The Dark Knight Initiative
A/N: Hey guys, just like the last chapter this one will be mostly in Batman's perspective, after this the rest of the chapters will be in the Avenger's perspective until further notice.
Well, I hope this answers what some of you guys have been asking for, what did you guys think?
Miss Singing in the Rain: Thank you. Also, thanks for pointing out the references I used, especially Sharon Carter (Agent 13), no one seemed to be able to catch them, or bother posting them if they did catch it. I had to do a lot of researching between the movies, the comics, the character equipment and profiles including some chemistry and combining them in a way that works. So yeah, lol.
Disclaimer: I don't own either of these movies or franchises, if I did, or rather if anyone did, they wouldn't be putting it on the internet but rather make the crossover happen in reality right now. Lol
Ch5: Escape
'This doesn't look good, but it's not that bad,' Bruce thought to himself, still gazing up at the Avengers assembling. He noted that Dr. Banner wasn't with them, being thankful for small graces, because he knows it would result in nothing but collateral damage. But if the Hulk did show up he had an ace up his sleeve, it was something he concocted during his retirement, made specifically for the green giant if he ever goes on a rampage.
Combining a composite of concentrated benzoylmethylecgonine, carbamazepine, benzodiazepine, opiates and other chemicals, forming a chemical compound absolutely lethal to normal humans, but in Dr. Banner's case it would put him in a state of 'euphoria' for a period of time, rendering him unable to get angry enough to transform into the Hulk. Theoretically.
Being mostly holed up in the mansion for eight long years has given him plenty of time to learn so many things. From Lucius' brilliant scientific mind he has learned everything he could from him, such as Advanced Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Technology and many more, including gathering as much knowledge and information as he can on most high-profile individuals or organizations, including secretive ones. And while exiling himself might not have helped him physically or emotionally, it did help him become mentally and technologically prepared in case he ever gets into these types of situation.
Reassessing his situation and surroundings, Bruce secretly reached for and activated another gadget underneath his left boot; discreetly grabbing it and placing it on his belt without any of the Avengers noticing. 'Seven minutes,' that's the time he has until back up arrives. He hadn't used this gadget in several years, but now seems a good time as ever to use it. Said gadget is a 'high-frequency transponder' using a special sonic frequency that attracts a specific animal and judging from the manor to his current location it should take about seven minutes.
Still, seven minutes is too long to wait, so he had to stall as much as he can. Slowly standing up, he glared at the team in front of him. "Tell Nick Fury, I'm not interested in joining your group or SHIELD's," he said in his gravelly voice.
"Yikes, that must be a killer on the vocal chords, need some tea with honey for that?" Tony commented before anyone else could ponder on the fact that the Batman was aware about a secret organization such as SHIELD. Nick Fury himself was startled by the fact that the Batman knows who he is, considering his personal files are completely confidential and available only to only the highest-ranking officials and the World Security Council.
Linking himself to the team's comm links, Fury addresses Natasha, "Agent Romanoff, tell our companion that we just want to talk, and if he tries anything, bring him in by force."
Relaying her boss's message, Natasha lowered her guns, but not holstering them. "The chief says that he just wants to have a talk with you."
Hearing what she had to say, Batman deduced her and the others are in radio contact with Fury, bar Steve and Thor, since they seem surprised by the cavalry. Briefly turning up his radio receiver in his cowl to hone in on the exact frequency they were using, listening in on whatever conversation they may have while he's confronting them. "Sorry, but I've made up my mind," telling them off before he brought his gauntlets together blades facing the team, triggering the mechanism in his gauntlets to fire the blades outwards as projectiles with enough force to penetrate solid rock.
Each Avenger didn't bother to dodge as Thor parried again, Steve protected Natasha and himself with his shield and Tony just let the blade ricochet off his armor. "Uhh, was that supposed to do something?"
"Mislead you," Batman replied as he threw all of his smoke pellets, surrounding them with smoke for a couple seconds, but those couple seconds were enough for Batman to disappear from their sight.
"What! Where'd he go!?" Tony was bewildered.
"I got 'im," Clint said through their comm link, "He's running down the alley to your far left."
"Got a clear shot Clint?" Natasha asked as she and Steve started running in that direction; while Tony and Thor flew off to the air.
"Heh, 'course," Clint replied, taking out one of his trick arrows he calls 'shocker' and aimed, "Tony, keep your distance, I'm lighting him up," saying before pulling.
Climbing up a fire escape in haste, Batman overheard from his cowl that Agent Barton has him on his sights, from what he remembers on Barton's file, the man is a master assassin proficient in several martial arts and is able to use any weapon, but mostly prefers his customized bow and trick arrows. A master marksman who has never missed a single shot, this will be his first.
Taking out a batarang, he quickly turned around and flung his batarang the second after Clint released his arrow. Despite being a distance away from each other, the arrow and batarang collided, a large electric spark lighting up the dark alley.
"Whoa! Watch it!" Tony blurted as the explosion of electricity nearly struck him mid-flight.
