Requiem
- Bat-Bunker -
The trio, comprised of Lucius, Lee and Blüd step out of the elevator and into the grounds of the lair. Jason wore his messenger bag over his shoulder as he takes out a stylized book and opens it. He looks down to see the pages within, "It may take some time, but I should be able to come up with something that can help with your situation. I just need to set up a place of operations, then I can take it from there," Lee and Lucius stop as they look out to the far reaches of the grounds, where they come into the sight of a familiar face.
"...Bruce?" Lucius asks surprised when Bruce comes into their view.
"My God. You're okay?" Lee Thompkins and Lucius go greet Bruce while Blüd remains, keeping his attention to the book and only the book. Bruce looks to them, shirtless and only wearing the bottom half of the Batsuit with the rest residing on the table next to him. His hair was messy and his body was sweating. His hands were wrapped with black bandages, "Bruce? Y-Your standing...? How is that possible? I thought you needed the Batsuit to-
"Is that a new suit?" Lucius eyes over the rest of the costume from the side. He goes directly to the table to examine the costume, "This suit... it's like nothing that I've seen before. How did you make this?" he looks back over to Bruce.
Bruce was brooding with conviction, showing no signs of being happy to see the three. His eyes were cold and his body language masterfully reflects his inner thoughts, "As good as it is to see you guys again, I think we have more pressing matters than playing catch-up. Lucius, I need to look at the Wayne Industries Satellite."
"Mr Wayne? Is there something wrong? Why the sudden interest in your company's satellite?" Lucius asks Bruce.
"Hold on, Bruce. What about those murders from last night? Jason here thinks the killers come from some island called-"
"Themyscira. I know. During my time as being a part of the League of Shadows, I heard all kinds of secrets. Some of which... I wish I hadn't. We can deal with that later, right now... our main priority is to look at the satellite," Bruce picks up a towel from the side and places it around his shoulders.
Blüd lifts his gaze from the book in hand, "Are you sure that's a wise move? Legends say that the Amazons just don't leave. For them to come to Man's world is worry enough. They could be after something or someone. Either way, we can presume that they'll return."
Bruce looks up to Jason, "*They* got more than they bargained for. There were three of them, but only one was left standing. Whoever she was after, I doubt she will be in a hurry to try going after them again. We should take the time that we have to follow through with any loose ends."
"And just how does the Wayne Industries' satellite fit into those loose ends?" Lee asks.
Bruce folds his arms, "Whatever is going on with Gotham, I have reason to believe that it has something to do with my company's satellite. Last year, I took a briefcase from Sofia Falcone. Inside it was schematics for the satellite. The only way that she could've got her hands on them is for her to have someone high-up in my company on her payroll."
"I understand the concern, but why now?" Lucius asks, unclear of Bruce's motive, "Why are you suddenly focusing on that now right at this moment? There's something that you're not telling us, isn't there?"
Bruce dismisses the man's worry, "Listen. I need you to hack into it and check for any irregularities. I didn't come here to play twenty questions. I'm going to need you to trust me."
"It would be easier if you would tell us where you've been for the past month, and why you can stand. How can you expect us to trust you when you are refusing to return the courtesy," Lee directs at Bruce. The billionaire runs his hands through his hair as he glares at her.
"I don't know what you thought you were getting yourself into, but this isn't a team. This is my mission and mine alone. If you aren't willing to accept that, then feel free to leave. I don't have to explain anything to you, understand?" Bruce turns his back to Lee and throws the towel on the table.
Lucius was caught off guard by his boss's sudden remarks, "She's just worried about you, Bruce. We all are-"
"Speak for yourself," Blüd comments from the side-lines.
"-As I was saying, you were gone for a whole month. We looked everywhere for you but we couldn't locate you. We... honestly was expecting the worse."
Bruce steps closer to Lucius, "I'm going to ask you one more time, hack into the satellite. I don't want any questions asked."
"I want to trust you, Mr Wayne. But I need you to be clear with me. Just what am I looking for?" Lucius tries to pry information from Bruce.
Bruce slowly nods with a glare, "I see. Very well, I can do it instead. Lucius, Lee - I want you out of the Bunker now. And once you leave, I'm going to revoke your access codes. This-This isn't working. I tried to do it how Alfred wanted, but I just-just can't. It's far too dangerous for anyone else to be apart of this. This... this as we are... it's over. I should have never involved you in this. I can't even count on you to trust my judgement."
"We're a team, Bruce. Of course, we need to be able to trust you, that's the core fundamental of a team," Lee counters.
"We were never a team. This wasn't a club. This is life and death. Do you not get it? Lives at are stake when ever I leave the bunker. This is my fight and mine alone. I should have realized this sooner... now get out. I have work to do and you'll only get in my way," Bruce coldly tells the three as he soon turns his back on them. Lee and Lucius both revolt with disdain as they slowly leave the Bunker, with Blüd who stood, staring at Bruce from behind.
"You got something to add?" the Vigilante asks, aware of the auburn-haired man's actions.
" Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. You are playing a dangerous game," Blüd returns his book to the messenger bag.
"That's where you're wrong," Bruce keeps his gaze straight, "I've already fallen."
"So it appears," Jason follows after the other two.
Once the three left, they were walking through the main lobby with Jason taking the lead, "Well that went splendidly. If you would excuse me, I need to make my return to the study," he separates from the group. Lee and Lucius look at each other. Jason wipes his forehead as he feels himself suddenly sweat uncontrollably.
"You think that we should've stood our ground more against him?" Lee asks Lucius, "He's obviously scared. Scared that one of us could get hurt... or worse. Just what happened to him?"
"I don't know If there's a right answer here. There's a part of me that thinks it's best to follow his wishes... but-"
"There's a part of you that is telling you that he's making a terrible mistake? Same here," Lee agrees, "I was aware that Bruce was never the happiest guy... but what I saw in him just now... it's like he's been to hell and back. Maybe he needs some time to cool off, to sort himself out..."
"You're right. I still can't reach Alfred... if there was a single person that could reach Bruce it would be-," Lucius and Lee both turn towards the doors to the ground floor and see that Jason Blüd had fallen, now lying on the ground. They hear gasps coming from the people surrounding him. The duo makes their way to the downed man, "Blüd? What happened... are you alright?"
"A man collapses and you care to ask if he's *alright*?, " Blüd lifts himself up and holds his chest, "A cunning one you are... this isn't good. I knew I should've come for the book when I had the chance...," he looks to the two, "Selina Kyle. Take me to her, now!"
"...Why?" Lee asks as she goes to check the man's temperature but her hand was swiped away by the same man.
"She just unleashed something... something... evil."
Meanwhile
Across Gotham
"Barb! So I ruined the sweet popcorn, but there is still the salted flavour? You wanna go halves on-," Selina steps out into the living room. She shudders when her eyes land upon the sight of the unconscious girl lying on the ground. Her eyes twitch and she feels a coldness run up her body, "BARB!" she screams. Selina runs to the girl and lifts her head over her arm. Selina picks up on the girl's nose bleed along with the new-found coldness that her flesh took. Selina then notices the newly opened silver book on the side.
"Barb? Barb...? BARB! Can-can you hear me? For the love of god answer me!" Selina shakes the girl.
"...A-aunt S-s-s-Selina...? Why is it... - so... c-c-cold...?" the young girl struggles to breathe.
"Hush, Barb. You're going to be alright, I promise!," Selina cries as she reaches over to the stand and picks up her phone, "Everything's going to be okay. Everything's going to be okay. Everything... is going to be okay!" she flips open her phone and one-handily dials for help, "...I need to help...! My friend's daughter... she's... I don't know what... it's bad. She's barely breathing... for the love of... please get here fast... please... hurry..."
Bat-Bunker
Bruce sits at the Bat-Computer, looking through the files on the Satellite, "Wayne Industries model 003-04, or more prominently known as *Operation Watchtower*, is a leading state of the art communications array, far superior than any other in orbit. It cost nearly 4 Billion to make and to send out into orbit. It was finished and sent into orbit while I was away from Gotham, which means It wasn't me who gave the green light to do so, Lucius doesn't have that kind of authority within the company, neither does Alfred...," he thinks to himself and he continues to delve into the blueprints "So that leaves one single question, who gave permission to launch it into orbit? And just what are they using it for?"
"Nyssa believes that someone in my company is feeding Sofia information, I have a feeling that she might be right about it. The best thing to do right now is to discover who the mole is. It would have to be someone high-up, most likely just a few levels below me. They would need to have a certain amount of influence, enough to even rival mine or to simply come close to it," Bruce then brings up multiple images of the hierarchy of Wayne Enterprise.
