1 HOUR EARLIER…
The mood was tense inside the limousine. The Penguin, Jay, Raven, Lark, and a few armed guards sat in silence as they drove to the Steel Mill. Those who were not in the office when Branden delivered the note were told to get ready for a possible fight, load up in a few cars, and follow Penguin's limo. The others knew all too well what was about to go down. Penguin had already thought about the possibility that this was a trap, after all, It is incredibly rare that the two head crime lords of Gotham were in the same room together, and it did not end with a shoot-out. He tapped his fingers along the golden penguin head that was the handle of his special umbrella. Should things escalate, Penguin thought it necessary to bring one of his more lethal umbrellas that could fire 7.62mm rounds. He was too focused and deep in thought to realize how the girls were taking it. The girls had changed into some white and black dresses that were designed for more formal attire.
"Lark, you don't think this is a trap do you?" Jay asked with concern in her voice.
"I can't say, but just in case, I came prepared." Lark said, pulling her dress up to show a small Luger pistol on her thigh strap."
"Smart and Sexy," Raven said with a smirk, trying to lighten the mood a bit.
"This isn't a trap… this is legit," Penguin spoke out, now gaining all the attention inside the cabin.
"What makes you say that boss?" Jay asked. Penguin sat up and used his umbrella like a lecture stick.
"Simply put my dear, there are two reasons. One; If Black Mask wanted to kill us he picked a lousy place to do so. This kind of firefight will take time and there would be many casualties. That's a lot of clean-up to do, and if what Branden said was true it would be a lot of product ruined by biological contamination, the same would be true if he was lying to us. Also, a firefight like that will more than certainly get an unwanted Bat's attention. Remember what happened to Yuri Dimitrov with the Russians, and Sal Maroni with the Italians that were waging war on each other? Batman caught both in a small firefight off of the East Side, and within one evening crippled both mobs and their operations in Gotham. They had to retreat to their respective mainlands!"
There was a silence that befell the cabin of the limo. That night was when Batman struck so hard all the major crime lords took the threat of Batman seriously. In the beginning, they thought it was some rumor that the grunts used to try and scare off recruits, some people were even interrogated to put a stop to these rumors. Until that night when Maroni and Dimitrov were taken down in a blink of an eye. Dimitrov nearly lost his eyesight by being punched in the face while wearing sunglasses, but Maroni's words made him sound like a doomsday preacher, and it spread through Gotham's underworld like a wildfire. He was put into custody screaming and covered in his blood, claiming that Batman could walk through a raging inferno unfazed, a demon of shadows, a hellwalker dressed in black.
"Trust me this is an actual meeting. So no one does anything foolish unless absolutely necessary." Penguin said as they rounded a corner Into the short driveway to the Steel Mill.
The first thing that Penguin noticed was the lack of security. No guards were posted by the front gate, no one walking around, it was deserted except for Roman's signature white limo parked. The large smokestacks were cold with no billowing streams of smoke projecting to the sky. While it may have looked deserted, he kept his guard. He may have been confident in his assumption, but he wasn't going to risk being stupid. The limo came to a stop and the following cars with it. He observed through the tinted windows that only one light was on that could be seen from outside. A silhouette of a woman could be seen, Penguin no doubt assumed it was Ms. Li.
Penguin made the others get out with guns ready and loaded, a military tactic he picked up where the team lead sends someone out first to make sure it was clear, but instead he would send everyone out first. Once everyone got out and confirmed that the coast was clear, he slowly crawled his way out of the limousine. All is still quiet except for the sounds of the city behind them until a door crept open from the main building next to them. Within a second all firearms on Penguin's side aimed towards the door, even Penguin's umbrella. At any second of trouble, the door would have been sent a storm of lead. Branden had slowly walked out into the courtyard with his hands held up. He wore the same outfit he did when first meeting with the Penguin earlier today. He had one task.
"Wait! No need to fear Mr. Cobblepot, Black Mask instructed all of us on his team to be unarmed. There's no ambush waiting for you. Just me, him, Ms. Li, and a few of us are all waiting for you in his office." Branden said calmly.
Truthfully speaking he didn't want to do this but he was the only one on the other side with a shred of Penguins trust and had Black Mask sent anyone else they would have been hit with a blaze of gunfire. Though walking out into a bunch of other men pointing guns at him made Branden think otherwise. He looked towards his left to see a thug close to Penguin keep the iron sights on Heckler & Koch MP5 up and aimed at Branden, he slowly approached him and was itching to pull the trigger should Branden say or do anything stupid.
