A/N: 2022.08.07

UGH! Working so much makes it easy to write but HARD to edit! That and trying to watch One Piece.

I hope you guys are ready for more!

Chapter 20

After seeing Max home, Basem returned to his home, parking his motorcycle in the garage. He walked into the house, heading for his and Sally's bedroom. But he stopped when he saw Sally's office light was on. He chuckled and walked to the door. He opened it and saw Sally sitting on the floor and reading a book, with a gaggle of books strewn about the room and her computer having all kinds of data on screen. It reminded Basem of when he and Sally were just friends and when they were just dating. Whenever Sally was focused on a subject, nothing could stop her until she got the answers she was looking for.

It was one thing, among many, Basem always loved about her.

"Bane's a lot stronger than the history vids show," Sally said, immediately. "Even stronger than Bruce ever said. For Bane to be this strong, his suit must be feeding him a constant stream of Venom. Maybe it's modified. Suit, too, now that I think about it. Maybe that's how he became young again. He must've found a way around all of Venom's negative side effects. I mean, it only makes sense. Bane would want every advantage he could think of and he'd be the only one who could figure it out."

Basem smiled. "The kids still with Chelsea?"

"Yeah." Sally flipped through the pages of another book, "We'll take 'em to Kane County in the morning." She tossed the book aside and picked up another one, "Where is that stuff about advance biogenetics?"

Basem scoffed. "You're really not going with them, are you?"

"Of course not," Sally looked at computer screen, then back at her book. "I was never gonna and neither was Max. Even if you and Terry wouldn't shut up about it."

Basem laughed. "I love you."

"Yeah, yeah, love you, too," Sally replied, quickly. "Pick up a book and start reading. We need to find a way to counteract Bane's Venom and beat the brakes off that son of a bitch."

"You're hot when you're angry."

"If you're trying to get in the mood… it's working, but not now!"

Michelle rode the elevator up to the loft. She was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed while her mind dwelled on the situation. When she made the decision to come to Gotham, she never dreamed of something like this. She knew there would be days it would be tough but nothing like this. Her concern grew for the men she saw as brothers, the women she saw as sisters, and the man she loved more than anything.

And for the only father she knew, aside from Uncle Mitch.

Bruce had been out of Michelle's mind until just now. She did her best to keep herself from feeling too much grief, repeatedly telling herself that she didn't have the right to feel that way. No matter how much his approaching death was hurting her.

The elevator arrived at the loft's floor and the door opened. She walked into the living room, finding Hayate standing at the bay windows and staring out of the windows.

Hayate was doing all he could to focus, with his rage toward Bane and Ghost-Wing being the most prevalent in his mind. He was anger at Bane for his crimes and Ghost-Wing for his arrogance. He was so focused on calming down he barely even heard Michelle come in.

Michelle wanted to talk to Hayate but stopped. Given everything that happened tonight, he probably wasn't in the mood for her or any kind of joke she might make. Despite all this time and the progress of their relationship, Michelle was convinced she wasn't at all good at making Hayate feel better if it wasn't in a sexual way; not in moments like this. Then again, they had never faced a moment this dire.

So she stopped again, deciding she had to try. She walked behind him.

"We're going to get him," Michelle declared. It was all she could think to say. "We're gonna beat him. We're taking this bastard down!"

Hayate nodded a bit.

"And… and Terry's gonna be okay. Just 'cause Ghost-Wing's an idiot doesn't mean we can't beat Bane. I mean, it's gonna be hard. But… we're gonna… figure this out. I mean… we always do. Right? I mean… you guys always do. I just kinda… ya know, burn stuff and… make bad, inappropriate jokes. And… and… I'm… gonna stop talking now." She turned to leave.

"Michelle."

She stopped and looked back at him.

Hayate turned and looked at her. He smiled. "Thank you."

Michelle gasped a bit as her heart skipped a beat. That happened frequently when he smiled at her.

"It's always impressive when your fire burns in your heart even brighter than in your hands."

Michelle smiled, blushing a bit. "Sweet-talker."