"That leaves the board of directors. I need to look into every single member and try to find anything that would draw suspicion," Bruce hears footsteps coming from behind him but willingly ignores them, "So you know how to get into the bunker too?" he sees the reflection of Nyssa on the screen.
Nyssa pulls down her hood and folds her arms, "I see you've finally started your search for the culprit," she grins, leaning over and resting her hands on the console, "Like me, your distrust falls upon the board. Now, which is the one that has infested your company? I see that my dear sister bought her way into the board, so that is one possibility eliminated. That is still 24 possible traitors," Nyssa tells Bruce, "So what just is going to be your process for deciding?"
"I'm setting the Bat-Computer to look into their backgrounds. Any black marks against their name. If there's something to be found, it will be discovered."
"For that many people...? Even with your precious technology, it would take hours at the least. When it comes to situations like this, every second is to be made the most of. Am I making myself clear?," Nyssa's eyes then lock onto an image of a woman on the Bat-computer, "I believe that we have a winner."
"Is that right?," Bruce stands, "Just what makes you think that?"
Nyssa grins and holds her chin up, "First you must answer my own query. Just when was your last board meeting, one where you also went to?"
"When your sister forced Mr Dolton to sign his place on the board to her. Around six months ago," Bruce answers.
"So you wouldn't know if the board is the same as when you last saw them, is that correct to presume?" Nyssa leans forward taps her gloved hand against the image of one of the board members, "Surely you recognize this face."
Bruce looks over the image, studying it. The image was of a woman of Asian descent with long raven hair, then it finally clicked, "Shiva?"
"Or as she is calling herself now: Sandra Woosan. The sneaky little bitch was always a chore to locate. Allowing for herself to be found so easily... well... it's obviously a sign that she wants you to find her," Nyssa comments, pulling up her hood, "Get yourself dressed. We have some business that we must see to."
Bruce folds his arms, "And you think that I'm letting you come because...?"
"And you believe that I'm giving you a choice because...? Seriously, Bruce. You are a fool to believe that I'm only doing this for your benefit," she reaches behind her back and twists her hand around the hilt of her sword, "Well then, we should make our way. She is bound to not make it easy..."
"We don't even know if she's in the city. It'll take some time to locate her."
"It's very fortunate that I have already done the leg work then. She is indeed in the city, she and her faction of the League is already waiting for us. Prepare yourself for a fight."
Elliot Memorial Hospital
A tear stricken Selina watches over Barbara Lee. The woman holds her hand in the girl's own. There was complete silence through the room, even the ward which was made more apparent by the bleeps coming from the monitor. Barely a footstep transpired from outside the room. To Selina, it felt like it was just her and Barb alone. It must have been minutes before she heard any form of movement, this case was someone heading towards the room.
Tommy Elliot walks in, dressed in his lab coat over a light-blue shirt. He held a chart in hand. He walks over to Selina as shows a concerned look, "Miss Kyle, right? Do you have any word on the girl's mother?"
"What's wrong with her?" Selina ignored the man's question and threw her own at him, "Is she going to be okay?"
Tommy looks around the room, "It's best if I were to converse with her mother. It's nothing personal but I'm required to discuss matters with her legal guardian. Letting you even wait in here is already violating rules as it is."
"She's not picking up. I've already tried her over ten times. She always has her phone off when she's working."
"Then what of her father? It says here that they have joint custody? If you would be able to provide his number, we'll be able to get down to this problem a lot sooner. I hope that you understand that I cannot just tell you private information. I'm going to need one of her parents to show... listen, I'll keep trying her mother but if I can't get hold of either her or her father soon... there could be some ramifications," Elliot explains as he saw the hurt in the woman's eyes.
"Ramifications... like consequences? What for?" Selina asks, her voice shaking.
Tommy hesitates before confiding for the woman. He sits down beside her and leans forward. He intertwines his fingers and turns to face Selina, "I know you from somewhere, right? You know Bruce. He would want me to tell you so here we go... knowing what we know, we believe it's best for CPS to be involved in this matter, for the mental health of Barbara"
"Child protective services? Why?" Selina questions, clearly still heartbroken.
"How is Barbara Lee's home life? Are her parents... on good terms?"
"-I don't understand. Just-what are you trying to say?"
Tommy leans back and rests his hands in his lap, "Miss Kyle, we have reason to believe that she is self-harming."
"...what? That's-that's... can't be..., she isn't like that...," Selina shakes.
"I am not legally allowed to show you these so please don't tell anyone that I did," Tommy unclips a sheet from the clipboard and hands it over to Selina, "When we were stabilizing her condition, one of the nurses thought she saw something. So after we determined that Barbara was in the clear, we checked to confirm if what she saw was right... and unfortunately, it was. Her arms have signs of being cut, we also believe to have identified some burn marks too..."
She didn't want to believe it. She was absolutely set on not believing it but... seeing is believing and with it, she now believed. Selina's hands shake as her eyes look at the image of the injuries, "...This... no... this can't... oh my god... that can't be... it can't..."
"I know it may be hard to accept, hell, I am having a hard enough time just telling you. But there it is. Barbara is self-harming, you can now see the reason to let CPS know about this. It's best for her mental health," Elliot stands, "Apart from that. Her condition is fine. She should be awake, she only has a mild fever. But she still hasn't woken up yet," he walks towards the door, "I'll keep trying her mother but CPS will need to get involved. So if I can't reach her... I'll have no choice but to just call them and let them take it from there."
"I just-just don't... I don't understand... why- why would she be doing that to herself? Just how...? W-why didn't a see-see this?" Selina set the images down on the chair next to her. She looks to the slumbering girl, watching her, "I didn't...even know..."
Tommy looks back to Selina as he places his hands on his hips, "There could be bounteous reasons for why she's doing it: bullying, broken home life, depression. I can't say for sure; I'm not a psychologist. Maybe you should try looking into one," he looks down to his front pocket of his coat as he hears bleeps. Thomas takes out his pager and reads the message, "I'm needed elsewhere. Take care...," he goes to leave. Stepping outside the room, he looks back to Selina, "I'm hoping for the best for her," with that he was gone.
Selina was once again in silence as she looks over Barbara Lee, "...Why.., Barb...? Why...?"
Chinatown
"Just how do you plan to find her?" Batman grapples up to the rooftops and kneels on the ledge. He looks over the section of Gotham City, which was thankfully also one of the smallest. Nyssa walks next to him as she too looks out to the far reaches of the zone. She folds her arms and then paces back and forth, behind Batman. She keeps her attention fully drawn across from them and to the next street over. Batman took notice of the woman's actions, "You better not be thinking of betraying me, Nyssa."
Nyssa scoffs at the man's words and flicks her hair from beneath her hood ", Thinking and acting are two separate games. For now, just focus on your brooding. Try and locate them, try to improve your skills."
"You knew about Shiva before I did. Just how did you manage to do that?" Batman asks without any patience for the woman.
"As I previously said, being believed to be dead allowed me to search for answers that would normally be impossible. After all, no one suspects a dead person, am I right? And I came up with answers, some of which even I was surprised by," Nyssa smirks as she sees the dark knight face her with a frown to which she simply shrugged off.
"You know more about than Shiva. Playing games now will only inconvenience you since you appear to be so determined to get to the bottom of this."
"Easy now. If I were to give you all the answers so quickly, you would have no need for me. As long as I keep holding cards to my chest; you will have no choice but to follow my whims," the oldest Demon's head's daughter answers, "And as long as you don't have those answers, you will not be willing to betray me and vice versa."
"That's your play, huh? You're trying to lock me into a partnership," Batman rises up, "Bold move presuming that I would agree to it."
"I did my calculations on this. Innocent lives hang in the balance, so you will do anything to protect those *poor* souls; meaning you will work with me, no matter how much you don't want to," Nyssa stands before the vigilante fearless and grinning, "We need each other. Simple as that. Just saying it is sickening enough."
"Finally, something that I'm happy to agree with you on." Batman walks further to the ledge and oversees the street below.
"Well, my father desired you to one day be my brother-in-law. So we best start somewhere," Nyssa kneels over the ledge and folds her arms across her chest, "That is if you are to bewed my dear sister," Nyssa's eyes then fixate across from them, "That is most troubling. Shiva and her faction should have noticed us by now, yet they do not show themselves. She is not known for wasting time...," Nyssa grabs one of her blades and uses it to point to one of the buildings across from them, "We go now. Follow me."
The pair moves across to the next row of buildings and onto one of the roofs. They enter the building through the roof and slowly descend down the stairs. Nyssa takes the lead with Batman following behind, "Why are you so concerned."