"Okay? What's to stop us from just killing you all now?" He asked. A valid question, though his answer was of being stuck in the back of the head by Penguin's umbrella. An audible 'ow' came from the man as he held the back of his head and his MP5 dropped to the ground.
"The Batman you imbecile! Any of you all start shooting and he will be on us like flies on excrement! Now if it was an ambush we would have been shot already. The girls and I will go upstairs, the rest of you form a defensive perimeter. We shouldn't be too long."
While the other henchman was rubbing the back of his head, the rest of them started to move about the steel mill and patrol the area as ordered. Lark, Jay, and Raven all followed right behind the Penguin as Branden held the door open for them inside the steel mill, and once inside Penguin noticed two things. Nothing was on, no machinery, heaters, even the lights were barely on as if they were conserving power. There was no one else inside as if the entire still mill was abandoned. They followed Branden towards the other side of the mill, it led to a stairway where the office of Black Mask was illuminated. Branden walked towards the door and opened it once again for Penguin and the girls. The girls were told to enter first, and then Penguin entered, with Branden soon closing and locking the door behind them.
Inside was a nicely decorated office with mahogany wooden bookshelves and a matching main office desk, with two red couches and was accompanied by a stylized rug and coffee table. Two men stood on either side of the window that overlooked the courtyard, to the left was Ms. Li and sitting at the desk was Black Mask himself, sitting calmly in the red leather office chair. The only wild element to Penguin was the woman who leaned on the side of the wall that the door was on to his right. She was wearing a green and black harlequin jumpsuit and was filling her nails which looked to be as sharp as eagle talons. Her demeanor was that of someone who took no interest in what was going on in her surroundings and had that scowl permanently burned to her face. Black Mask stood up and broke the silence.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice Mr. Cobblepot."
"Oh so now we're talking as if we were acquaintances, Roman?" Penguin asked with a hint of hostility.
"Your right to be suspicious, and smart to be cautious. In our game who wouldn't be? Though I assure you this is no trick and to be frank, I would like to get this over with as quickly as possible. Please, have a seat." Black Mask responded, his hand gesturing towards the opposing couch facing him.
Penguin had walked towards the couch facing Roman and sat down between Raven and Jay, with Lark standing to his right. Roman had sat at the opposite couch with Ms. Li to his left down with Branden to his right. Shego had then walked closer to the coffee table with her hands crossed and looked down towards The Penguin. Both of them were studying each other, Shego even catching a glare from Lark.
"Who is she?" Lark asked.
"That is my associate Shego. She is here to make sure our discussions go smoothly and without any, complications." Black Masked answered.
"So just her?" Lark asked annoying Shego to the core.
"Oh, I can handle this in my sleep." She replied with a coy smile whilst admiring her manicure. Lark's face grew scorned as she aimed to keep herself cool.
"Then I guess I will do the same for the boss," Lark said essentially challenging Shego's power. The two women instantly shared eyes of ice before the Penguin got the group back on track.
"Nevertheless, I got your note provided by Mr. Branden, so why would I want to buy your Steel Mill Roman?" Penguin asked.
"It's more than just that Penguin"
"Oh? Do share." He asked.
"I'm sorry but that will not be part of this discussion" Ms. Li interjected only to have a hand raised by Black Mask towards her, catching her off guard.
"No no, it will pay for us to be honest here. Cobblepot, I'm done with this game that you, me and the Falcone's have been playing. You have a much bigger investment in Gotham than I do, and I should have probably flown the coop a long time ago. But now I'm here, wanting to leave and the only thing keeping me from being a free birdie, are the properties I have in Gotham." He explained.
"So this isn't just about the Steel Mill?" Penguin asked. Black Mask had the whole group's attention now, all except Shego.
"Nope, I'm offering you all of my Gotham assets. The limo, the office complex I own, the Steel Mill, my home, and even this," Black Mask took a small folded up piece of paper from his blazer pocket and placed it on the coffee table for all to see. Penguin looked through his monocle at the paper and back towards Black Mask. Sure his limo was nice, his office complex was prime real estate, but the paper on the desk was the most valuable.
"And what would this be?" Penguin asked.
