Chapter 3
December 15 New Gotham
Reese glanced up through the windshield and smiled a bit as he saw Helena's form leap across the expanse of the street up above. Two winged shadows followed in her wake, lazily tracking her route.
"I can't remember what it was like not having at least one of them nearby," Elisa chuckled.
"Tell me about it. Huntress became disappointed when her sudden appearances started to have less of a startling effect on me. She used to love scaring me. Now...it's like I have this sixth sense when it comes to her."
"A shift in the air nearby, the odd tingling sensation that makes the hairs on your neck stand up just a bit telling you they are nearby...." Elisa agreed. "It's weird just how much my world has changed since I met the Clan. But it's made me a better cop and a better person."
"Do you find it hard to try and keep protocol, with them working outside the law?"
Elisa gazed out the window. "I did for awhile. But they grew used to the fact and respected that I am a human who lives in a human society, bound by human laws, and sworn by duty to uphold those laws. Not to say their influence hasn't rubbed off on me," she admitted wryly. Then she sighed- it was a tired sigh.
"Like this situation?" he asked gently.
"Between the Quarrymen, nine-eleven, and these guns, I haven't had a break in three years. Now I'm facing a huge threat to my family, my city and god knows how many other innocent people. Desperation will cause anyone to make deals with the devil, and protocol be damned."
Reese was silent for a long time, digesting that as he drove towards the docks. Finally, he broke the silence as he shifted uncomfortably. "Did you make a deal with Dracon?"
"I promised him a parole hearing. It was all he needed, because from there he would get out. In exchange he swore never to bother the Clan or I again."
"Do you honestly believe that?" Reese asked incredulously.
Elisa raised her eyebrow at him. "I would think that you of all people should know that a mob boss's word of honor is the only thing you CAN count on."
Reese nearly glared at her, but managed to keep his eyes fixed on the road ahead. Elisa didn't miss his knuckles tightening on the wheel however. "I have nothing to do with my father and his.... 'business'. As far as I'm concerned he's just another criminal."
Elisa decided to let the subject of his father pass, realizing it was an extremely touchy subject. "Well Tony and I have a long history and I probably know him better than anyone else. Tony may have a lot to gain if we get rid of Quinn and her gang, but the Wild Cards made it personal when they sidelined his right hand man. Call it word of honor or just a plain and simple debt, but Tony won't go back on his promise."
"We have a lot riding on his 'information'," he remarked, clearly uncomfortable with that fact.
"And he has a lot riding on us being able to take these guys down without blowing this whole operation first," she countered.
There was another tense silence as they both reflected on the enormity of the task set before them.
"Do you think we can do this?" Reese finally asked quietly.
"I've been trying not to think about that too much," she answered back in like manner. Then her eyes shifter over to meet his. "All I know is that one way or another, Quinn and her mystery partner will be stopped once and for all."
The quiet, deadly conviction in her tone sent a chill down Reese's spine. It wasn't really concern that Elisa might not stop at anything to accomplish that task, but that her vocalized oath rang true in his own heart. When he had shown up at the Clocktower to take care of Quinn, it had taken every ounce of willpower not to shoot her while he had the chance. It was a decision he was now beginning to regret, but he still had a chance to help put an end to the death and destruction. And he would see that it was ended....permanently.
Clearing his throat he nodded to the large dark warehouses rising in front of them. "There we are. New Gotham docks... risen from the ashes of the old docks."
"You'd think the newer ones would be a little more cheery," Elisa muttered.
"There's not much cheery in this town after the sun goes down. Hel- Huntress will be showing the guys around. I thought we might catch up with a few old friends of mine and see if anything different has been going on lately."
"Friends?" Elisa asked as Reese pulled the car over, still several blocks away from the docks and warehouses.
Reese reached into the back seat and hefted a large vile smelling duffel bag between them. "Jeez, you got last's month's gym clothes in there?" Elisa gasped as he opened the zipper.
"Yep, and a lovely selection of clothing direct from the Salvation Army," he chuckled as he tossed a pair of ragged mittens and a horrific knitted cap into her lap.
"Oh you can't be serious."
"Hey you're under cover right?" Reese grinned back slipping a well worn cap that was just as ugly as hers. "My friends are a little shy when it comes to us badge wearers. But if they think you're one of them..."
"They'll talk your ear off and then some," Elisa sighed as she took the long, ratty pea coat he pulled out. "At least vice buys the nice outfits." Somewhere up above......
"Why did they stop back there?"
"Reese is gonna take Elisa on a little undercover work, see what they can dig up from the local residents."
"Ye mean t' tell me people actually live here?"
Helena snorted. "Only the ones that have to Hudson," she answered pointing down towards a small group of people tucked away in several makeshift shacks on the outskirts of the rebuilt docks and train yard. There were perhaps three dozen or so, all huddled around a few trash can fires scattered here and there.
"Down here they've got plenty of free firewood, all the fish they can catch, and a spot to sleep where no one will chase them away," she sighed sadly.
"Detective Reese has informants among this group?"
"Yeah, but they don't really know they're informants. Therefore, the disguise," she chuckled as she looked back in the direction of the parked car and saw two forms swaying and staggering a bit along the dark street.
Goliath felt the corners of his mouth turn up as he watched the two officers act out their charade. Next to him Hudson chuckled as well. "Makes ye wish we had brought along a camera don't it lad?"