He held his hand out. She walked over and took hold of it, interlocking their fingers.

"Sorry for…" Michelle began, "…really sucking at trying to help."

"Exactly the opposite," Hayate replied. "I mean it. Thank you."

"This is about to get bad… isn't it?"

"Very."

She smiled. "Well. Don't worry. I'll protect you."

He smiled back. "Thank you. I'm more than sure I'm going to need it."

On their yacht, Kailyn was dressing Alfred's wounds. Despite her rage, she couldn't get over the fact that he was wounded. Part of her just felt the urge to help him.

Even if it was for the last time.

Alfred could feel Kailyn's subtle, and slightly overt, rage. "Kay…" Alfred began.

"Shut up," Kailyn kept wrapping gauze around his core.

"I just…"

"Shut… the hell up!" Kailyn tightened the gauze and finished up. "I have nothing to say to you. I'm going to watch out for Basem and his family. Do whatever you want." She stood up and started to leave.

Alfred rushed to his feet, wincing as he did so. "Kay…"

Kailyn turned around in a rage, "You know what's funny?! You know what's really funny?! I can't even blame all of this on you! I treated Terry and his team like shit, too! We disrespected Terry and Michelle and downgraded them and we accused Basem and Hayate of wasting their time! Our attitudes have been an issue for damned long time! Neither of us can say shit about it coming back to bite us! I'm not even mad about that! But since when, since when, SINCE WHEN do we let innocent die to prove a point?! When the hell did that start?!"

Alfred stopped, looking around nervously.

"You called out Bane?! Alone?! This guy's got Switchblade under his thumb but you thought fighting him alone was a good idea?! And why?! Just because you wanna be better than Batman?! Better than Terry?!" Kailyn looked off, taking a breath. She turned her gaze back to Alfred. "Maybe you are a better fighter than him, Al. Maybe you're a better strategist, detective, all of it. But… Batman… Terry… he's proving himself to be a really good man. And that? That matters more than anything." Kailyn started to leave again.

"Kay."

Kailyn stopped.

"I'm sorry."

Kailyn closed her eyes and exhaled. She turned around. "No. You're not. I'm done. Okay? We're done. I'm staying in Gotham until we take down Bane. After that… I'm going my own way. Good-bye, Al." She left the yacht.

Crestfallen, Alfred just sat back down on his couch and bowed his head, struggling on decided on what to do next.

The following day saw Basem and Sally take Stevie and Auggie to the Kane County house. Basem put the napping boys in one of the bedrooms. He stared at them with a smile, patting their heads before, quietly, leaving and closing the door behind him.

Basem walked into the common room where Bruce, Diana, and Sally were waiting, and Sally was giving Bruce a quick checkup.

"Max and Helena are gonna kill me if they find out you weren't in bed, Bruce," Basem pointed out.

"I already read him that riot act," Sally continued checking his vitals. She put her equipment away, "Your vitals are decent, Bruce. I'd tell you to stay away from the news while this Bane business gets handled, but you won't listen to me."

"Or me," Diana raised an eyebrow.

"Glad all of you know me that well," Bruce smiled.

Ace came over to Basem, who scratched the dog behind the ears. "Are you ready, Sal?" Basem asked.

"Yeah," Sally packed up the last of her stuff.

"Be a good boy, Ace," Basem instructed, causing Ace to bark.

"I wish you'd stay with the boys, Sally," Bruce admitted.

"Nope," Sally replied. "Not until Bane's done. Then, I promise, I'll give those boys the biggest hugs these arms can give them. So much they're gonna be scarred at least until their teenage years!"

"You'll still be hugging them in their teenage years," Diana smiled.

"And beyond!" Sally joked. "Hence the scarring."

Bruce smiled. "Worse things can happen."

Helena and Lincoln were sitting at Helena's table, drinking coffee. While they had made some small conversation, they had been relatively quiet for most of the time.

"How's your dad?" Lincoln asked, hesitantly.

