Ch. 21
The pungent stench of mildew emanated heavily from the dungeon walls. At rat dashed into the shadows as Batman stirred from his sleep. Slowly he took note of his surroundings. He was on a wooden bench in a stone room. There were no windows, only a set of steel bars on one side, through which he could see a hallway lit with halogen lamps, an anachronism with the rest of his medieval surroundings. It seemed safe to assume he was in Dorian's castle, though he didn't recognize this room. There weren't many castles on the island.
His cough echoed throughout the dungeon. This place was too damp; he was going to catch pneumonia. Especially without anything to keep him warm and dry.
Like a shirt. He finally realized he'd been stripped to his boots and pants. His belt and all his gadgets were gone. They'd been thorough about defanging him. Everything was gone, every tool confiscated, every secret pocket emptied. Wait…then what about…he felt his face. His mask was still there.
Over the last few years he'd built safeguards into his mask, like the ones in his belt. But none of them had been activated. He could tell by just running his hand over it. They hadn't even tried to take it off. Maybe an insane Arkam inmate wouldn't care about his identity outside of Batman, but why would Deadshot, Deathstroke, or whoever hired them for that manner, not at least take a peak?
He stood up from the bench, and quickly balanced himself. He walked to the bars, and was surprised to see no guards. What? Were they understaffed? Maybe they were down the hall. He called out, his voice echoing against the stone walls.
The sound of footsteps came from out of sight. Unable to fit his head through the bars, he stood and waited until an armored man, his mask pulled back, came into view.
"So, you're finally awake. I'm paying those amateurs to leave me alone with you by the hour. You were starting to put a strain on my account."
"Where's Batgirl?"
"In another part of the building. Try to escape, and we'll kill her."
"Who hired you?"
"You're not in a position to pry my client's name from me this time Batman." Lawton's look grew cold. "You know, after the failed Aquaman hit, my cred took a considerable fall. I haven't forgotten that."
"No, I suppose you haven't. But I'm surprised…" He looked back and forth, and then seemed to whisper. "I guess Amanda Waller isn't paying much these days."
Deadshot turned his back to him. "Don't know what you're talking about. Don't worry by the way, no bugs, or cameras in here."
"Task Force X ring a bell? Project Cadmus? How's Clock King? Or do they not talk to you much after you left Plastique to die in Justice League Headquarters?"
"You know as well as I do that Cadmus is kaput. The government's through trying to kill superheroes."
"I also know that your service was four years. Don't expect me to believe they just let you go after they saved you from the electric chair."
"So you think that the government is doing this?"
"No, I think Waller has you undercover. You're here to spy on whoever is behind this."
He continued to look away, but Batman could almost sense his smile as he spoke, "And if I was?"
"Then we're both here on the same mission, whether you like it or not. If you won't tell me what you know, at least relay a message to Waller for me."
He turned, smiling wickedly. "Believe me Batman, you'd better hope you're wrong. Because you see, working for the people running this freak show? I can't just kill you. They want you alive for the moment; someone even insisted we not unmask you. Strange huh? Much as it pains me, it would kill my cred even further to break my contract for a personal grudge."
He leaned a bit closer, "But if I work for Waller…maybe I could just tell her they're making biological weapons here. Maybe I'd get her to just bomb this place until nothing is left."
"No one will know you killed me."
Deadshot's voice was icy, "I'd know…" He paused for a moment, then stood up straight, composing himself. "Fortunately, you're wrong. It's just me. After I finish with you I'm heading toward the west side of the island to go hunting for…well, I'm not supposed to divulge these sorts of things but I figure you're smart enough to figure it out for yourself."
"They're performing genetic experiments here and they've gotten out of hand. Now they want you and Deathstroke to hunt them down."
"You're good. Well, I've got to go; Slade's already got a head start on me. But I'm sure I can catch up. I just wanted to be here to tell you one thing." He became serious again for a minute. "Think about this while you're sitting there. Twice I've had you in my sights, and twice I pulled the trigger. The first time Superman did his faster-than-a-speeding-bullet thing. This time the only thing that kept you alive was my word to my boss. You might say I got lucky, but trust me: Someday, I'll have you in my crosshairs again. There won't be anyone to save you. And I won't be packing tranquillizers. And you'll be dead."
They stared for a moment. Finally, Deadshot turned to leave. But Batman suddenly spoke up. "Maybe. Maybe it'll be you. Maybe Two-Face. Maybe one stray bullet from one alley punk with a gun. It doesn't matter. I knew what the stakes were the day I put on this mask. You shoot me, my only regret is that I didn't put more scum like you away."
Deadshot waved his hand dismissively. "Save your voice. I hear the man in charge here wants to talk to you anyway, so maybe you'll get some of your answers. Until then, enjoy your stay. I can't tell you everything they have planned for you, but I'm betting before it's done, you'll wish they'd let me kill you."