"Aye. I've seen Elisa in many of her undercover outfits, but this is the first time I've seen her imitate a drunken vagrant."
"She does a pretty good job at it too. But who says we don't have a camera?" Huntress asked with a wicked gleam in her eye as she pulled a tiny device from within the folds of her long coat and tapped a finger to her ear piece.
"Hey Oracle, can you copy the feed I'm sending you?"
"Sure. What do you have?"
"Goliath wanted something to remember Elisa by," Huntress snickered as she activated the tiny camera and began sending the live feed.
There was a pause and then she heard Oracle sigh. "I really don't know why I let you talk me into wasting memory on my hard drive with stuff like this." Huntress could hear that her tone had lightened somewhat though, and overheard her mentor putting a disk into the computer to record the scene.
Below them, the two detectives broke out into an off-key drinking song, and stumbled by the trio watching over them. When they disappeared, Goliath and Hudson grinned over to Huntress. "Quite a neat little gadget ye got there lass. Lexington would go crazy with all o' the toys ye three seem t' have."
"What, Mr. X doesn't keep him busy enough with all the stuff his R&D department thinks up?"
"Lexington is more than occupied with all of the equipment Xanatos has him test and try. Some nights it's nearly impossible to get him to go out on patrols," Goliath sighed. "Speaking of which, perhaps we should focus back on our tour?"
"Right, back to business. Ok, the docks and the train-yard are all new. The earthquake damaged half of this badly, and then there was a huge fire that burned most of it to the ground. They rebuilt the docks and shipyards on the same site as the old ones. But see where the homeless are living in those shacks along that hill? That's actually what is left of the old train yard.
"Gotham has a large warren of underground tunnels, mostly abandoned subway systems and the sewers. A lot of it was destroyed in the quake, but it has always been a haven for the worst of the lowlifes that reside here. The tunnels are a very scary place- limited escapes routes, very few places to use for cover, and its location plays havoc with any GPS or comm system because of their depths. The police haven't touched the tunnels for years, and even we avoid them unless absolutely necessary. There are access points throughout the city to the tunnels, but the highest concentration of them, were all along the old train yard."
"I take it, that it was an area of high crime," Goliath commented.
"Some really scary stuff happened down there over the years. Especially when the Joker was at his most insane," she said quietly, a shiver running along her spine. "Now it's just mostly used by gangs, and a few clusters of homeless people. But the place had already gotten a bad rep, so the City relocated the new train yards to the other side of the docks and warehouses."
"How often do you cover this area in your sweeps?"
"Probably not as often as I should," Huntress admitted. "Ever since last year....well neither Dinah or I like to stray too far from the Clocktower. We've only been coming out this far if there's been some kind of problem. I guess I haven't had to come out here for about six months now."
"Six months...in an area like this?" Goliath asked surprised.
"Hmmmm...you're right. It is weird isn't it?"
"Six months ago was when those blasted guns first started t' show up in Manhattan," Hudson added.
"Let's say we poke around for a little while and see if we notice anything unusual."
"Shall we split up to cover more ground lass?"
Huntress slid a glance over to Goliath. "I don't see why not. All we're here to do is check things out- Oracle will have all of our hides if we blow things and start making our presence known."
"Aye, so would Elisa," Hudson chuckled quietly as he and Goliath exchanged a knowing glance.
"Why does that not surprise me? Meet back here in a half hour and then we can head back into the city for regular sweeps."
Two hours later......
Clocktower
Huntress uncurled her body and landed gracefully on the balcony of the Clocktower. Moments later, there was a rustle of wind against more leather, and Goliath landed his massive bulk on the concrete just as gracefully. Hudson's entrance wasn't quite as grand, but he managed decently given his recent handicap.
"Ye have a lot o' ground t' cover in one night lass," Hudson remarked as he shifted his bulk to look back out over the New Gotham skyline.
"Yeah. It's a little overwhelming on the bad nights, but we manage."
"You, Dinah and Oracle have much to be commended for Huntress. Your protectorate is nearly as large as ours, and yet we have nearly three times your number to patrol and safeguard our city."
"I think that's part of the reason Barbara was willing to take Dinah on as a part of the team. With two of us fully trained she knew that we could handle the training of others. Gotham will always need the next generation of crime fighters waiting in the wings," Huntress snorted.
She turned to enter the clock tower, but her hand froze on the handle. "Something wrong?" Goliath queried as he saw her back stiffen for a moment. She seemed to be listening for something, but then she shook her head.
"I just forgot Nightwing was supposed to be here by now," she grumbled in an irritated voice. "Maybe he's late... I don't hear anything."
She pushed open the doors and breezed into the room, with an air of defiance about her as she looked around the room for the offending party.
Goliath and Hudson entered behind her, glancing around hesitantly. Barbara didn't even look up from her monitors. "He's at the manor," she answered without being asked.
"Think there's any chance he'll stay there?" Helena asked in false sweetness as she headed for the refrigerator.
"No, and if I hear one more sarcastic remark out of you about him, I will remind you who taught you how to use a batarang," Barbara threatened in a dangerous tone.
Goliath and Hudson watched as Helena glared daggers at Barbara, but backed down in the face of her mentor's wrath. Instead she switched subjects. "Where's Dinah?"
"Checking out a break-in at the Davis R&D Center. The call came through while you guys were on the other side of town, so she volunteered to check things out."
"By herself?!" Helena asked in disbelief.
