook then Whisper walked away to the elevator and left the hand he'd used behind. Penguin dropped it back onto the desk. "I'll be in touch – you can get word to me if you chat with the Street Girls…but be nice or I'll have to chop something a lot less…dextrous – off your men".
Whisper blew a kiss and a small cloud of luminous purple vapor wafted off the air.
The doors of the elevator shut and when Penguin opened up his computer and looked at the camera screens – the boy was nowhere in sight.
TBC
Next chapter – Penguin gets a new business partner, Robin and Dusk form an alliance and face off against a very unpleasant crime boss called Blockhead. Also Donnie and Tim GET BUSY…with a media studies project.