"Very little gets under my skin, so when something does... it is best not to dismiss it...," she and Batman reach one of the apartments. Nyssa kicks in the door and charges in. Batman was quick to follow. The duo then stumbles upon the sight of a dozen slain League of Shadows members. They lie on the floor, surrounded by mixed pools of blood. But there was no sign of Shiva. Nyssa's eyes widen and she sets her blade back into her holster, "Shit. How could've this of happened?"
"League of Shadows are highly skilled, I doubt a single by-the-books criminal in this city could do this." Batman kneels down to check the pulse of one of the assassins, "Dead. It's safe to assume that goes for the rest."
"These men trained under Lady Shiva, one of the most dangerous people in the world and lived. Slaying them would not be such an easy foot, especially with all twelve of them together," Nyssa looks around the room, "Yet Shiva herself is nowhere to be seen. Looks like she must've got out."
"They couldn't have been like this for long; blood hasn't dried yet," Batman turns his head towards the corner of the room. He spots a small wired device that was counting down. The Vigilante's eyes widen as he jumps up and grabs Nyssa without fault. He throws himself along with Nyssa out of the window and out into the city. Just as they escaped the building, the top floor erupts in a harsh storm of flames. The whole level of the tower explodes, shattering all windows.
Batman flings his cape around Nyssa to shield her from the flames. He then takes out his grapple launcher and fires a line to the next building across. The pair throw themselves on the roof, rolling on and take a minute to gather their breath. Batman looks out in horror to the flaming building that was facing them. The bright hues of flames brighten his suit in a light tint. Gently, rain pours down. Soft yet powerful at the same time.
Nyssa stands behind Batman, "A trap? That would mean that whoever set it was aware of our imminent arrival. That was too cowardly for Shiva and anyone else that's inside the League. Obviously the work of a third party."
"There were people in that building, Nyssa. Whoever is behind this...sure as hell better be shaking."
"Spoken with such conviction. Atlas we shall see if that flame of yours doesn't burn out before you get the chance to use its power," Nyssa smiles, she turns and reaches inside her jacket. She walks forward and takes out an empty vial, one that held small droplets of green liquid, " Come, Bruce. There is no more that you can do here. I pocketed this gem moments after we entered the apartment. Recognize it?" she throws the vial to Batman.
The Dark Knight catches it, "Bane." He squints his eyes.
"Are you ready for the rematch?" hummed the oldest Demon's daughter.
"Doesn't matter. Nothing will stop me now..."
Elliot Memorial Hospital
It was late, far past midnight. Thus Selina had managed to doze off into a slumber. She was slouched over and resting her head against the wall behind her. All was calm and quiet, barely a sound to be heard. That all stopped when Selina bolstered awake to the sound of the door to the room opening. She leans forward and rubs her eyes. She looks through the gaps between her fingers to spot the person who had entered. It was evident enough that she was not pleased by who it was.
Sofia Falcone stands before the hospital bed as she holds a bag in her right hand. Selina jumps up and quickly approaches Sofia, "Why the hell are you here?"
Sofia looks over to greet Selina with a small smile, "Apologies for dropping in unannounced like this but I grew concerned when I heard that you were spotted in a place like this. I thought that you were hurt," she looks back over to the unconscious child laying before her, "But it appears that it's another poor soul that deserves my sympathy instead. She's Gordon's daughter if I'm not mistaken," she walks over to the side of the bed. Selina follows after and pulls Sofia away.
"Don't you even think about touching her...," Selina clenches her hold around Sofia's arm.
Sofia glance back between the girl and Selina in one quick motion, "You believe me to be so petty that I would harm a child because of the history between me and her father? I will admit that I can get somewhat carried away but I would never dare harm a child for revenge. Especially one that you appear to be so fond of."
"Get out. The last thing I need is to be seen with you" Selina releases her hold on Sofia's arm, "And if Barbara wakes and you're the first person she sees... I'll never forgive myself. Now get out and don't ever pull this crap again, got me?"
"Oh dear sister, I got a feeling that you will not be concerning yourself with that, turns out little Barbara here isn't going to be waking up anytime soon," Sofia looks over to the child, "She's perfectly healthy yet she has not awoken quite yet. I got word that no Doctor here knows what is causing her to remain sleeping but they're suggesting that we should get used to it," to the displeasure of Selina, Sophia returns to the side of the bed and looks directly down to Barbara.
"What are you getting at?" Selina inquires while biting her lip.
"Basically, she's officially comatose but the doctors here don't have the slightest clue why," Sofia turns back to face Selina, "In a few minutes, one of the people working here is going to walk through that door and tell you the same thing as I am, maybe then you'll be inclined to believe it. I'm not your enemy, Selina. We're family and I just want to be looking out for you... so I'm willing to offer you a hand."
"A hand? What the hell do you expect me to say to that?" Selina rushes to the other side of the bed and glares at Sofia, "Just what do you expect to give me that can possibly help her?"
Sofia smiles "Being a person in my business gives you certain privileges, such as having a highly skilled individual at my beckoning call. You've heard of a man named Hugo Strange? I'm sure he would be able to release poor Barbara from her dilemma. If I were to instruct him too."
"You... can't be seriously be doing what I think you are. Are-... you trying to force me into working for you...? She's a person, Sofia! Not a bargaining chip!"
Sofia Falcone blows a strand of her hair, "I care for you, Selina. You are now the only family that I have left and I want to keep what we have. But this is the family business. All this time, I've been the one to help you out. I had Strange heal your wounds, I accepted your request for having that freak's name plastered all over the news and I've also been having my men on the inside destroy any and all evidence that would reveal that you are Catwoman... I believe that it is time that you finally do something that benefits me, don't you think?"
"But now...? When it's someone else's life? That's... cold...," Selina steps back and hugs herself, "And worse... she's just a child? What happened to you not wanting to hurt a child?"
"I didn't put her in that state," Sofia shrugs, "I ensure you that Strange will bring her out of her deep sleep but not before you give me something first."
"W-What could you possibly want me to do for you? I have nothing to give you. Nothing that you could possibly want...," Selina's eyes tremble.
Sofia rests her hands on her hips, "That's not true at all. In fact, you have something that I haven't. Something that I have been yearning for, now it's up to you if you choose him or her."
"Him...?"
"That's right, dear sister...," Sofia lifts one of her eyebrows, "I want you to tell me who Batman is. I know that you are aware of the man behind the mask and I want to know. You can either choose him or poor old Barbara. So tell me, which one has more value to you. Catwoman and Batman were spotted together by Firefly in Metropolis, as well you've been quite busy with dealing with basic criminals in this city. You know who he is... and he must mean something to you... like a lover perhaps?"
"Go to hell... get out... before I...-"
"I can see that you are having some inner conflict. Alright then... you have a week to decide which one you want to protect, the big bad bat or the innocent child? If it were your fate on the line, I have no doubt that you would throw yourself to the wolves... but now that there's an innocent's life at stake instead? I guess we'll finally see who the real Selina Kyle is...," Sofia winks at Selina as she reaches into her bag and pulls out a bat stuffed animal.
She sets it on the bed next to Barbara, "Here's in hopes that she'll one day be able to enjoy this little guy...," Sofia then makes a break to the exit, stopping when she sees Tommy Elliot entering the room at the same time she was trying to leave. Tommy double-takes as he sees Sofia.
"Isn't this a little too low end for your tastes, Miss Falcone? I saw that your guards seem to be reaching to their pockets a lot... if they brought weapons into this building then I would have no other choice but to contact the authorities. Something's telling me that is attention that you wouldn't want...," Elliot was calm and collected even though he was threatening one of the most notorious crime bosses in Gotham. Selina saw the look on his face, stoic which reminds her all too well of Bruce.
"No worries... I was just leaving," Sofia replies as she barges past the man and into the hallway as she is then followed by her entourage of guards.
"I had no idea that you two knew each other" Thomas looks to Selina, "Well... there's something I need to tell you that concerns Barbara here. I don't mean to frighten you... but you may want to sit down for this."
"She's comatose, isn't she? Please tell me that I'm wrong..."
Elliot stood in silence for a few moments before he speaks again, "I'm sorry. We have no idea what brought this on. I swear to you that we will do everything in our power to help her," he looks over to Barbara, "I've been trying to reach her parents, either of them. But they don't seem to be answering their calls right now... you can stay here for as you need, I'll inform the other staff not to bother you. If you need anything... I'll be close by"
The Narrows
"Take the west side, I'll take the east," Nyssa advises Batman as they look down from the rooftops that look down upon the back of an alley. There were two groups of armed men comprised, one on the entrance and the other at the dead-end. Nyssa reaches over her shoulder to grab her blade, "We move now."
"Wait. No Killing. We incapacitate. That's it"
"Remind me again: how did my father ever fathom you as a worthy successor?" Nyssa slides her blade back into its holster.