"That is the formula for my Black Ice narcotic." Black Mask declared as he slid the paper back to his side of the table. Black Ice was Gotham's equivalent to crack cocaine during the 1980s. It flustered through the streets like a plague and is what caused Roman to become the rich and powerful crime lord he was, quickly after his cosmetic line failed, due to poor Ingredients causing permanent damage to a few unlucky customers. It shot him from a general thug to a crime lord in a matter of weeks. If done correctly Penguin could easily double his profits and territories within Gotham, and maybe even choke out the Falcone's, winning him the Crime War & all of Gotham. The girls looked towards their boss in anticipation, they understood just what Black Mask was offering.
"Intriguing, but why are you offering me all of this? Could you not just sell everything yourself?" Penguin asked.
"Sure I very well could, but that would take time, time I don't have. My flight out of here is tomorrow evening and I want nothing standing in my way. I want my entire relationship with Gotham severed. And the only person who would make good use of these assets is you." Black Mask confidently exclaimed. The Penguin's fingers were tapping away at his umbrella's golden penguin's head handle. This power purchase would solidify Gotham to him, though there were logistics to take care of.
"Should I say yes, there's still the matter of logistics such as how you will get everything into my name? You couldn't possibly do that in a day." Penguin explained.
"Oh, I think we have that covered," Shego said. She walked towards Roman's desk and picked up the Drak-Eraser and placed it on the table. Penguin and the girls both stared at the tablet. Black Mask leaned back after his pitch and kept his hands clasped and in his lap, to appear as professional as possible, for a guy with a Black Skull mask hiding his face. Penguin sat back and began to logically think this through. Roman was essentially throwing the keys to the kingdom to him all for a price of course. So to him, freedom isn't free. With this deal, Gotham's underworld would be his. It was a no-brainer, now it was just the negotiations.
"Alright Roman, how much do you want for it all?"
"To be transparent, my goal here is not to make a profit. All these assets combined will be worth more than what I'm needing, but due to how quickly I need things done I can only ask for what I need to be covered. So I'm willing to give it all to you for 20 million."
That was a lie. While time was truly running short, Romans properties were worth only about 16 million. Beneath his mask was a small grin hoping for Penguin to try and take the first offer. He was going to withdraw the 25 Million from his account and try and get some of that money back before the deposit from this deal. He wouldn't be able to break even but any money to help soften the blow was a welcome one. Penguin didn't need to know that, he tried to remain as still as possible to not show any weakness. The Penguin however was a master at the art of the deal and could see through Black Masks façade. Though the key to good negotiating was to shut up, listen, and speak only when having to.
"That's a bit of a high price Mr. Sionis. I'm going to have to decline unless you can make it around, say… 15 million?" Penguin fired back.
Black Masks nerves were touched and he wanted to kill the fat bastard for the insult. He kept his nerve though and proceeded calmly, it's just the first step. He had to remember that while there were times where they both had made moves to knock the other down a peg or two, this was far more important than revenge.
"I'm afraid I would be seriously devaluing what I am willing to sell for that number, however, I'm willing to cut you a deal to achieve both of my goals. I will lower it to 18 million." Black Mask retorted.
"How about 16 million?" Penguin's smile continued to grow as he saw Black Mask's eyes begin to narrow with annoyance. He took a mental breath, this deal needed to get done. One more try.
"Again I just think that would devalue what I have brought to the table. Though I need it to get done so I can go to 17.5 million. That's as low as I will go." Black Masked said, crossing his arms. Everyone's eyes went to the Penguin as he caressed his chin and looked down towards the note on the table. He did just get 2.5 million off of the asking price. Maybe that's as good as it will get, or just maybe Black Mask might be desperate to meet a lower offer should Penguin threaten to walk.
"Well, Mr. Sionis I'm afraid that I can't meet that offer. It was a pleasure to try and do business with you. I hope you can achieve what you need to in such a short timeframe." Penguin said as he began to stand up, followed shortly by Raven and Jay. Black Mask's eyes were beginning to widen as one of his crucial goals was beginning to slip away. Maybe he should just take the offer and be done with it, he thought. While both men were negotiating, the back and forth was beginning to anger Shego, of all the things she found in people, the haggling was the worst. Especially in the case of the centurion project between Drakken and Duff Killigan. It was a waste of time, but she knew a few ways to get people back at the table.