"All she's doing is gathering info and looking for clues. She just checked in right before you got back, and she'll be heading home soon since the police are now all over the scene. Besides, I don't need her babysitting me every night."
She looked up from her monitors for a moment to give Helena a hard look and then caught the two gargoyles shifting uneasily in the growing tension. With a tired sigh she looked back down at her computer and waved in their general direction.
"Sorry guys. Listen, help yourself to whatever you'd like. Alfred went shopping today and bought half the grocery store I think."
"Lass, we weren't expectin' this kind of hospitality. We hope we're not putting some kind of financial burden on ye by staying here."
Helena snorted. "Trust me guys, there's no want of money where the three of us ladies are concerned."
Barbara bit back a sarcastic retort to that remark and instead forced a smile and shook her head. "Helena's right. There's no reason to be worried or concerned about our financial well-being. Our benefactor could give Xanatos a run for his money if he wanted to."
"Yeah, like if he actually joined the real world," Helena muttered darkly before taking a long swig of the beer she had just opened.
Barbara was on the verge of retorting to that when Goliath cut in, stalling the storm that was brewing between the two women. "Well we appreciate your generosity and hospitality none the less. So have you turned up any leads through your data research?"
Barbara almost smiled when she realized that Goliath had deftly diffused the growing tension and had redirected her attention back to work. He was definitely a skilled leader. "I've come across a few leads, but nothing definitive. I was listening to you're conversation about crime around the old yards and began pulling up the police reports for the last year."
The redhead typed away on her keyboard, and a map of the area come up. Little dots began to appear along the older abandoned sections, particularly near the tunnel entrances. A list slowly began to scroll along the left side of the screen. "Even after Quinn was locked up, there was still some ugly business transpiring down there. A number of gang related shootings and deaths. Appears there was some jockeying for ownership.
"Then about three months ago two of our local gang ringleaders turned up dead outside those tunnels. Autopsy reports says they looked like someone took a rocket launcher to them."
"The first victims of this new gun?" Goliath ventured.
"Could be. The area became a ghost town after that, except the homeless of course. But no other major crimes or disturbances have been reported over there in quite some time. There have been a few missing persons reports filed by some of the 'local residents', but the police don't give much thought to a missing drifter."
"We saw nothing unusual in our patrol of the area. Everything seemed peaceful- perhaps too peaceful," Goliath sighed.
Hudson was scratching his beard thoughtfully. "Perhaps because we only saw what was happening on the surface. The lass said tha' both you and the police leave those tunnels alone. We may have t' think about sending someone down there."
"Hudson you don't understand those tunnels are dangerous- even for some one like you guys and Helena," Barbara argued. "Besides, the minute you go underground you loose comms and its nearly impossible to navigate those tunnels without knowing them."
"Aye perhaps for us, but we know a couple of lads back home who might come in handy."
Goliath turned to Hudson a thoughtful look on his broad features. "Do you think Elisa will agree to us asking Derek to come up?"
"Derek?" Barbara asked a little exasperated that the two gargoyles seemed to be disregarding her warning completely.
"Elisa's brother. He and several others were subjected to an experiment by a twisted geneticist named Sevarius. Their bodies were mutated to something beyond human and now they are forced to live in seclusion from humanity as we are. They reside in the many abandoned subway tunnels in Manhattan. In order to adapt to their current home, they have all developed some unique skills that could be useful to us here."
Barbara hesitated as she processed this new piece of information. "Something beyond human?" Helena asked as she flopped onto the couch, and eyebrow raised in curiosity.
"Aye lass. Sevarius combined their DNA with that o' several different species. They look more like Goliath and I than human now."
"I still don't know," Barbara sighed. "We already have enough people here risking their lives. I don't know if I want to have any more involved. Especially if you think Elisa is going to object," she added firmly.
"If we don't stop this threat, then everyone in Manhattan and New Gotham will be in danger. Who knows where this would spread to from there," Goliath reminded Barbara gravely. "Derek is already one of those extra 'resources' back home that Elisa mentioned. But you're right about taking Elisa's feelings into consideration. Hudson and I have already pushed her tolerance levels once on this trip. We should wait to talk to her about it before making any phone calls."
Helena smirked over her beer. "Oh man she has got you by the tail," she chuckled quietly.
"Helena!" Barbara barked irritated.
Goliath jerked, startled. He looked over at Hudson, who burst out in a large guffaw and slapped the giant on the shoulder in amusement. Goliath's features went from shock to ruffled dignity as he tried to pull himself up straight and look his most stoic.
"She does not... 'have me by the tail'. I have just learned over the years that it is much easier to work with her if I keep her informed."
That defense was met by two snickers, and even Barbara looked like she was suddenly having a difficult time keeping a straight face. Goliath's eyebrows drew together in a scowl as he harrumphed and walked off to the kitchen.
Hudson winked to Helena, who flashed him a wicked smile, despite Barbara's look of consternation. Just then, the elevator doors whisked open and Dinah breezed into the room with a small satchel slung over her shoulder, and a smile on her face.
"I forgot how fun it was to be on a sweep by myself."
"Yeah well don't get used to it kid," Helena muttered.
"I'm not a kid anymore Helena and I'm not gonna have this argument again. With you or Barbara," she added as she gave Barbara a challenging look.
Barbara just rolled her eyes and sighed. "Let's see what you found," she said simply as she rolled over to a large empty table. Helena moved from her spot on the couch to just over the two women's shoulders as they broke down into a babble of gibberish that Hudson couldn't quite follow.