"Probably the same reason why he didn't choose you," without saying another word, Batman leaps off the ledge and down below. Nyssa follows her plan and moves over to the ease-side. The pair then descend upon their selected groups. Nyssa takes cover behind one of the corners, out of sight of the masked men. She lifts her right hand with shurukens between each finger. She rounds the corner and hurls all the metal stars with one swing. The stars hit their targets in a bullseye.
Cutting into their legs, severing nerves. Some shurukens manage to cut through multiple targets at once before they lost their momentum. Simultaneously as the woman's strikes, Batman descends down. He drops on the roof of the truck and crushes it along with trapping the two targets inside. The two others watching guard turn between both attackers. They ready their weapons at, each taking a target. Batman rolls off of the roof and avoids the first shots.
The vigilante leaps forward and grabs his grapple launcher. He disconnects the cable and wraps it around the assault rifle along with the man's arms. Batman twists the cable which intern did the same to the masked man's arms, eventually turning him around and avoids another set of rounds from the weapon. Batman then uses the rest of the cable to bind both of the thug's arms together. He punches the bound man, breaking his nose and sending him flying back into the other guard.
Batman then grabs the disoriented guard and throws him over his shoulder, hitting his head hard against the concrete of the ground and to finish it off, the vigilante twists the floored man's arms until it snaps. Nyssa makes her way towards Batman, hands on her hips. She kneels down and inspects his work, "You wish to cause no fatal injuries, yet it is going to be a miracle if this man can ever eat solids again." She stands with dusting herself off.
"He'll have all the time in the world to enjoy all the liquids that he wants. Now let's move" Batman turns and heads towards the truck. Batman approaches one of the dented doors and to the trapped men who crawled back as far as possible from the vigilante. Batman forms a fist and rams it through the truck's window. He grabs at the first's collar and without mercy or hesitation pulls him out through the window, cutting him with the loose glass on both seat and what was left through the vehicle's window.
Batman drags the man to his feet and slams his head against the brick wall, leaving a splodge of blood in place of where the man's head impacted, "BANE! I know that you work for him! TELL ME! WHERE is HE!" Batman growls as he strikes his captive's head against the wall again, though softer to avoid fatal injuries. The man screams as he fears for his life, "Eduardo Dorrance. WHERE IS HE! I know that he has been running a supply train of venom for the black market, an unstable variant that has claimed the lives of the people that he takes advantage of! TELL ME!" he growls, gritting his teeth.
"God no! Please, please, please, please! He'll kill me! He'll kill me if I tell you!" the man yells.
"Fine! Make your choice! Do you want to die tonight or live the rest of your life not being able to breathe without a machine!"
"No dice! I don't care what you do to me! Bane will do even worse if I break!"
"Do you really feel confident in testing that theory of yours?" Batman reaches into the captive jacket's pockets and pulls out a close vial of green liquid, "Let's find out," he yanks the man's head back and holds the tube over his mouth, "This venom is the same as the one that Bane is mass-producing, which means it has more in common with Viper rather than the former. Your bones will slowly dissolve and break apart and you will live your last few minutes in absolute agony!"
"So cold. I'm starting to fool for the notion that I pre-emptively misjudged you" Nyssa comments from the side, looking over to the remaining guard trapped in the truck, "Feel free to kill this one. We have a spare over here," she folds her arms and grins.
"Wait! F-fine, I'll talk! I'll talk!" the man reaches into his jacket. Batman's squints as he counters his movements and twists their arm behind their back. The vigilante then slams the guard against the wall with full-force, "AH! I'm not grabbing a weapon! The big guy gave us this to communicate with him! That's all I can offer you! He never tells us where he is!" he takes a small radio which he carefully hands over to Batman. With a fast reaction, Batman took the device from the guard. The Dark Knight looks it over.
"Simple tech. Can't have a range over seven miles and that's a high-estimate," Batman then slams the head of the man against the wall with enough force to knock the wind out of him along with any remaining consciousness. Once he released his hold, the masked man fell backwards into a slumber. Batman dismantles the radio and takes out several key components. He inserts the main chip into his right gauntlet and turns towards the last guard that was still trapped inside the truck.
"Damn. Signal's scrambled. Bane's smarter than he looks"
"This is where we part ways," Nyssa looks behind her, "Letting Eduardo become privy to my survival will truly endanger my plan. It's all you from here"
"You're not wanting to see Bane taken down? Even after betraying you? Sounds out of character for you," Batman replies.
"I'm afraid that my mission is more important than allowing for some personal business interfere with it, but I'm sure you will get some good hits in for me," Nyssa fully turns, "See you around. This time I'm leaving you until it becomes absolutely necessary. If you get yourself killed during the time, well you're on your own." Nyssa jumps up onto the ladder of the fire escape and climbs up. With a small sequence of flips and other athletics, she had reached above to the roofs, vanishing from sight.
"She's so obviously up to something..." the vigilante thinks as he turns to face the last guard who was desperately trying to open the door to the truck to escape. Batman walks towards the truck, cape swerving with each step taken. The masked man looks away from the vigilante to focus on continuing to pry open the door but with no luck. Looking back up, he then sees that the costumed man was gone from his view. He takes moments to regather enough breath to keep at his efforts.
Just as he believed it to be safe, a hand breaks through the window beside him; sending shards of glass all over him. The man shrieks as he, just like his peer is dragged out of the truck and into the darkness.
Elliot Memorial Hospital
Selina turns to the door and sees three familiar faces: Lucius, Lee and... him. She glares at Jason Blüd who stood in the middle of the other two, "You? What are you lot doing here? H-how did you even know that I was-"
"Long story short: I could sense it from across the city," Blüd sets his messenger bag down on the stand beside the hospital bed, "This wasn't meant to happen. Hell, it was impossible. How could you possibly have opened that book?," the auburn-haired man questions as he frantically searches through his bag, "There's no way someone like you could open it. That's why I saw no problem taking my time to collect it."
"Book?" Selina's eyes widen, "The book? You mean the one that Barbara opened? T-this is your fault!?"
"Says the one that stole it. If it wasn't for you, this girl wouldn't even be in this situation!" Jason takes out a silver cased book, the same one that Selina took before, "Pardon the delay. We were busy locating the book -which again for the record you stole," Blüd opens the book and flips through the pages.
"That thing is what caused this in the first place! Get it the hell away from her!" Selina snarls.
"Not to get into specifics but once again, the book shouldn't have been near her in the first place. Now do me a favour and quiet down, I can sense it within her. But before that, how did you manage to open the book in the first place and why didn't it choose you instead?" Jason lands upon the desired page.
"*It*? I don't understand a single word that you are saying!" Selina hurries over to Barbara's side.
"Don't worry...I'm used to it by now. By *It* I mean a demon. One that has latched onto this girl's soul... and if I do not hurry; she will be lost," Blüd glances at Selina, "I can't do this here. I'm still too weak to drive it out here... we need to take her back to my study. Lucius, Lee grab her up. We need a controlled environment."
"W-What? You just can't You - you can't just kidnap someone from a hospital like that- what if she needs those machines to breathe?" Selina argues as she turns Lee, "I don't understand what is going on here but she needs to be here and that's final!"
Lee walks over to Selina and places her hands on the younger woman's shoulders, "I need you to listen to me, Selina, okay? You need to trust him on this one. He told us what the thing inside her is."
"W-what? Lee? D-did he say d-demon? This is- this is- I don't know," Selina stressed, "A-are you crazy? Barbara is j-just unconscious. There isn't a demon inside her. If there was then... then I don't think that she would be so peaceful...!" she pulls Lee's hands off her.
"Lucky for her...and us that this is the first demonic possession caused by a non-evil demon. The demon here is probably just as wanting to be separated from her," Blüd points to Lucius, "You. Pick the girl up. Even if the demon doesn't want to hurt the girl, his continued presence could kill her. We need to get her to my study now!"
"Lee may believe you but don't think that I'm just as easily fooled...," Lucius comments. Jason Blüd lifts his hand over Barbara and casts his hand in a purplish mist. In response, Barbara snaps her eyes open which glow bright red as she begins to convulse. Lucius hurries over to the girl, "Alright...forget what I just said."
"Wait!" Selina barges past Lee, "Is it that thing...that's keeping Barbara unconscious?"
"No, it's the lighting that is messing with her- Yes, of course, it's the demon that's messing with her body! Try to keep up, will you? It's like I'm surrounded by bloody children all the damn time," Jason looks over to the door to the room, "Let's go. We have little time to waste. Me being close to the girl could be quickening her end."