Looking in awe that the Batman not only made him miss, but did it by handling whatever shuriken star that was and used it to counter his arrow, and the impact between the two objects caused his 'shocker' arrow to release an electrical explosion, "Well I'll be damned," he said in an off-handed compliment before observing the Batman climbing to the top of the building he's on then jumping off the other side. Not letting his target go, Clint uses his grapple line arrow and proceeds to swing closer so he can keep him in his sights.
Making his way to somewhere a distance away, Batman continues gliding to where he stored the batpod. Still having five minutes until backup arrives, he needs something from his bike to help his odds.
"Nice suit, think mine's better equipped for long distances though," Bruce heard someone talk beside him mid-flight. Looking to his left he sees Ironman cruising in the air while trying to have a casual conversation with him, "Hey Thor, let's see who takes him down, first one to knock him out gets to see who's underneath the mask." Turning his attention to his right, Batman sees Thor flying as well, hammer in his hand looking like it's pulling him, mostly likely that's how he's gains the ability to fly.
"There's no use running Dark Knight, I shall certify that you show respect by forcing it on you before I justify that your actions earlier are because we have trespassed in your kingdom."
"Dude, what?" Tony asked in bewilderment. Seeing them distracted, Batman quickly pressed a button on his belt, then he turned to Tony.
While flying with his repulsor technology, Tony suddenly felt his systems glitch "Hm? What the?" then shut down completely, sending him falling straight to the concrete, "Wh-AAAHHhhh!" he screams as he plummets and crashes, leaving a dent on the streets of Gotham.
With Ironman down for the moment, Batman swerves his cape, clashing into Thor. While the collision was rough on him, it didn't bother the Asgardian in the slightest. Still in flight, he holds onto Thor, grabs the hammer by the handle to try and take it out of Thor's hand, but to no avail. Perplexed at what the Bat was trying to do, Thor shrugged him off by taking him by butting him in the head. Losing his grip, Batman plunged to the ground, slowing his descent with his cape at the last second before collapsing on the concrete.
Getting himself back up, Bruce made a dash for the closest building, an abandoned structure waiting to be demolished. Following him in are Steve and Natasha, "Thor, keep watch out here, once he comes out you take him down. Natasha, tell Clint to get to higher ground and watch the north side, you and I will go in and flush him out," Steve gave his orders, "…where's Stark?"
"Erruuhh… what just happened?" Tony asked, his armor powering back up in a few seconds.
"It appears the Mk. XI just got momentarily de-powered with an electromagnetic pulse, sir," came the reply from JARVIS.
"An EMP?! Dammit, I always forget to fix that problem," he cursed.
"You always postponed from adding the insulator to your suits sir, and thankfully your arc reactor was not affected."
"Right, rain check JARVIS, after this is over I gotta add insulators for EMP attacks," Tony addressed.
"Will do, sir."
Getting back up and flying around searching for the Bat, he sees Thor just standing in the streets. "Sup buddy, where's the party?" he asks the God of Thunder.
"Our quarry has escaped into the abandoned architecture. Steven and Natasha have gone in to lure him out while Barton and I are to keep watch," Thor responded.
"Hmm, that'll take too long," Tony griped, flying closer to the building, he hovered closer to it, "JARVIS, let's switch to infrared for this one," he said as the lenses in his helmet adjusted to infrared.
Being able to see clearer in the dark, Tony scanned the architecture. Spotting two body signatures he figured were Steve and Nat, he couldn't find the one he was looking for. "The hell?" Tony exclaimed, "Agent Romanoff, warn Cap that the Bat's suit covers his heat signature," he deduced.
"Roger that," Natasha confirmed.
"What did Tony say?" Steve asked quietly as the both of them cautiously walked forward, keeping an eye for their target in the darkness.
"He says that the Bat's suit can cloak his heat signature," Nat whispered.
"Oh, he sure doesn't like to make things easy."
"You're talking about the Bat?"
"Yup."
The left side of Natasha's lips pulled slightly upwards, she was amused at everyone's opinion of the Batman, and she thought he was just a rusty old man, but here he is giving them a bit of a rough time. Then again, Fury's in his sixties and he can still kick ass.
On top a railing a couple floors above them Batman kept still, crouched down planning his next move. Pulling out his 'sticky-bomb gun' he quietly unfolded it and aimed across the two Avengers. Firing four well placed timed bombs on the other side of a wall on the level Steve and Romanov are, then aimed a floor higher and fired three bombs to the furthest wall at the north side and three more at the south side. Setting the timer for one minute and thirty seconds, Batman proceeded to execute his plan.
"Agent Romanoff, still there?" Tony called.
"Find anything?"
"Nope, just tried x-ray, still can't find him, he must have lined his suit with lead too, that or he's gone. Are we sure he's still in the building?"
"He's still in there, never saw anyone got out," Clint said through the comm link.
"How sure are you?" Steve asked.
"He's sure. You know Clint, he can see everything within his field of view," Natasha countered.
"Then tell us o' all-seeing Hawkeye, where's the Bat?" Tony asks with sarcasm.
"Dunno, but I'm thinking he knows where we are, and he's hiding just enough to avoid my sight. But there's a lot of open space between this building and the others so there's no way he's gone without anyone of us seeing him for a second."