"As well as he can be." Helena had a sad smile come across her face. "Do you know how long… it took me to even get to know my father so I'd be concerned about him?" She laughed, bitterly. "I mean… it's funny, right? I wanted to have a father. I got it. I got exactly what I wanted." She smiled, sadly, as tears fell. "And now… just like that… it's all about to go away."

Lincoln reached his hand out to hold hers but stopped, closing his hand into a fist. "All you can do… is enjoy the time you have left with him. Part of me just has to believe… that's all he wants."

"You're right. I know you're right. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Helena smiled. "You wanted to hold my hand just now, didn't you?"

Lincoln paused, searching for the best way to answer. "I… don't think I should… it was nothing. I'm sorry. That was… a line. I'm sorry I almost crossed it. I…"

Lincoln stopped talking when Helena offered her hand to him.

"Helena…"

"It's okay, Lincoln," Helena declared, quietly.

Lincoln took hold of her hand.

"I…" Helena said. "I… really want to… thank you for how you've been there for me. I know I'm taking a lot of time away from you and Tia."

"She's always busy, anyway," Lincoln reassured. "And… I… wanted to be here."

"There's more… I want to say… but… I don't think I'm ready to say it. And… I really don't think I'm ready for any reaction you'd have to it."

Lincoln gazed at her and nodded. "When you're ready… I'll be ready."

"It… might be a while."

Lincoln shrugged a bit. "The best things are worth waiting for."

The rest of the day came with silence from Bane's camp. Valerie was on all cylinders, trying to find Bane and his soldiers. Barbara even tentatively returned to work to help coordinate. Mike was driving between Wayne Enterprises, Terry and Max's home, and Tiana's home, keeping an eye on everything.

That evening, as twilight was settling on Gotham, Terry and the team met in the Machine Shop to strategize again. Kailyn even joined them; a decision that was mutually agreed upon by the whole team, given how helpful she had been lately. Max, Sally, and Helena were present, as well, with Tiana in attendance via video call.

"I'm spent," Terry rubbed his eyes as he sat in a chair.

"No one blames you, brother," Basem admitted.

Terry dropped his hand and let out an exhausted sigh. "It's just been one thing after another. Have I been… taking it out on you guys?"

"Are you kidding?" Michelle asked. "You've been holding it together so well, I thought I was doing something wrong."

"You've held it together, as well, my lovely," Hayate noted.

"On the surface, maybe. I've been a wreck, mentally. I mean… more so than usual."

"You certainly don't show it," Kailyn declared.

Michelle looked at Kailyn. Then nodded, respectfully, "'Preciate that."

Kailyn returned the nod.

"It's like watching Rocky and Drago become friends," Basem joked.

"Can it, Clubber!" Michelle fired back.

"Why do I have to be the one-off character?!"

"Still played by Mr. T," Terry pointed out.

Basem looked at Terry in a momentary silence. "You're being nice to me. That feels… just so wrong. You really are going through it."

Terry shrugged. "I'm guessing… I'm not the only one fighting the urge to breakdown sometimes."

"Certainly not, Terry," Hayate reassured. "We're all… struggling, I suppose is the right word."

"Definitely," Max agreed.

"It's been so crazy lately," Sally said. "And we're not even done yet."

"But we can make it," Helena declared. "We're in this together. I mean… I know… I'm the newest addition to the party. But… if I can help, I'll do whatever it takes."

"You're awesome, Helena," Michelle declared.

"I'm not sure about that. I've been more a mess than Terry."

"Yeah, but you're hot. So, it's okay."

"I'm not hot?!" Terry asked, feigning offense.

"I mean…" Michelle shrugged. "…eh."

"Well! I never!"

"No, you have before," Max pointed out. "You just don't anymore because you have me."

"That was somehow an insult and a compliment," Terry replied. "How do you do that?"

"I'm a genius. Duh."

Kailyn smiled. "Hey, Basem, Hayate."

Basem and Hayate looked at her.

"I get it. I'm sorry. For everything."

"Don't worry about it," Basem replied.

"All is well, Kailyn," Hayate added.