"I saw one of the Doctors patrolling the ward," Lucius carries Barbara in his arms, "How are we meant to get past him without being seen?"
"I can handle that" Selina answers.
Around a minute and a half later...
Tommy Elliot enters the room with eyes set to the clipboard in his hand, he did not even look inside the room before entering, "Miss Kyle. I know this may not be the most appropriate time for this, but I was hoping that I could have you sign some forms that would grant you momentarily parental duties. This way we can stop CPS from breathing down our-," the man was dropped to the floor as Selina elbows the back of his head. Selina then looks over Lucius and Lee.
"Selina? He's my boss! You didn't have to hit him that hard" Lee comments.
"Relax. He's in a hospital! Best place to be knocked out if you ask me," Selina walks over Lucius and takes Barbara from him as she now holds the girl, "C'mon." she and the others make their way out of the room.
Undergrounds, Old Gotham
Vandal Savage kneels before the large crater that brims with a sizzling mint green liquid that forms a pool. He's positioned with his left hand inside the bubbling liquid. The man is dressed in a red velvet Victorian tailcoat and a black shirt underneath. His hair was gelled back and tied into a shoulder-length ponytail. On his right hand were several silver rings, one on each finger: One a wolf, the second a bear, the third a snake and the fourth was a crow.
His eyes are closed and his mind was deep in thought, only stopped when he senses the presence of another. His eyes remain closed and his attention is minorly moved away from his deep thoughts, "Why do you come here, child?" Behind him stood Sofia Falcone, less than three metres away. Vandal stands, holding his arms behind his back, "I will ask you again. Why have you come here?"
Sofia stands tall and stern, her face keeping a determined look, "I followed your instructions perfectly, I did everything that you have asked of me, I risked my life to get Sionis and the others on with your plan. I'm even destroying any evidence of your existence...,"
"Indeed. And enlighten me, child. Just what point do you wish to make today?" Vandal Savage turns to face Sofia, "Have I not awarded you for your loyalty? You are now at the top of the food chain in Gotham's underworld. Sionis cannot touch you with me by your side. Yet you appear to be unsatisfied with all that I have granted you?"
"There's. Still. One. Thing. That. I. Want.," Sofia walks closer to Vandal, "And you know what that is."
"It appears so. You still desire the death of The Batman, even after I strictly told you to no longer pursue this foolish vendetta of yours"
"Sometimes...it feels like you are protecting him instead of me. Just what is your deal with him? Why won't you let me take action against him?" Sofia draws closer and closer.
"You dare address me with such disrespect, young one? You demand answers for questions you have no entitlement to ask," the ancient one then reaches to his side and to the hilted sword. He taps his ringed fingers against it.
"Are you trying to threaten me into silence?" Sofia asks, the same heartless tone that she mostly uses.
"Cut out a man's tongue, you are not proving him a liar, you just reveal to the world that you fear what they might say," Vandal answers as he turns his attention back to the pool of green illuminating liquid. He kneels back down, "I do not fear you or any mere mortal. Continue if you wish, though be warned: fear and impatience are two separate remedies to one's overstep"
"I'm not letting the Bat get away with the damage that he's caused me! He will suffer and you will not stop me!"
"So I've been told. Is that not why you used that child? You hope to make young Miss Kyle reveal to you the identity of Batman, is that correct?" Vandal dips his hand back into the pool, "Continue with this game if you desire, I shall not interfere. Indeed, that too goes for if your scheme fails. You will suffer the consequences of your treachery alone." Vandal waits for several seconds before speaking again, "Now leave me be. Never come to me again without first being summoned."
"That's the Lazarus, I presume. Just what use could you possibly derive from it?," Sofa asks before walking off.
"Foolish child. This is no more the Lazarus then blood is water. Water, the life of essence and blood, the essence of life. Humans cannot live without either, both flows through their bodies. But this? This is the truest form of the Lazarus, one that is not corrupted or poisoned throughout the ages..."
Across Gotham
"Woah! Let me down from here! Let me down! Let me down! LET ME DOWN!" the masked man screams as he hangs upside down above a ten-story drop. In front of him, the vigilante who's responsible for hanging him, a long cable wrapped around his leg and the pipes of the roof.
"If I were you I would choose my words more carefully!," Batman snarls as he pulls at the guy's hair, "The Radio's signal is scrambled! So that means that you are going to tell me where Bane is, got it?"
"Or what! Y-y-you going to d-drop me?"
"THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'LL DO! NOW TALK!"
"Sorry but no dice! We know how you roll! You don't kill! We both know that you aren't going to drop me to my death!"
"Who said anything about the fall killing you? But you're going to wish that it had after I'm done with you! NOW TALK!"
"Ah-ah-ah-ah! Okay, chill, chill! I don't know where he is! The other guy was telling the truth! Us guys are the lowest of the lowest when it comes to Bane! The radio is all that I got and shiz don't work! The only way that you can use it is to talk to Bane...but I don't know why'd you pick to!" the man panics, explaining as he throws his arms around. Batman's eyes widen as he grabs onto the collar of the man "Woah! Ease up! I told you that I ca-"
"Get through to Bane, now!" Batman passes the radio over to the upside-down man.
"D-Dude, now? My head is all fuzzy..."
"NOW! I'll go easy on you if you do!"
"That's cool! I'm feeling better already...," he clumsily holds the radio to his mouth, "Uh-uh... this-t-this is t-this-... uh-t-this... is the g-guys who w-were supposed t-to sell the g-goods"
"What do you mean by *supposed* to?"
Batman snatches the radio, "He means me! And tell your boss that he's next!" Batman then hears heavy sounds from the other end, something akin to loud footsteps, the sound of blood spatter and screaming. Soon enough, Bane was now the one on the other end of the transmission. Batman hears heavy breathing from Eduardo, almost like excitement.
"Ah...The Batman. I know this day would come, ever since you returned. I could sense it in you...you are angry, more vicious...come, Batman. Let's finish this, this time...I won't stop at your back or your spirit..."
"Name the place."
"You already know it, Batman. Meet me in the place I broke you...the place where I humiliated you...and killed one of your precious Allies: Talon was their name, I believe. Come to me and get the vengeance that you so desperately crave..."
"All those years on venom, Eduardo, it's damaged your mind beyond repair. You're sick!"
"The church. Come to the church...you may express your hatred through your fists, do not waste my time with pointless talks!"
Batman crushes the radio in his hand and growls. He looks to the dangling man as he unattached the cable from the pipes and allows for the man to plummet down, screaming. Several stories down he then lands in the cold, hard metal fire escape which sends him into a frenzy of screams as he looks at his mangled arms, "What the f-f-! Y-you s-s-said you would g-go easy on me!"
"I kept my end; you will eventually be able to walk again!" Batman then moves out of view from the ledge.
Jason Blüd's Study
The group walk into the Study. Blüd points to the middle of the room, "Set her there, then stand the hell away."
"So we just exorcize the demon-thing and Barbara's in the clear?," Selina sets the girl down in the middle of the room, "That's it? She won't be harmed, will she?"
"In a matter of speaking, yes. But it's technically not an *exorcism* if the demon also wants to get out of the body. It's more of a mutual repealing," Jason brings out the silver book once more and searches through the pages, "This shouldn't take too long. My powers are vastly increased here."
"If the demon wants out, then why did it possess her in the first place?" Selina crowds around Blüd, "Did it just change its mind or something?"
"It's more than just a simple demon, Miss Kyle. It's a wandering spirit without a body. It must have been looking for its original vessel when it was released. But Barbara was the closest to it. It had every right to think that I would have been the one to open it, but instead, you stole the book and put the girl's life in danger like this," Jason finds the right page, "If you were the one to open it, then why was Barbara the closest. Not even I understand that. You should have been the vessel for it..."
"I didn't open it" Selina confessed as she shakes, "I couldn't. It was like there was some force stopping me from doing so. Barbara must've opened it because after I found her unconscious, I noticed that book no longer seemed to have that weird feeling anymore."
"The girl opened it...?" the auburn-haired man turns his head to Selina, "A child's imagination, truly one of the most powerful things. No ill intent, just hope. Truly astonishing," he removes his glasses and taps them against his leg, "The Book of Etrigan, beaten by a mere child. Now I've seen it all." Blüd puts his glasses back on and turns his attention back to Barbara, "When we start this... Barbara is going to be put through hell. She will scream, she will cry, she may panic and beg for us to stop. When she does, do not interfere. Stopping this procedure from completing will kill her"
"A-and if we don't start this at all?" Lee asks.