It'd been a full day. From dawn till dusk, they'd been practicing, learning maneuvers. Selina had forgotten that Dorian had not merely made Tygrus, but saw that he was trained in the arts of combat, hunting, and even jungle warfare to a degree. It was clear now that Dorian had not truly meant for Tygrus to be a "mindless" beast. In fact, he desired his mind have all the problem solving, adaptive skills of mankind's devastating intelligence. Such things would only make him a more efficient, deadlier killer. It was human empathy he had wished to keep him from. The heart, not the mind, made creatures weak in Dorian's philosophy.
They had dismissed for the day, and the pride had scattered across the valley. The two former military members seemed to be practicing one of the moves Tygrus had taught that morning, a quick, lethal thrust to the throat, in one of the few openings in the mercenaries' armor. Dot seemed to be having a concerned conversation with Cheetah, while everyone else, save Paul who was out on watch, and Tygrus who had gone off on his own, was engaged in activities in the river. The younger cats splashed around playfully, while the older ones tried their hand at grasping fish. Selina contented herself with washing the day's grime from her fur. Stepping out of the water, she fell to all fours and shook the wetness from her. She was getting better at it. Glancing at her reflection in the water, it struck her how unkempt she looked. Selina hadn't given a tremendous amount of thought to her appearance over the last few weeks, but it struck her that even if she was an abomination from nature at the moment, there was no reason she had to be untidy. She straightened her fur out, licking in down in few places, and gave herself another look. Not bad, all things considered, she thought. The other cats were beginning to crowd her. She should go check on Tygrus. Just to see what he was doing. He shouldn't be alone. She stood up from the river bank and began walking up toward the hill where she had last seen him. The Cheetah met her half way there. Her eyes were narrow, ears turned back.
"Going to see Tygrus again? You've been spending quite a bit of time together. I guess you've got to get in your time with him before we break into the castle and find a cure. That is what you're still looking to do right?"
"It's no business of yours."
Minerva moved in closer, slowly showing more teeth as she spoke. "I can accept competition, I'm not as keen on being deceived."
"What? You think this is a game? Barbara we're fighting for our lives here. Now is not the time to start some stupid high school drama."
The Cheetah smiled, "C'mon Catwoman, don't be naïve. We're always fighting more than one war. Besides…we're cats, not pack order loving dogs. It's not in our blood. We're all playing along with Tygrus because we know he's the strongest. He's best chance each of us individual organisms have for surviving." She started to circle Selina menacingly. "Honestly Kyle, I would have thought you'd get it. You never cared to play the human 'game.' Society's rules and could never satisfy you. You never stole for cash. You did it for the thrill, to rebel against a world that wanted to domesticate you. But here, we're back to basics. Yes Selina, it's a game, the ultimate game. To survive, to adapt, to bring others under your influence…and ultimately, passing on your DNA with the best possible candidate. Don't look so disgusted. It's life at its most pure, stripped from all the petty things we add on because some are too weak to face the fearsome, wonderfully grisly truth."
"Well, that was quite a speech. I was beginning to wonder if you were ready to turn in your super villain membership card." Catwoman said after a few seconds of contemplating snarkier responses.
"Don't make me laugh. We're both villains Catwoman. Cut through all the crap and you liked Batman for the same reason we both like Tygrus: We recognize an alpha male when we see it."
Selina fought back rage, though the growing smile on the Cheetah's face told her she felt she was getting to her. "Don't act like you know him. Or Tygrus for that matter."
"And I suppose you think you know Tygrus? You've seen him for what, for days of time including all those years back?"
"I know enough to know you'd be disappointed."
"We'll see."
After a pregnant pause, Selina exhaled and simply shook her head. "Look, whatever you think, I just thought Tygrus could use some company. If that bugs you so much you can come along and we'll discuss strategy for tomorrow."
Before she could respond, the young panther...what was his name? Tom came running up the hill. "I hate to interrupt, but we have a situation involving Yolanda."
"Who?" Cheetah asked.
"The middle aged, shorter…the lady who was a lynx remember? She has a problem."
"Sebastian's a doctor too you know."
"It's a…woman problem she says."
Barbara placed her head in her hands for a moment, muffling a frustrated curse.
"Fine. I'll be right there." She turned to Selina. "You know what? Go do what you want. I get what I need eventually. And we all know you're just setting Tygrus up for disappointment anyway."
The Cheetah stormed off to toward the water, with Tom hanging significantly behind her.
Selina looked back up the hill, then back to the river. Perhaps, despite it all, Dr Minerva had a point. Maybe she should avoid being alone with Tygrus. It'd just confuse him about her desires. When she was around him, she felt a bit confused herself. It was for the best.
She heard a distinct rustle in the grass just over the hill, and looked up to see Tygrus peaking out over the horizon.
"Selina! Could you come up here? I wish to speak with you."
Tygrus apparently had something he wanted to tell her…maybe she could ask him to wait until…phft, forget that.
"I'll be right up!"