He limped down to the kitchen and grinned at Goliath who was scowling into the refrigerator. "Dinner isn't goin' ta make itself lad."
Goliath glowered at his mentor for a second and then reached into the refrigerator to poke at several things. "Och lad, ye need to have Broadway teach ye a few recipes," Hudson chuckled as he walked over to his former pupil and nudged him out of the way.
Goliath willingly allowed the older gargoyle to take over the task of preparing a meal. He watched as Hudson scoured the refrigerator and pantry for ingredients. Then the elder began familiarizing himself with the kitchen utensils. Once he knew where everything was, he began his task with a skill almost mirroring Broadway's.
Shaking his head at his own ineptitude in the culinary arts, Goliath decided to seek the peace of the balcony. There he leapt onto the sturdy stone railing and sank into a relaxed crouch. His sharp eyes scanned the city for awhile before he closed them and simply let the rest of his senses take in the night. A short while later, he sensed another's presence though Helena made no sound as she too settled in for a few moments of peace.
When Goliath finally opened his eyes and shifted slightly to scan around him, he saw the brunette brooding in the darkest corner to the balcony. Turning his gaze back out into the night, he inhaled deeply and released it slowly. He blinked as he realized the air around him was tinged with anger and a hint of fear. Helena's fear.
"From here, everything looks so peaceful- innocent," he said so quietly, that no one except Helena would be able to hear. "And yet the beauty hides an evil that will never give up.... never die."
His deft ears heard Helena's breath still. Then... "We fight a battle we know we can't win. Is it worth all of this pain?" she asked in a bare whisper.
Goliath paused for a minute, having asked himself this same question a thousand times. Then he turned to face Helena. "If we fight it for the right reason, yes."
"Even if we are risking everything we hold dear in life?" she countered, her voice hitching slightly.
"That has to be the reason why we fight. We go out there night after night, facing our nightmares because if we don't, they'll win. They'll win and all that we hold dear will be lost while we stood by and did nothing. We may not be able to win the battle, but we fight to keep that evil from winning as well."
Helena looked Goliath square in the eye. "You and Elisa- you two are...involved?"
Goliath froze for a second, unsure of how much he should divulge of his feeling towards Elisa. Then he realized it was already too late to try and hide anything. "I love Elisa with all of my heart," he admitted simply.
"She goes out there night after night risking her life to put away one scumbag so two more can pop up in his place. How can you live with the fact that one night, one of those scumbags may get one up on her and destroy her whole world? How can you cope with the knowledge that maybe one night, she may not even come home?" Her voice was rough as her body trembled with barely suppressed emotions and Goliath immediately realized who Helena was really talking about.
A sad look crossed his noble features. "Elisa has been no stranger to near death experiences. I have come close to losing her on more than one occasion. But Elisa is a warrior true and proud, and that is just one of the many attributes that drew me to her. She is one of the few who try to make the most of her life and make a difference in the lives of others. Fear will destroy any warrior's heart if we dwell too much on what could happen. All we can do is cherish the good moments that we allow ourselves, and should we die fighting, we die an honorable death."
Helena's eyes dropped to her feet as she chewed on that, and Goliath allowed her some privacy as he went back inside to help Hudson with the final preparations of their dinner.
It was nearly four a.m. when Reese and Elisa stumbled in. Barbara and Dinah had already headed off to bed. Dick had called and said that he would rejoin the group the next evening. Helena had managed to put away five beers before she fled out into the night back towards her own apartment. Goliath and Hudson chatted quietly in the living room as they flipped the television stations waiting anxiously for the two detectives to come back.
The two humans staggered into the main room and dropped into a couple of chairs. Elisa almost managed a smile as Goliath and Hudson visibly balked at the stench assaulting their heightened senses. "You know if I wasn't so cold and hung over right now, your expressions would be priceless."
"What happened t' ye two lass? Goliath an' I were about ready t' go out an' look fer ye."
"We took going under cover to a whole new level," Elisa groaned as she slumped back in her chair, rubbing her aching head. Then she threw a dirty look at Reese. "Next time we're gonna consume two bottles of cheap wino booze, let me know so I can eat a full meal. No wonder those guys don't move when we try and roust them!"
"M' bad. Next time we'll bring our own bottle. Filled with grape juice," he mumbled just as miserable.
"You drove back here under the influence?" Goliath asked shocked.
"No...that's why we're so damn late. Somewhere along the way, Reese lost his keys. All of our id and comms were in the car and we didn't want to attract any attention trying to break into it. So we walked back."
"I tried calling here... guess they forgot t' tell me they changed their number. Helena never picked up her cel either."
"Aye, the lass is probably at home passed out herself."
"Again?" Reese sighed.
"This is not her first time then?" Goliath asked concerned.
"After the incident with Quinn, she pretty much went home after work or sweeps and drank herself into oblivion. I had hoped she had gotten over that."
"Misery loves company. At least we won't be miserable by ourselves tomorrow night," Elisa remarked as a yawn threatened to split her skull in two. "I need a hot shower and bed," she announced as she pushed herself to her feet, swayed for a second and then began the laborious journey upstairs.
"Do ye need a ride back to your apartment lad?"
"Uh, I'm not much of a flyer. I don't think my stomach could handle something like that right now. Alfred told me he would keep some extra clothes on hand in the gym. I'm gonna hit the shower as well and crash on the couch in the Delphi room. See you guys tomorrow night."