"Don't sweat it Black Mask, I can have these Falcone's here in an hour. I'm sure they would love to hear your offer. Who knows, maybe they can actually afford it." Shego was insulted with a grin.
This made the Penguin stop dead in his tracks and turn around faster than anyone could predict due to his shape and size. His teeth gritted as his eyes widened, he walked right towards Shego, waving his umbrella and even pointing it towards her. To her, his threatening demeanor was almost amusing. It would always take a significant thing to scare Shego. Especially since when talking about height, the Penguin was only towards below her chest.
"I beg your pardon young lady, do you have any idea who you are talking to? I am one of Gotham's prestigious entrepreneurs! I could easily buy all of this without a sweat, and as a crime lord I can have your head served to me on a silver platter!" The angry little crime lord screamed.
"Then put your money where your beak-like nose is and prove it! 18 million or it all goes to the Falcone's." Shego said, leaning slightly forwards with her hands on her hips.
Black Mask just sat on the couch and watched as Shego took over. Smiling with the angered expressions painting Penguins face. Unfortunately for the Penguin, should the Falcone's take that deal, it would completely turn the tide of the crime war. They would go from struggling to survive, to now being close to winning. It was a masterstroke in negotiation and the Penguin couldn't help himself but growl in disappointment.
"God damn you… deal."
Black Mask sighed underneath his mask, not the best scenario that could have happened, though it was beneficial to both. Especially with that should Black Mask even try to go to the Falcone's they would kill him on sight, after the incident with their son. The Penguin walked back to the couch once more and sat down in defeat with Raven, Jay, and Lark behind him. As they stood behind their boss Lark was sending daggers through her eyes towards Shego, and she returned the favor in spades. Black Mask stood up and leaned over the coffee table with his hand extended. Penguin with disdain shook his rival's hand trying to keep some part of his ego intact.
"A pleasure doing business with you Cobblepot."
"If you can even call it that." Penguin fired back.
"Regardless, I will need everything in cash by tomorrow. I can't necessarily be leaving a paper trail with everything I have on the line." The statement made the Penguin lose his composure and his cigarette holder fell from his mouth along with nearly losing his top hat.
"Cash?! Have you lost it? I won't be able to come up with it all that quickly! Do you want the IRS on us both? Any withdrawal like that and they will be at my front door in hours. Didn't you know they automatically look into any withdrawal or deposit exceeding 10,000?"
"Then use the Drak-Eraser" Shego commented. Both crime lords looked towards Shego with a hint of confusion.
"What are you talking about?" Branden asked. Nearly being forgotten about as both he and Ms. Li had just sat down and remained silent.
"The Drak-Eraser can scan massive personal checks and deposit them to accounts without the IRS's knowledge. It would be as if the number was randomly generated. Or it has some fake account that makes it look legit or something." Shego said, rolling her eyes. Knowing full well that she didn't listen to Drakken's original pitch.
Both crime lords looked back at each other and then back to Shego.
"Well then I guess we will handle business tomorrow then, I will have my checkbook ready… and what's my collateral should this backfire?" Penguin asked.
"There won't be any collateral. The Drak-Eraser has already been tested." Shego stated whilst crossing her arms. Maybe it was the tone of her voice, or maybe Penguin's entire deal had gone south because of her that his entire negotiations had gone through the window, but it was the straw that broke the camel's back for the Penguin.
"Roman, please keep your green-skinned lackey freak who dresses like whore at bay. This business should be dealt with by professionals."
"Cobblepot I don't think that was necessa-"
"Fucking excuse me!?" Shego erupted.
Black Mask was informed of a few of Shego's skills by Dr. Drakken. Incredibly adept at close combat, stealthy, and even a few notes how she can be quick to anger. Though he did wonder about a few notes that were covered in black ink, and what was unsettling to him was that there was a lot covered up. Though he brushed those aside, assuming he would not figure them out with his time with her as an associate, and soon he would be proven wrong.
In a blink of an eye, Shego had slapped Penguin's umbrella from his hand and sent it flying to the other side of the room. Branden had to duck quickly to avoid being hit in the head. Before Black Mask could realize what had happened, Shego grabbed Penguin by the collar of his shirt with her right hand and lifted him single-handedly, causing the Penguin's feet to dangle and his top hat to fall off behind him. Sure he was heavy, but she was too angry to care.
"I don't think I heard you correctly, want to repeat what you said you fat flightless bird!?" Shego screamed toward the Penguin.