"She'll die. Weeks of unimaginable pain and suffering, maybe even months... do you really want to put her through that? This, the only way that she has a chance of her surviving. It's the only way to save her soul..." Jason Blüd answers as he reaches into his messenger bag. He takes out a small black container. He then trails around the girl and pours the inside of the container: salt, eventually forming a pentagram. Selina was pulled back by Lee. Lucius moves back too and gives Blüd room.
"God help us...," Lee whispers.
"No. This time it's a demon that needs your prayers. Let's see if he will answer," Blüd lifts his hand that is suddenly engulfed in flames that spiral around. He then speaks, this time in a lower tone, a mere whisper, "I know what you want. You wish to become one once more. That's not happening, you are going to be trapped in your prison once more. You and I will never share the same body again," he then lifts his head, "You know that I'm weak. Our separation has gradually dwindled my powers... to be honest, I'm not sure if I can rip you out, even with my abilities being boosted"
"Let's begin...," Blüd takes a small capsule of water, "Reditus! Recepum! Protero! Periit! Reditus! Recepum! Protero! Periit! Reditus! Recepum! Protero! Periit!" Blüd hurls a drop of the water over the girl, "Reveal yourself!" On cue; the girl opens her eyes. Now bright red as she begins to hover off the ground, "Hello Etrigan. It's been some time..."
Barbara's eyes widen, "Blüd. So we meet, once again, now enemies instead. I'm free of my prison, trapped inside another. Deny it if you wish but we need each other "
"Listen and listen closely... I'm here to get you out of that girl. That's it. It's up to you for how difficult that you want to make this...," the auburn-haired man glares, "I'm going to lock you away, just like I did before... Reditus! Recepum! Protero! Periit! Reditus! Recepum! Protero! Periit!," he chants as he continues to splash the water over the possessed girl; causing her to scream with the sound of two voices mixed into one. Selina's eyes widen.
"He's hurting her!" She screams.
"No, Selina!" Lee pulls Selina back, "She's going to die if you stop him now!"
"I really should've analysed that satellite, like Bruce wanted me to" Lucius stood motionless.
"Let's finish this...," Jason looks down back to the page.
The demonic girl's eyes widen, "No! No! Do not do this once again, thou and I need to be there for the end! 'Tis the only path to victory we have, thou need me: Etrigan!"
"Gone! Gone! O spirit of the damned, expel once more back where you began! Back! Back! you go, release thyself from form o man!-," Blüd recites the chant which caused a whirlwind of flames to surround the room, trapping: Lucius, Lee, Selena, Blüd and the girl in the vortex of soring fire. Selina, Lee and Lucius all hunch together to avoid the flames, "Gone! Gone! O demon that's attached, leave this mortal vessel intact-," the flames become more violent and turn from orange to blue.
Selina thinks back to where she had heard Blüd recite those words before. She then remembers with her eyes widening.
1 Month Ago
Catwoman watches from above as she sees Whisper A'Daire slowly approaches the downed man who starts to chant, "Change! Change! O form of man... free the prince forever damned... free the might from fleshy mire, boil the blood in the heart of fire...," Jason chants unnerved. His blue eyes slowly transform to a red tint. He reaches the back of his desk and sees Whisper less than a metre away ", Gone! Gone! O form of man and rise the demon-," he was stopped by the redhead shoving her hands over his mouth and mumbling his words.
Catwoman's eyes then look over to the display case with the demonic silver book and notice that it was glowing, "That's... weird..."
- Present Day -
"That demon...," Selina shakes, "... It's not just some random monster, it's also apart of Blüd?" She then thinks back to her last time in the Library and what Blüd had said:
*We all have our demons, we all have our own ways of fighting them and some of us...lose those battles*.
"Him and this demon: Etrigan... they were originally the same person...?" Selina thinks to herself, unaware that she was speaking and loud enough for both Lucius and Lee to hear, "...He wasn't kidding when he told me that he had his demons..."
Their minds were then drawing to the screaming girl who was pleading for help, wanting for the pain to stop, "Gone! Gone!" the flames become more intense, "...O demon who continues, end your hold upon they who fell victim to you! Gone! Gone! O demon who lingering, end this charade and return to where once you came! Begone!" Jason's eyes glow as the darkness surrounding Barbara Lee's body drifts off of her and towards the book that Blüd is holding.
Jason slams the book the very moment that the darkness was fully consumed into it. The blue flames around them dissipate and leaves without any trace, not even a single burn mark was left on the ground. Blüd falls to his knees and drops the book, "That seemed a lot harder than Constantine made it out to be...," he removes his glasses and rubs the sweat from his forehead. Selina, Lee and Lucius all rush to the now unconscious girl who slumbers on the ground.
"Barb? Can you hear me, Barb? It's Selina?" the woman holds the girl in her arms. Lucius and Lee both crowd Selina.
Jason Blüd picks the book up and stands while pressing his hand against his lower back, "Oh never mind me, totally fine - thank you for asking..." he puts his glasses back on and returns the silver book to the same display case where he previously-stored it, "It's not like I helped exorcized a demon from her or anything. Do not mind me at all, I guess"
"Uh... Blüd?" Selina asks shaking.
"Finally," the auburn-haired man turns, "Thank you for aski-"
"She's not waking up... She's not...waking up...," Selina's eyes tremble, "I-d-don't understand...why isn't she waking up?"
"But you tore the demon out, right?" Lee asks before immediately rethinking what she just said, "Oh god...I can't believe things are that crazy now..."
"You said that *thing* was keeping her in the coma...so why is she still comatose? She doesn't have a second demon in her, does she?" Lucius questions, unsure of what to think of the whole situation, "This is just..."
"No. That's not possible. That demon was the only one in the book...if he wasn't causing her harm...then...," Blüd eyes widen, "H-he was protecting her. He was buying her time... that's why he possessed her... which means...whatever is causing the girl's condition, it was set in place well before she opened the book..." he runs his hand through his hair, "That's why he lured her to the book, enticed her to open it and be possessed by him... his mere presence would have killed her eventually, but long after whatever is happening to her now will..."
Selina's arms shake as her eyes tremble, "Y-you got to do something! You need to help her, please! I'll do anything!"
Blüd takes a long breath, "I'm sorry but I can't do that. Whatever is happening to the girl...it's not to do with the mystical arts which are my expertise. Whatever is afflicting this poor girl... it's in the realm of science. I'm afraid that I can't help you from here..."
Lucius glares at Jason, "Just what is that supposed to me?"
"It means that you have my condolences. I'm sorry," Jason answers.
"Condolences? She's not dead! She'll just need help! She's going to be fine!" Selina softly runs her hands through Barbara Lee's hair, "She's going to be fine!"
"Selina..." Lee attempts to calm the younger woman.
Blüd rubs his eyes, "I can't sense any mystical energies from her but I can feel her lifeforce... and it's dwindling fast...she has weeks at best..."
"Y-you said that *demon* could prolong her time...? C-Can you put it back into her...CAN YOU DO SOMETHING? Please..., maybe if we have more time...we can..." Selina begs for a miracle.
"Even if I were willing to agree to that... Barbara's body is too weak... if we were to put the demon back into her...we would eventually need to get it back out again... and in her state...she wouldn't survive..." Blüd answers with regret, "I'm sorry..."
"We understand..." Lee holds her hands over Selina's shoulders, "We need to take her back, Selina. I won't leave her side, I swear." Selina could only reply with a simple weak nod as she along with Lee walk out of the room. Lucius follows after and with that, Jason was left in silence.
- Across Gotham City -
Memories were coming back. None were too pleasant, such as the pain that was suffered here and the people that were lost. Batman with severe concern now slowly makes his way along the aisle of the church, between the rows of pews, some still showing signs of damage from where he was last there. The once stained glass windows were now broken and covered with wooden boards that were lazily nailed over. There were more than a fair share of gaps between each board which gave entry to the elements, such as the rain that was spewing in from the outside.
Approaching the altar, Batman continuously checks all around him to avoid being taken by surprised, "Welcome, Mr Wayne. I am glad for you to make it," Batman hears a muffled voice coming from somewhere around him, unable to pinpoint the exact location. The vigilante reaches down to his waist and takes dual Batarangs which he holds in either hand, "Getting warmer," the voice speaks again as Batman now stands at the altar. He looks around, once again examining the whole area for every single detail, no matter how small.
"Hiding Eduardo? What happened to all that hubris?"
"During my time in Blackgate, I started to hear stories about a darkened avenger, most of my peers believed you to be a simple urban legend. But then, no matter who it was...they all spoke of the same truth: A man who uses the symbol of a bat, a creature of darkness..."
Batman keeps turning his head, "You should've stayed in Blackgate, Eduardo, maybe you might have learned that I'm not someone that should be messed with!"