Tiana saw a notification. "Hey, guys. We're getting a call from Dick Grayson."

"Hopefully, he's got news," Max said, with some optimism in her voice.

"Put him through, please," Terry said to Tiana.

"Not a problem." Tiana hit a few keys and Dick's image appeared in a split screen.

"Hey, all," Dick greeted, receiving greetings in return. "Look, I know you're busy and you want this info, but let me say I heard about Alfred. I'll deal with that when I can."

"Don't even bother," Kailyn growled.

Dick sighed. "I digress. Like I said, I know you're all insanely busy! But you gotta hear this."

"You found out how Bane came back!" Hayate surmised.

"Oh, boy, did I! To start, I know exactly how he's back young again. He used a Lazarus Pit."

"I HATE THOSE DAMN THINGS!" Terry yelled, immediately.

"Yeah, I've never been a fan, either," Dick admitted.

"How the hell did get to a freakin' Lazarus Pit?" Basem asked.

"Easiest way." Dick typed a bit, showing the picture of the Athanasia and Ikram. "These two? They're none other than Ra's al Ghul's son and granddaughter. Ikram and Athanasia al Ghul."

Everyone froze.

"Ho! Lee! SHIT!" Max exclaimed.

"Oh, but it gets better!" Dick continued. "Turns out Scourge started out as the last gasp of the Society of Shadows. Word is… that's not the case anymore."

"They're all loyal to Bane," Hayate deduced.

"Hayate with the gold star! Aside from the Society and the mercs they've recruited from around the world, the rest of the Scourge come from Bane's old prison. His own cult. He's like a legend there."

Terry stopped. "If the Scourge isn't a new version of the Society… then that means Bane's not trying to be Ra's al Ghul. This… this really is all about Gotham!" He blinked. "Wait. It's about more than that."

"What do you mean?" Michelle asked.

"It's how Bane's been talking, how he's been acting. This is about Gotham… and proving he can beat Batman."

Max stared at Terry. "Do you realize how much just made sense once you said that?!"

"Do you know how much made sense once I realized it?" Terry countered. He paced. "Ikram and Athanasia probably wanted Bane to be Ra's. Bane… never wanted to be Ra's al Ghul. But he convinced the Society he did. Then… he showed his true colors."

"Guess they liked his plan better." Michelle shrugged, "I would."

"Word is Athanasia isn't any follower of Ra's," Dick added.

Everyone looked at Dick. "Meaning?" Sally asked.

"Her and Bane are married."

"OH, MY GOD!" Max, Sally, and Helena shouted.

"That's who his wife is?!" Basem shouted. He thought for a moment. "That's who Rene was talking about."

"And, now, a lot more makes sense," Terry pondered.

Michelle leaned back, folded her arms, and scoffed. "Sounds like she cared less for the Ra's legacy and more for Bane's co…"

"Dammit, Shell!" Basem interrupted, causing Dick to laugh.

"Why are psychopaths always able to find spouses?" Tiana asked.

"Hey!" Terry and Basem shouted.

"You two aren't psychopaths. You're crazy but not that crazy."

"Gee," Terry said, drolly. "Thanks…"

Tiana smiled.

"Dick, if you don't mind my asking, how'd you learn all this?" Max asked.

"Don't mind at all," Dick smiled. "After most of my other leads came up dry, I talk to Nyssa."

"Glad to hear she's okay," Terry smiled.

"Her and Fawzi are better than ever. The second I told her this was to help you guys out, she worked this harder than I did. I told her three weeks ago, she had, at least, one lead two hours after I asked."

"Damn, she's good."

"And scary," Dick added. "She actually found some old Society members and got 'em to talk. She didn't tell me how and, for my own sanity, I didn't ask."

"Probably the right move," Sally admitted.

"Okay," Basem nodded. "So… Bane wants Gotham. How? And why? What's the next play?"

Terry stopped. "All the stuff he stole. We got a list of that, right?"

Tiana typed a bit. "I'd been compiling a record of what we knew for sure he took and some of thefts we highly suspected he was behind."