Her available left hand was positioned to gauge his eyes out and slash at his face within close distance. The Penguin originally had an expression of fear as he struggled to try and pry himself from Shego's grip. He looked to his left and had a cheeky grin on his round little face, followed by his rather signature cackle. Shego noticed and peered to her left to see the barrel of a small Luger pistol aimed towards her head. Lark kept a clean stance and control of the gun on her target.
"So much for no complications, right Shego? I thought you could handle this in your sleep? Put him down." Lark demanded.
Shego growled under her breath as she looked towards the barrel of the gun. There indeed was a bullet inside and the safety of the gun was off. All Lark had to do was pull the trigger now and she would be done for. She took notice of the Penguin telling Lark she will deserve a raise for this act. Though Shego had one last trick off her sleeve. She needed just a small distraction and she had yet to use it, and when she does, it normally catches the room's attention. Black mask added another type or if distraction too, without even knowing it.
"Shego! Drop Mr. Cobblepot, I need him alive! Lark, lower your weapon!"
"Fat chance Black Mask!" She said as her sights went to him. This was exactly what Shego was looking for. A cruel grin painted her face as she flexed her left hand, and the supernatural occurred. Her left hand suddenly erupted in a scorching hot green plasma-like flame, its signature sound caught everyone's attention and its glow was almost mesmerizing to everyone.
"What the fu-"Penguin's sentence couldn't even finish before Shego's left hand slashed towards Lark's hands. Lark shrieked in pain as her hands were burned, and her fingers were sliced open, causing her to clench them together tightly, stumble backward, and fall in front of Raven and Jay. Tears were in her eyes as the pain rocketed through her arms, she and everyone else looked towards the left wall of the room and noticed the Luger pistol was sliced in half, each half having a smoldering, melted part where Shego's claws dug in. Everyone held the same expression of shock. Shego kept the Penguin up as she turned to the girls with her left hand still ablaze.
"Well, are you two going to do anything stupid now?" She asked looking down to Raven and Jay who both held Lark close to them. Both shaking their heads no in terror as the reflection of the green plasma-like flame danced in their eyes.
"Good. Now Fatso about that thing you said and your bitch pointing a gun at me? Just for that, you now owe me 5 million."
"Wha-?! 5 Million, hell no! I will not be intimidated by the likes of-"Penguin's words stopped as he felt an intense heat towards his face. His eyes open to Shego's plasma engulfed hands within an inch or two away.
"What was that? Was that a 'Yes' I heard?" Shego said as a single finger of hers slowly approached the monocle that was still on Penguin's face. His eye locked to the approaching plasma claw, feeling the heat intensify with each moment. He had no idea what would happen, the glass could shatter and the shards would have him experience the same near blinding effects as Nikolai, or it would melt and burn his face, not even thinking about the claw itself. The only desirable factor would be if the glass would just be permanently damaged. But with what had happened to Lark's hand, and her pistol, plus what else Shego would do to him, it was too much, a risk well not worth it to him.
"Y-Yes! I'll give you the money, just put me down this instant!" Penguin squealed as he flailed about in Shego's Grasp.
She brought her hand back to her side and simply dropped the fat man down onto the ground. He attempted to get himself collected and placed his top hat back in his now messed up short black hair. Shego just stood over him with a sneer on her face. The room still was tense but even Black Mask was ready to pull his 1911 from his back, though now there was no need. Shego then proceeded to hold her hand out in front of the Penguin.
"Well?"
"Put it on my tab." He sneered.
Penguin walked away towards the girls who finally began to get up and compose themselves, except Lark who still held her hand tightly with blood dripping onto the floor. They all walked towards the door and Branden got back up to walk towards them to hold open the door and escort them back outside. Black Mask growled underneath his breath as he walked towards Shego who looked towards him. He then opened up his checkbook and wrote a 'small' check of 5 million on it and handed it to Shego. Who took it with pride and placed it in her union suit's inner pocket close to her breast.
"Don't cash it until we have confirmation from the Drak-Eraser." Black Mask ordered.
"You got it." Shego agreed.
"23 million. Got it?" Black Masked shouted towards the Penguin. Who walked behind the girls and looked towards his opponent. Tonight was a slap to the face but even still it would be worth it to have all of Gotham in his control. So long as no one speaks of this night of embarrassment.
"23 Million…" he sneered exiting the room.