"When I became privy to Gotham's greatest son's return...that is when I pieced it together, my friend. That night, all those years ago...I remember. That was when you chose your symbol...in a way, I helped in your creation…"
"Too late for regrets now" Batman throws a flurry of Batarangs all around the room. They all explode and send the room in a blinding flash of white light."
"No, my friend. I do not regret my part in your rebirth. I relish in it. Just as I relish in the death of your friend..." Batman's eyes widen as he hears movement from behind. He turns and rolls away when he sees one of the pews heading straight for him. Batman looks over to the origin and sees Bane standing in the place of where the pew was previously. Eduardo wears a black muscle shirt tucked down under a pair of green cargo military pants and heavy black boots. Bane stood, with black fingerless strapped gloves on his hands, and a mask that covered his mouth, "Now come, Batman! Let us finish this!"
"What's the point in this, Eduardo? Why are you so obsessed with me?" Batman squares up with resupplying his hands with a Batarang each, "Just what can you possibly have to gain from all of this?"
"A man like you wouldn't understand, my friend. You occupy yourself too much with that you believe then spending time on hearing out others. It's either your way of the wrong way, such a simple outlook on life...in some ways, you're still just a child" Bane cracks his knuckles and neck, "By showing the city that you're a false saviour, they will learn to accept the real world. A harsh, cold place where the weak die and the strong survive... that is what I will prove this night! Prove myself to them!"
"Prove? I'd say killing those League members earlier already did that! Blowing up that apartment complex proved who you really are!"
Bane slants his neck, looking at the vigilante, "What are you talking about? I never came across any of those who you speak of."
"The vial! I found venom at the scene! I checked to make sure that it's the real deal, not the batch that you send out to the people!"
"Killing League of Shadows warriors? Why would I lie about such an accomplishment? I'm not one to take credit that I do not deserve," Bane begins to walk towards the vigilante, "Now enough with this talk! Tonight is when I will break you for once and for all!"
"No, Bane. Tonight is where I will break you!" Batman squints. Both he and Bane then begin to charge towards each other, meeting at the centre of the aisle. Bane throws a punch at Batman who catches it by trapping the larger man's fist between the pair of Batarangs. The vigilante than leans his head back, throwing it forward and crashing into Bane's own skull. Batman then rams his fist across Bane's cheek. The larger muscular man moves back and swipes the blood from his mouth.
"Good. Very good. I sense your anger in your strikes...," Bane said, unphased by his opponent's strikes, "That's it. Show the people of the city just what you are capable of!" Batman turns to his side and sees some sort of drone hovering around them, one with a mantled camera, "It's time for them to see just who you really are."
"No, they're going to see me kick your ass, Eduardo!" Batman punches Bane, but this time Bane blocked it. Eduardo kicks Batman back, followed by a punch of his own. Batman dodges under the blow and attacks back, but Bane blocks once again by catching the vigilante's fist in his own hand. With immense speed, Bane lifts Batman up and punches with his other hand into his sides. Batman takes a Batarang from his belt and drives it into the back of the larger man's shoulder.
Bane lets go and throws the vigilante to the ground, "More vicious...I like that...," he lifts his foot and stomps down. Batman rolls out of the way, barely avoiding the hit. The dark knight then jumps to his feet and backflips away, "Is that all you got? I am disappointed in you. The only real strike you made so far is just a poultry toy of yours," Bane looks over his shoulder to the Batarang stuck in him. With one simple tug, Bane yanks it out and holds it, "What did you expect to do with this little thing?"
"This" Batman taps his belt.
Bane looks back to the Batarang that he was holding, now flashing. It explodes and sends Bane flying backwards and crashing into several rows of pews. Bane looks down to his hand that was maimed by several shrapnel fragments. His face was also now covered in a number of scars, "You could've killed me... that's not like you..."
"No one dies on my watch, not even you, Bane" Batman saunters forward, "Stay down!"
"Sorry, my friend. But this is just getting interesting," Bane lifts the bottom of his muscle shirt up. His belt held multiple cartridges with venom inside. He picks out a cartridge and injects himself through the vein in his neck. His eyes gain a green hue along with his veins. Within moments, his veins look to protrude and push against his skin with his shirt seemingly tearing at the seems with his increased muscle mass. Bane grunts as he looks to Batman, "Tonight is going to be your end, Bat!"
"I WILL BREAK YOU!" Bane brings his arms foreword and shields his head as he begins to charge at the vigilante. With Bane's now increase mass, one would believe that his speed would be greatly depowered, but as the vigilante was about to discover, it was the opposite that was true. With such speed and force, Bane had somehow darted his way along to Batman. The vigilante barely had enough time to react, he dodged out of the way.
Though Bane missed his target, he didn't stop. He kept going and rammed through all the pews along with breaking the alter apart. Bane turns and charges back the way he came and towards Batman. In a rush, Batman rolls out of the way again but to less effect. The vigilante was still close enough for Bane to grab his cape and drag him along for the ride. With one long and strength-backed wind-up, Bane throws the Bat across the room.
Batman was lashed against the dual doors to the church with Bane ramming his foot against him before he could have reacted. Bane then grabs the vigilante by the neck and throws him again, this time to the other side of the room with enough force to ram him against the bottom of the alter. Batman lies, drowned in the debris of the alter. His vision was blurry. Bane was no more than a smudge to his eyes, a smudge that was coming closer and closer to him.
"No friends to protect you. No friends to die for you. The clown isn't here to save you from me...," Bane stomps towards Batman, bashing his fists together, "I believe this is what we call a classic case of déjà vu, wouldn't you agree?" Bane presses the bottom of his boot against the vigilante's chest to further push him down in the debris, "It's almost cathartic for you to meet your end here. You, a creature of the night, this church: a sanctuary from one's own darkness... tell me, my friend, do you have any confessions you wish to admit? Maybe it will ease your journey into the next world... allow you to move on in peace."
"I'm not looking for peace!" Batman rams a Batarang right through Bane's left leg, with the wings sticking out either side. Taking his chance, Batman rolls away and stands, "Your venom is wearing off, Eduardo!" Batman sees the rage the forms on Bane's face who reaches to his belt and for another vial of venom, he injects it into the veins in his neck. Bane's muscle mass noticeably increases, this time tearing holes in his shirt. His veins glow bright green along with his irises.
"That... That was your last hurrah. I will break you! I WILL BREAK YOU! And show this city just what a false saviour you are! I will break you!" Bane squares up, "The venom increases my strength, stamina, my speed. My heart is racing with power, and I will use it all to BREAK you!"
"You want my confession, Eduardo? Fine! I was broken...but not by you nor any other of you lunatics! I was broken long before any of you! You are nothing!" Batman then charges at Bane, a very different start than before. The vigilante was now taking the fight to the much larger and stronger man. Bane rams his fists as he too charges, this time being the second. Before they could clash, Batman slides between Eduardo's legs while taking the four remaining vials of venom with him.
In his confusion, Bane stops in his tracks and turns towards where he last saw the vigilante go. But in surprise, Batman injects him with the four venom vials, in his arms. Bane's eyes widen as he steps back and begins to foam at the mouth, "W-What are you-?"
Batman jumps back and lands in a kneeling position with his cape drooping over his shoulders, "You said that the venom was making your heart race, let's see how fast we can make it go."
"Y-you.." Bane's teeth grits, his muscles spasms and his skin or rather his muscles were increasing in size beneath. Bane sends a fury-filled punch at the Dark Knight who easily moves out of the way, "Venom is not-meant...to be...taken...more than one at a time!" Bane keeps throwing hits at Batman who kept on evading out of the range. Bane's mouth foams much more and his shirt rips more as his muscle mass keeps on growing and growing, bones were cracking, breaking apart, "-Y-you... end our fight like this? Like a coward? Why would you do this?"
"That was for Talon, Bane!" Batman evades another blow from Bane, "And this is...FOR ME!" Batman punches Bane with all his strength and might. Bane was tired, exhausted even. His bones felt like they were crumbling, turning to dust. With ease, Bane falls without the strength to stop his descent.
"No! NO! This is not how it was supposed to happen!" Bane looks up to the towering vigilante, "Hear me, Batman! I was meant to-"
"You are no more, Bane! Your spirit is shattered and you are..." Batman throws one final punch down and completely knocks Bane out cold, "...Broken" Batman breathes heavily as he looks down at his hands in disbelief of his action, "I'm sorry, Talon...," Batman hangs his head. He turns to the drone that was filming and throws one single exploding Batarang at it which lives up to its namesake. The caped crusader than holds his sides, "Forget about Blackgate...you'll be shoved into Arkham...where you belong..."