December 15 New Gotham
Reese glanced up through the windshield and smiled a bit as he saw Helena's form leap across the expanse of the street up above. Two winged shadows followed in her wake, lazily tracking her route.
"I can't remember what it was like not having at least one of them nearby," Elisa chuckled.
"Tell me about it. Huntress became disappointed when her sudden appearances started to have less of a startling effect on me. She used to love scaring me. Now...it's like I have this sixth sense when it comes to her."
"A shift in the air nearby, the odd tingling sensation that makes the hairs on your neck stand up just a bit telling you they are nearby...." Elisa agreed. "It's weird just how much my world has changed since I met the Clan. But it's made me a better cop and a better person."
"Do you find it hard to try and keep protocol, with them working outside the law?"
Elisa gazed out the window. "I did for awhile. But they grew used to the fact and respected that I am a human who lives in a human society, bound by human laws, and sworn by duty to uphold those laws. Not to say their influence hasn't rubbed off on me," she admitted wryly. Then she sighed- it was a tired sigh.
"Like this situation?" he asked gently.
"Between the Quarrymen, nine-eleven, and these guns, I haven't had a break in three years. Now I'm facing a huge threat to my family, my city and god knows how many other innocent people. Desperation will cause anyone to make deals with the devil, and protocol be damned."
Reese was silent for a long time, digesting that as he drove towards the docks. Finally, he broke the silence as he shifted uncomfortably. "Did you make a deal with Dracon?"
"I promised him a parole hearing. It was all he needed, because from there he would get out. In exchange he swore never to bother the Clan or I again."
"Do you honestly believe that?" Reese asked incredulously.
Elisa raised her eyebrow at him. "I would think that you of all people should know that a mob boss's word of honor is the only thing you CAN count on."
Reese nearly glared at her, but managed to keep his eyes fixed on the road ahead. Elisa didn't miss his knuckles tightening on the wheel however. "I have nothing to do with my father and his.... 'business'. As far as I'm concerned he's just another criminal."
Elisa decided to let the subject of his father pass, realizing it was an extremely touchy subject. "Well Tony and I have a long history and I probably know him better than anyone else. Tony may have a lot to gain if we get rid of Quinn and her gang, but the Wild Cards made it personal when they sidelined his right hand man. Call it word of honor or just a plain and simple debt, but Tony won't go back on his promise."
"We have a lot riding on his 'information'," he remarked, clearly uncomfortable with that fact.
"And he has a lot riding on us being able to take these guys down without blowing this whole operation first," she countered.
There was another tense silence as they both reflected on the enormity of the task set before them.
"Do you think we can do this?" Reese finally asked quietly.
"I've been trying not to think about that too much," she answered back in like manner. Then her eyes shifter over to meet his. "All I know is that one way or another, Quinn and her mystery partner will be stopped once and for all."
The quiet, deadly conviction in her tone sent a chill down Reese's spine. It wasn't really concern that Elisa might not stop at anything to accomplish that task, but that her vocalized oath rang true in his own heart. When he had shown up at the Clocktower to take care of Quinn, it had taken every ounce of willpower not to shoot her while he had the chance. It was a decision he was now beginning to regret, but he still had a chance to help put an end to the death and destruction. And he would see that it was ended....permanently.
Clearing his throat he nodded to the large dark warehouses rising in front of them. "There we are. New Gotham docks... risen from the ashes of the old docks."
"You'd think the newer ones would be a little more cheery," Elisa muttered.
"There's not much cheery in this town after the sun goes down. Hel- Huntress will be showing the guys around. I thought we might catch up with a few old friends of mine and see if anything different has been going on lately."
"Friends?" Elisa asked as Reese pulled the car over, still several blocks away from the docks and warehouses.
Reese reached into the back seat and hefted a large vile smelling duffel bag between them. "Jeez, you got last's month's gym clothes in there?" Elisa gasped as he opened the zipper.
"Yep, and a lovely selection of clothing direct from the Salvation Army," he chuckled as he tossed a pair of ragged mittens and a horrific knitted cap into her lap.
"Oh you can't be serious."
"Hey you're under cover right?" Reese grinned back slipping a well worn cap that was just as ugly as hers. "My friends are a little shy when it comes to us badge wearers. But if they think you're one of them..."
"They'll talk your ear off and then some," Elisa sighed as she took the long, ratty pea coat he pulled out. "At least vice buys the nice outfits." Somewhere up above......
"Why did they stop back there?"
"Reese is gonna take Elisa on a little undercover work, see what they can dig up from the local residents."
"Ye mean t' tell me people actually live here?"
Helena snorted. "Only the ones that have to Hudson," she answered pointing down towards a small group of people tucked away in several makeshift shacks on the outskirts of the rebuilt docks and train yard. There were perhaps three dozen or so, all huddled around a few trash can fires scattered here and there.
"Down here they've got plenty of free firewood, all the fish they can catch, and a spot to sleep where no one will chase them away," she sighed sadly.
"Detective Reese has informants among this group?"
"Yeah, but they don't really know they're informants. Therefore, the disguise," she chuckled as she looked back in the direction of the parked car and saw two forms swaying and staggering a bit along the dark street.
Goliath felt the corners of his mouth turn up as he watched the two officers act out their charade. Next to him Hudson chuckled as well. "Makes ye wish we had brought along a camera don't it lad?"
"Aye. I've seen Elisa in many of her undercover outfits, but this is the first time I've seen her imitate a drunken vagrant."