"Can we combine those and see what we get?"

"Way ahead of you, Terry. Give me a sec."

"What is your thought process, Terry?" Hayate asked.

"That Bane has been planning something big all this time," Terry answered. "Something that would give him the edge and prove he can take down Batman and control Gotham."

"Some of what we stole probably had to do with his new Venom," Max noted.

"Venom was studied about 40 years ago," Sally explained. "For all the progress they made, geneticists couldn't find a way around its negative side effects."

"Clearly couldn't stop Bane."

"For real!"

"Alright, I've got something," Tiana announced. "And… it's worrying."

A 3-D image appeared for an airship. Slowly, the realization came over the team.

"Holy…" Michelle breathed out.

"A ship," Hayate whispered.

Terry thought it over. "The 'Joyride' case. But worse."

"Wasn't that that time some Jokerz stole an airship and tore through Gotham?" Max asked.

"Yup. Not a fun night."

"So, if this is his plan," Basem began, "what's next?"

Tiana looked off for a moment. Her eyes widened. "Uhhhhhh… guys?"

She showed another screen on the monitor. The screen was of nothing but static.

"What's that, Tia?" Max asked.

"That's the news channel," Tiana explained. "The feed is interrupted. Oh. Oh, crap."

"What?" Terry asked.

"All of the news stations' signals are being hijacked. I can't locate the source."

Max tried to do the same on the Shop computer but wasn't having any better luck. Further investigation proved that it was not only the news stations, but transmissions all over Gotham were suddenly interrupted. Everyone stared at the screen in anticipation.

Max looked over at Terry, noting a hard intensity in his gaze. "Terry?" she whispered, nervously.

"It's him," Terry declared, quietly.

Suddenly, Bane appeared, standing in a darkened room.

"Oh, hell…" Basem whispered.

"Citizens of Gotham City," Bane began. "Greetings. You may not know me, you may not remember me. But soon… I will be the only name you need to know. However, there may, indeed, be those old enough or educated enough to remember me. Allow me to reassure you, I am the same man. For the rest of you, I shall introduce myself. I. Am. Bane. And I will control and rule Gotham."

The image on the screen shifted as a series of spotlights activated, revealing a giant metal airship.

"OH, SHIT!" Michelle shouted.

"That looks far worse than the model Tia showed us," Hayate said in horror.

"Way worse," Tiana confirmed.

"This is the Castellum," Bane continued. "It is the strongest aerial fortress in existence. It composed the greatest weapons system in existence. Created… by me. From this mighty fortress… I will rule Gotham. In two nights, at 9:00 PM… my bastion will rise and I will take control of this city and rule it as I see fit. Those who wish to run… you may run. Those who wish to stay and serve me… you will be welcome. And you will reap many rewards. Those who wish to stay and fight me… you will die. But there is one who will neither run… nor serve. He will fight. Yes, Batman, I am speaking to you."

Terry grunted. "All ears, asshole."

"I know you. I know you well. You will not run, Batman. You are no coward. You will fight me. But I make you this promise: you. Will. Die! Those who stand with you, who call you an ally, they will die with you. I warn all of those outside of Gotham… should you try to 'save' this city… should you try to aid Batman… I control a bomb that can destroy Gotham."

"HE'S GOT A WHAT?!" Sally shouted.

"Ohhhh…" Michelle erupted into a series expletives.

"This whole ordeal just became more complicated," Hayate declared.

"Just a bit," Terry agreed.

"I give you this final warning, Batman," Bane continued. "Run. Be the coward some believe you to be. Live a little longer. Accept that you are afraid. Accept you know you will fail. And walk away. As for you, Gotham… in 50 hours, you will fall under my will. You belong to me."

The transmission ended, leaving a hush over all of Gotham.

As the Gotham knights and the rest let out a collective concerned breath, they slowly turned their attention to Terry.

Terry held his glare at the screen. "I'm not going anywhere," he declared in his Batman tone. "Bring it on, you son of a bitch."

A/N: Now, we know. What comes next? Stay tuned!