Elliot Memorial Hospital
Selina, eyes soaked and mascara running down her cheeks. She sits slouched over as she looks over Barbara Lee. She hears the door open and looks to Jim Gordon who made his way through. Gordon's eyes lock to the sight of his daughter. He makes his way to her in silence, not even giving any acknowledgement to Selina. The commissioner stands at the side of the bed, not looking away from the girl. He places his hand over his daughter's, "Thank you for being here for her, Selina"
"The doctors told you about what's wrong with her?" Selina lifts her legs on the chair to her chest and folds her arms around them, "They don't know what's wrong with her, Jim. They aren't even trying to hide it."
"Barb is on her way, Selina. You should get some rest..."
"I don't mind staying...I want to be here...just in case she wakes up...I want to be here when she does..." Selina tightens her eyes closed.
"My daughter's already suffering, Selina. The last thing I need is to worry about you... please go home. Come back tomorrow when you're rested...I'll be here for her, Lee too. You can be sure that Barbara won't leave her side either...," Jim covers his mouth as he tears up.
"Jim?" Selina slides off the chair and onto her feet.
"Fine. I'm fine...," Jim heartbreakingly answers as he still covers his mouth, "It's just...just... this is the first time I've seen my baby girl in weeks...and it's like this... she's... she's..."
Hey... it's going to be fine, right? She's not going to...- No, she won't. She'll wake up... and see you there... you have to believe that, Jim"
"The only thing that I believe right now is... my little girl could die thinking her dad's a monster... that I'll never get to tell her how much I love her again... I should have made more time for her...I should have been a better father... she deserved so much better..."
"W-Why the hell weren't you there, Jim? She needed you just as much as she needed her mother... you're right...that you should've been there...she only ever wanted for her mother and father to be happy together...she wasn't selfish...she only wanted for you two to be happy...," Selina wallows, "Why...? First Dent, now your daughter? You should have been there for them...why...why would you choose Waller over your loved ones?"
"I'm not doing this now, Selina. Please...just go..." Jim looks down to his daughter, "Just... let me be with her."
"I shouldn't have snapped at you like that... I'm sorry...," Selina leaves the room. Walking through the ward, she looks on her right and spots Thomas Elliot holding an icepack against the back of his head while he was talking to Lee. Selina looks back to her front and continues on her path. She stops when her eyes land upon the screen of the television placed in one of the rooms, made visible thanks to the clear window that shows the room in full.
She sees the brawl between Bane and Batman.
Elsewhere...
"Ughhh…" Bane grumbles, awaking to be locked behind a large glass case, "What? What is the meaning of this?" when trying to move, he realized that his arms were also chained to the floor by a metal that he could not break. He pushed and pulled as hard as he could, however, the chains even refused to budge, "Who is behind this? is this your doing, Batman!" Bane yells. His muscles and body were still enlarged by the overdose of venom, his mind was a mess, unable to form more than the basic thought.
The sound of high heels against a hardened floor echoes through the room. Bane then faces the originator of the sound: Amanda Waller who confidently stands less than an inch from the case with her arms folded, "Sorry to disappoint you, big guy... but do I look like Batman to you?" Waller examines Bane closely, "I'm afraid that I am something scarier than he could ever hope to be. Now, let's get down to business. Eduardo Dorrance, you've been chosen to serve your country in a way only a select few could..."
"I've already been in the army, didn't work out too well for me...so a hard pass"
"I don't mean in the military... I'm talking about something much more...classified, if you catch my drift," Waller holds a folder against her chest and opens it, "And you don't have a choice. Eduardo Dorrance, welcome to the team."
"My. Name. Is. BANE!" he attempts to rip his chains but with no success.
"My mistake...," Waller grins, "Welcome to Task Force X, Bane. Something's telling me that you are going to be a great asset..." as she said her words, both Killer Croc and Deadshot join on either side of her, "Now... let me introduce you to your teammates. If you get bored with them, just remember...we have more to come..."
- Across Gotham -
- Bruce's Penthouse (One of many) -
Bruce sits shirtless and tenses up as he holds an ice pack against his sides which had a large bruise while holding the empty vial of venom in his other hand. He looks at the tube, trying to spot some hidden detail, something that he hadn't spotted yet. Anything that would give him a clue would have been much appreciated, but he was out of luck. Bruce's attention is taken away from his thoughts as he hears knocks at the doors to his penthouse. He stands and makes his way to the door and opens it..
He gives a puzzled look when he makes eye-contact with a familiar raven-haired woman. Selina, dressed in a black laced-up low cut top, black jeans and boots with a choker on her neck. Along with a black leather jacket that's zipped up halfway, "So... I heard that you're back... and... I just really... need to see you right now...," Bruce steps back to make space for her to enter.
"It's late, Selina. You should go home," Bruce folds his arms, "I'm not sure if the others have told you, but I'm not exactly the most sociable person right now. Don't feel like talking to anyone at the moment."
"Then... can you just listen... for me?," Selina tiredly walks to Bruce, "Can you please hear me out. I really need you right now..."
Bruce shares one look with Selina, one that gave her the go-ahead, "Fine. What's on your mind?"
"It's Barbara... Barbara Lee... she's... oh god, Bruce... she's in a coma...," Selina covers her mouth as her eyes begin to water, "The doctors are saying that she may never wake up. We thought that we knew what caused her condition, but... even after... she still won't wake up..."
"I'm sorry, Selina... I'm sure that she'll be fine. You just need to keep holding on..." Bruce glances at the tears dripping down the woman's cheeks, "I... don't know what else I can say..."
"Because you aren't even trying... maybe you don't even want to... I just... just need... I don't know...," she brings her arms around Bruce and holds him tight. Bruce tenses up at the interaction, throwing his arms out to the side in uncertainty, "My first thought... was to see you... I really need you, Bruce... now more than ever... please... please... just...," she cries. Her tears steadily begin to soak the man's bare shoulder. Bruce looks on ahead as he brings his own arms around the woman. One of his hands on the back of her head and the other on her upper back.
Bruce cradles Selina as he softly strokes the back of her hair, "I'll be here for as long as you need... I promise. Just... get it all out...I'm here for you...," he whispers to the sobbing woman who tightens her hold on him. As he too secured her in his own hold, he was not able to look at her, instead, he looks on out through the windows of the penthouse and out to the city. He sees that the night was almost over and that the sun was coming up, "I'm here for you now...,"
"...Took you long...enough...," Selina whispers. She lifts her gaze, her reddened tear-filled eyes, her reddened cheeks and her quivering lips. Bruce didn't need to be a genius to know that she was going through hell right now, "Why...why is it always you that I want... why are you the only one that I come to... why...why...," she looks into Bruce's eyes, "...I hate you... I want to, to...hate you... I...s-should hate you... but...I don't...I can't...bring myself to..."
"Maybe... it would help you if you did...you have more than enough reasons to hate me...and I deserve them all..."
"No, that's not it...," Selina's voice shakes, "I never hated you, Bruce... I just...just didn't want to be hurt again...I love you...I love you...I l-love you...," she glides her hand over Bruce's own, "I'm tired of this, Bruce. I'm done pretending to be someone that I'm not...," she then without warning, lifts herself and plants her lips on Bruce's. They part, looking into the other's eyes. In time their lips connect once more, again and again. Selina cups the man's face in her hands and leads him back and to the couch as she and he keep their lips connected.
They part, with Selina pulling off her jacket and throwing it off to the side. She then runs her hands across Bruce's muscles. In the heat of the moment, Selina then lifts her shirt up and throws that to the ground. She stands in her jeans and bra while Bruce is shirtless. Their lips mash together as they lean closer to each other. Bruce lowers Selina down to be lying on the couch and then moves to kiss her neck.
Selina wraps her arms around the man's neck, sliding one hand over the back of his head as she kicks off her boots. Both their hands roam over the other's body, caressing their skin and raising their body temperature; driving them wild. With a spare moment, Selina unclasps her bra and then begins kissing Bruce's neck. Bruce's hand moves down her thighs and to the back of her right leg. Selina curves her leg as the two reconnect their lips for much longer than before.
Bruce's lips then plant on Selina's collarbones, giving soft touches of his lips against her skin; Selina shudders as she feels her lover's lips travel down further. She holds his head as Bruce then caresses upward to her neck and then her jawline, then back down again. Bruce's full attention then goes fully to the woman's chest which made Selina lean her head back and reached for Bruce's belt to unclip it. Bruce too made his next move with curling his fingers inside the raven-haired woman's jeans and pulls them down.
They press their lips together with Selina cupping his face and holding him close to her, not daring to let go of him with their lips together. Outside and to the city, the dawn begins. The city is brightened up by the early hours, bringing a new kind of life to it. People begin their activities for the day as if the night was a million miles away. For now, the city made the most that it could of the day.