"She does a pretty good job at it too. But who says we don't have a camera?" Huntress asked with a wicked gleam in her eye as she pulled a tiny device from within the folds of her long coat and tapped a finger to her ear piece.
"Hey Oracle, can you copy the feed I'm sending you?"
"Sure. What do you have?"
"Goliath wanted something to remember Elisa by," Huntress snickered as she activated the tiny camera and began sending the live feed.
There was a pause and then she heard Oracle sigh. "I really don't know why I let you talk me into wasting memory on my hard drive with stuff like this." Huntress could hear that her tone had lightened somewhat though, and overheard her mentor putting a disk into the computer to record the scene.
Below them, the two detectives broke out into an off-key drinking song, and stumbled by the trio watching over them. When they disappeared, Goliath and Hudson grinned over to Huntress. "Quite a neat little gadget ye got there lass. Lexington would go crazy with all o' the toys ye three seem t' have."
"What, Mr. X doesn't keep him busy enough with all the stuff his R&D department thinks up?"
"Lexington is more than occupied with all of the equipment Xanatos has him test and try. Some nights it's nearly impossible to get him to go out on patrols," Goliath sighed. "Speaking of which, perhaps we should focus back on our tour?"
"Right, back to business. Ok, the docks and the train-yard are all new. The earthquake damaged half of this badly, and then there was a huge fire that burned most of it to the ground. They rebuilt the docks and shipyards on the same site as the old ones. But see where the homeless are living in those shacks along that hill? That's actually what is left of the old train yard.
"Gotham has a large warren of underground tunnels, mostly abandoned subway systems and the sewers. A lot of it was destroyed in the quake, but it has always been a haven for the worst of the lowlifes that reside here. The tunnels are a very scary place- limited escapes routes, very few places to use for cover, and its location plays havoc with any GPS or comm system because of their depths. The police haven't touched the tunnels for years, and even we avoid them unless absolutely necessary. There are access points throughout the city to the tunnels, but the highest concentration of them, were all along the old train yard."
"I take it, that it was an area of high crime," Goliath commented.
"Some really scary stuff happened down there over the years. Especially when the Joker was at his most insane," she said quietly, a shiver running along her spine. "Now it's just mostly used by gangs, and a few clusters of homeless people. But the place had already gotten a bad rep, so the City relocated the new train yards to the other side of the docks and warehouses."
"How often do you cover this area in your sweeps?"
"Probably not as often as I should," Huntress admitted. "Ever since last year....well neither Dinah or I like to stray too far from the Clocktower. We've only been coming out this far if there's been some kind of problem. I guess I haven't had to come out here for about six months now."
"Six months...in an area like this?" Goliath asked surprised.
"Hmmmm...you're right. It is weird isn't it?"
"Six months ago was when those blasted guns first started t' show up in Manhattan," Hudson added.
"Let's say we poke around for a little while and see if we notice anything unusual."
"Shall we split up to cover more ground lass?"
Huntress slid a glance over to Goliath. "I don't see why not. All we're here to do is check things out- Oracle will have all of our hides if we blow things and start making our presence known."
"Aye, so would Elisa," Hudson chuckled quietly as he and Goliath exchanged a knowing glance.
"Why does that not surprise me? Meet back here in a half hour and then we can head back into the city for regular sweeps."
Two hours later......
Clocktower
Huntress uncurled her body and landed gracefully on the balcony of the Clocktower. Moments later, there was a rustle of wind against more leather, and Goliath landed his massive bulk on the concrete just as gracefully. Hudson's entrance wasn't quite as grand, but he managed decently given his recent handicap.
"Ye have a lot o' ground t' cover in one night lass," Hudson remarked as he shifted his bulk to look back out over the New Gotham skyline.
"Yeah. It's a little overwhelming on the bad nights, but we manage."
"You, Dinah and Oracle have much to be commended for Huntress. Your protectorate is nearly as large as ours, and yet we have nearly three times your number to patrol and safeguard our city."
"I think that's part of the reason Barbara was willing to take Dinah on as a part of the team. With two of us fully trained she knew that we could handle the training of others. Gotham will always need the next generation of crime fighters waiting in the wings," Huntress snorted.
She turned to enter the clock tower, but her hand froze on the handle. "Something wrong?" Goliath queried as he saw her back stiffen for a moment. She seemed to be listening for something, but then she shook her head.
"I just forgot Nightwing was supposed to be here by now," she grumbled in an irritated voice. "Maybe he's late... I don't hear anything."
She pushed open the doors and breezed into the room, with an air of defiance about her as she looked around the room for the offending party.
Goliath and Hudson entered behind her, glancing around hesitantly. Barbara didn't even look up from her monitors. "He's at the manor," she answered without being asked.
"Think there's any chance he'll stay there?" Helena asked in false sweetness as she headed for the refrigerator.
"No, and if I hear one more sarcastic remark out of you about him, I will remind you who taught you how to use a batarang," Barbara threatened in a dangerous tone.
Goliath and Hudson watched as Helena glared daggers at Barbara, but backed down in the face of her mentor's wrath. Instead she switched subjects. "Where's Dinah?"
"Checking out a break-in at the Davis R&D Center. The call came through while you guys were on the other side of town, so she volunteered to check things out."
"By herself?!" Helena asked in disbelief.
"All she's doing is gathering info and looking for clues. She just checked in right before you got back, and she'll be heading home soon since the police are now all over the scene. Besides, I don't need her babysitting me every night."
She looked up from her monitors for a moment to give Helena a hard look and then caught the two gargoyles shifting uneasily in the growing tension. With a tired sigh she looked back down at her computer and waved in their general direction.
"Sorry guys. Listen, help yourself to whatever you'd like. Alfred went shopping today and bought half the grocery store I think."
"Lass, we weren't expectin' this kind of hospitality. We hope we're not putting some kind of financial burden on ye by staying here."
Helena snorted. "Trust me guys, there's no want of money where the three of us ladies are concerned."
Barbara bit back a sarcastic retort to that remark and instead forced a smile and shook her head. "Helena's right. There's no reason to be worried or concerned about our financial well-being. Our benefactor could give Xanatos a run for his money if he wanted to."
"Yeah, like if he actually joined the real world," Helena muttered darkly before taking a long swig of the beer she had just opened.
Barbara was on the verge of retorting to that when Goliath cut in, stalling the storm that was brewing between the two women. "Well we appreciate your generosity and hospitality none the less. So have you turned up any leads through your data research?"
Barbara almost smiled when she realized that Goliath had deftly diffused the growing tension and had redirected her attention back to work. He was definitely a skilled leader. "I've come across a few leads, but nothing definitive. I was listening to you're conversation about crime around the old yards and began pulling up the police reports for the last year."
The redhead typed away on her keyboard, and a map of the area come up. Little dots began to appear along the older abandoned sections, particularly near the tunnel entrances. A list slowly began to scroll along the left side of the screen. "Even after Quinn was locked up, there was still some ugly business transpiring down there. A number of gang related shootings and deaths. Appears there was some jockeying for ownership.
"Then about three months ago two of our local gang ringleaders turned up dead outside those tunnels. Autopsy reports says they looked like someone took a rocket launcher to them."
"The first victims of this new gun?" Goliath ventured.
"Could be. The area became a ghost town after that, except the homeless of course. But no other major crimes or disturbances have been reported over there in quite some time. There have been a few missing persons reports filed by some of the 'local residents', but the police don't give much thought to a missing drifter."
"We saw nothing unusual in our patrol of the area. Everything seemed peaceful- perhaps too peaceful," Goliath sighed.
Hudson was scratching his beard thoughtfully. "Perhaps because we only saw what was happening on the surface. The lass said tha' both you and the police leave those tunnels alone. We may have t' think about sending someone down there."
"Hudson you don't understand those tunnels are dangerous- even for some one like you guys and Helena," Barbara argued. "Besides, the minute you go underground you loose comms and its nearly impossible to navigate those tunnels without knowing them."
"Aye perhaps for us, but we know a couple of lads back home who might come in handy."
Goliath turned to Hudson a thoughtful look on his broad features. "Do you think Elisa will agree to us asking Derek to come up?"
"Derek?" Barbara asked a little exasperated that the two gargoyles seemed to be disregarding her warning completely.
"Elisa's brother. He and several others were subjected to an experiment by a twisted geneticist named Sevarius. Their bodies were mutated to something beyond human and now they are forced to live in seclusion from humanity as we are. They reside in the many abandoned subway tunnels in Manhattan. In order to adapt to their current home, they have all developed some unique skills that could be useful to us here."
Barbara hesitated as she processed this new piece of information. "Something beyond human?" Helena asked as she flopped onto the couch, and eyebrow raised in curiosity.
"Aye lass. Sevarius combined their DNA with that o' several different species. They look more like Goliath and I than human now."
"I still don't know," Barbara sighed. "We already have enough people here risking their lives. I don't know if I want to have any more involved. Especially if you think Elisa is going to object," she added firmly.
"If we don't stop this threat, then everyone in Manhattan and New Gotham will be in danger. Who knows where this would spread to from there," Goliath reminded Barbara gravely. "Derek is already one of those extra 'resources' back home that Elisa mentioned. But you're right about taking Elisa's feelings into consideration. Hudson and I have already pushed her tolerance levels once on this trip. We should wait to talk to her about it before making any phone calls."
Helena smirked over her beer. "Oh man she has got you by the tail," she chuckled quietly.
"Helena!" Barbara barked irritated.
Goliath jerked, startled. He looked over at Hudson, who burst out in a large guffaw and slapped the giant on the shoulder in amusement. Goliath's features went from shock to ruffled dignity as he tried to pull himself up straight and look his most stoic.
"She does not... 'have me by the tail'. I have just learned over the years that it is much easier to work with her if I keep her informed."
That defense was met by two snickers, and even Barbara looked like she was suddenly having a difficult time keeping a straight face. Goliath's eyebrows drew together in a scowl as he harrumphed and walked off to the kitchen.
Hudson winked to Helena, who flashed him a wicked smile, despite Barbara's look of consternation. Just then, the elevator doors whisked open and Dinah breezed into the room with a small satchel slung over her shoulder, and a smile on her face.
"I forgot how fun it was to be on a sweep by myself."
"Yeah well don't get used to it kid," Helena muttered.
"I'm not a kid anymore Helena and I'm not gonna have this argument again. With you or Barbara," she added as she gave Barbara a challenging look.
Barbara just rolled her eyes and sighed. "Let's see what you found," she said simply as she rolled over to a large empty table. Helena moved from her spot on the couch to just over the two women's shoulders as they broke down into a babble of gibberish that Hudson couldn't quite follow.
He limped down to the kitchen and grinned at Goliath who was scowling into the refrigerator. "Dinner isn't goin' ta make itself lad."
Goliath glowered at his mentor for a second and then reached into the refrigerator to poke at several things. "Och lad, ye need to have Broadway teach ye a few recipes," Hudson chuckled as he walked over to his former pupil and nudged him out of the way.
Goliath willingly allowed the older gargoyle to take over the task of preparing a meal. He watched as Hudson scoured the refrigerator and pantry for ingredients. Then the elder began familiarizing himself with the kitchen utensils. Once he knew where everything was, he began his task with a skill almost mirroring Broadway's.
Shaking his head at his own ineptitude in the culinary arts, Goliath decided to seek the peace of the balcony. There he leapt onto the sturdy stone railing and sank into a relaxed crouch. His sharp eyes scanned the city for awhile before he closed them and simply let the rest of his senses take in the night. A short while later, he sensed another's presence though Helena made no sound as she too settled in for a few moments of peace.
When Goliath finally opened his eyes and shifted slightly to scan around him, he saw the brunette brooding in the darkest corner to the balcony. Turning his gaze back out into the night, he inhaled deeply and released it slowly. He blinked as he realized the air around him was tinged with anger and a hint of fear. Helena's fear.
"From here, everything looks so peaceful- innocent," he said so quietly, that no one except Helena would be able to hear. "And yet the beauty hides an evil that will never give up.... never die."
His deft ears heard Helena's breath still. Then... "We fight a battle we know we can't win. Is it worth all of this pain?" she asked in a bare whisper.
Goliath paused for a minute, having asked himself this same question a thousand times. Then he turned to face Helena. "If we fight it for the right reason, yes."
"Even if we are risking everything we hold dear in life?" she countered, her voice hitching slightly.
"That has to be the reason why we fight. We go out there night after night, facing our nightmares because if we don't, they'll win. They'll win and all that we hold dear will be lost while we stood by and did nothing. We may not be able to win the battle, but we fight to keep that evil from winning as well."
Helena looked Goliath square in the eye. "You and Elisa- you two are...involved?"
Goliath froze for a second, unsure of how much he should divulge of his feeling towards Elisa. Then he realized it was already too late to try and hide anything. "I love Elisa with all of my heart," he admitted simply.
"She goes out there night after night risking her life to put away one scumbag so two more can pop up in his place. How can you live with the fact that one night, one of those scumbags may get one up on her and destroy her whole world? How can you cope with the knowledge that maybe one night, she may not even come home?" Her voice was rough as her body trembled with barely suppressed emotions and Goliath immediately realized who Helena was really talking about.
A sad look crossed his noble features. "Elisa has been no stranger to near death experiences. I have come close to losing her on more than one occasion. But Elisa is a warrior true and proud, and that is just one of the many attributes that drew me to her. She is one of the few who try to make the most of her life and make a difference in the lives of others. Fear will destroy any warrior's heart if we dwell too much on what could happen. All we can do is cherish the good moments that we allow ourselves, and should we die fighting, we die an honorable death."
Helena's eyes dropped to her feet as she chewed on that, and Goliath allowed her some privacy as he went back inside to help Hudson with the final preparations of their dinner.
It was nearly four a.m. when Reese and Elisa stumbled in. Barbara and Dinah had already headed off to bed. Dick had called and said that he would rejoin the group the next evening. Helena had managed to put away five beers before she fled out into the night back towards her own apartment. Goliath and Hudson chatted quietly in the living room as they flipped the television stations waiting anxiously for the two detectives to come back.
The two humans staggered into the main room and dropped into a couple of chairs. Elisa almost managed a smile as Goliath and Hudson visibly balked at the stench assaulting their heightened senses. "You know if I wasn't so cold and hung over right now, your expressions would be priceless."
"What happened t' ye two lass? Goliath an' I were about ready t' go out an' look fer ye."
"We took going under cover to a whole new level," Elisa groaned as she slumped back in her chair, rubbing her aching head. Then she threw a dirty look at Reese. "Next time we're gonna consume two bottles of cheap wino booze, let me know so I can eat a full meal. No wonder those guys don't move when we try and roust them!"
"M' bad. Next time we'll bring our own bottle. Filled with grape juice," he mumbled just as miserable.
"You drove back here under the influence?" Goliath asked shocked.
"No...that's why we're so damn late. Somewhere along the way, Reese lost his keys. All of our id and comms were in the car and we didn't want to attract any attention trying to break into it. So we walked back."
"I tried calling here... guess they forgot t' tell me they changed their number. Helena never picked up her cel either."
"Aye, the lass is probably at home passed out herself."
"Again?" Reese sighed.
"This is not her first time then?" Goliath asked concerned.
"After the incident with Quinn, she pretty much went home after work or sweeps and drank herself into oblivion. I had hoped she had gotten over that."
"Misery loves company. At least we won't be miserable by ourselves tomorrow night," Elisa remarked as a yawn threatened to split her skull in two. "I need a hot shower and bed," she announced as she pushed herself to her feet, swayed for a second and then began the laborious journey upstairs.
"Do ye need a ride back to your apartment lad?"
"Uh, I'm not much of a flyer. I don't think my stomach could handle something like that right now. Alfred told me he would keep some extra clothes on hand in the gym. I'm gonna hit the shower as well and crash on the couch in the Delphi room. See you guys tomorrow night."