"That sounded like a compliment Agent Barton," Tony remarked.
"It i—wait, Steve, Nat, few meters to your right… see it?"
Taking heed, the pair proceeded through the spacious empty building, on the lookout for any sign of their target. They can hear movement all around them, fluttering of a cape from behind, clanking sounds in front, the sound of a footstep right beside them, but still no sight.
"He's trying to confuse us," Steve said while he and Romanoff looked everywhere while keep their backs to each other.
"No, I think he's trying to intimidate us," Natasha replied, keeping her guns aimed at all times.
"Wrong."
Turning their heads north, the two Avengers find Batman standing a floor above them across the empty building.
"Then what were you doing?" Natasha had to ask.
"I just needed you to move where I wanted you to."
Taking his shield, Steve threw it at him, as it neared its target the timer on the bombs Batman planted earlier went off, detonating at the same time. The wall behind Batman collapsed as he ducked, letting the shield fly above him, and if he's right, the angle and speed from which the Captain threw the shield and through the large hole in the wall, Agent Barton's about to get a surprise.
Outside the building, Clint watched as the side of the building he was watching ruptured as Cap's shield came flying through right at him.
"Oh shi-!" He couldn't get out in time as the shield hit him square in the chest, the force of impact knocking him down.
Inside the building, as soon as Steve threw his shield the wall beside them exploded, the shockwave and debris blindsiding them. Knocked down from the brunt force, Steve and Natasha were covered in the remnants of the wall.
On Thor's side of the architecture the barrier fell apart after a detonation, peering inside he sees the bodies of Rogers and Romanoff. "Steven! Natasha!" Thor called out to them, running to their rescue as he moved away any of the bricks lying on top of them.
With them distracted, Batman turned his attention to Tony, taking his 'sticky-bomb' gun itself and setting its timer to five seconds, he ran to the east side and threw the gun at Ironman.
"Oh no you don't," Tony aimed at the object being thrown at him, but before he could blast it with his repulsor blasts it detonated, the explosion sending him crashing into another building.
Emerging from the rubble, Tony spotted Batman turning a corner, "That's it, no more Mr. Nice Guy," he rambled to himself. Taking flight, he turned the same corner and sees the Bat entering one of those metal container vessels found in oil rigs. Not bothering to wonder why there is one in the back alley of Gotham, he forced the aperture open only to find himself face to face with Batman, who was on top of his batpod. Revving up his customized cycle, Batman fired a couple rounds from his dual front-mounted cannons, sending the Armored Avenger zooming once again.
Getting off the batpod, Batman snagged something from it before exiting the containment vessel and remote controlled it to close.
The equipment he was seeking to obtain from there was his EMP rifle. Something he came up with ever since Tony announced himself as Ironman, which he thought was a foolish decision on the man's part, announcing your identity to the world. As the name states the rifle emits electromagnetic pulses, but instead of a regular one that affects surrounding areas, this one can be aimed and fired for a more focused shot rather than dispersing. And if his guess is right, Tony Stark has become too dependent on his armors to realize that even his advanced gold-titanium alloyed armors can be brought down.
Putting the rifle to its highest setting, Batman suddenly got struck in the side with Cap's shield, which ricocheted back to its owner, looking back up from the concrete Batman turned to find the Avengers have once again gathered, covering every possible exit.
"We have you cornered," Steve plainly stated, "Nowhere to run."
Realizing that he indeed has no more passageways out of this, Batman braced on tight, did he not buy enough time?
Before anyone even made a move or thought, they all heard it, some combination of squeaking and chirping. 'Finally,' Batman thought, his patience having paid off.
Each of the Avengers' turned their heads towards the sky, seeing it, but still having a hard time believing it.
"Oh my god," Natasha whispered more to herself than the others.
"Woah, Count Dracula anyone?" Tony exclaimed.
"Oh crap," Clint cussed.
From the dark skies, an entire colony of bats comes fluttering down, making their way and enshrouding the Avengers and the Batman. Each of the Avengers ducked, not wanting to be caught in the throng. With little visibility, they can make out the silhouettes of each other, but no sign of their target. They weren't flailing around like with what happened with the SWAT, they were just keeping as calm as they possibly can. Batman had to admit, the Avengers weren't scared at all of the bats, but he counted on that. The bats weren't here to scare them; they were here to provide cover.
Onboard the helicarrier, Fury, Hill, Banner and the entire staff were watching the scene in astonishment. Wide eyes, dropped jaws, and murmurs were seen all across the board. Banner had to slowly take off his glasses to rub his eyes, making sure he was not seeing things.
Down where the action was happening, being protected by his armor, Tony was not fazed at all by the swarm. He did figure out how the Bat called his little friends.
"Hmm, JARVIS, scan the area for any high-frequency sonics, something that can only be heard by bats, we find the source we find Count Dracula."
Seizing the opportunity, Batman decided it was the time he showed them he wasn't someone they should ever take lightly. Despite limited visibility himself, he could point out where they are thanks to their colorful costumes. Aiming his EMP rifle, he sets it on Ironman and fired.
Before JARVIS could finish analysis, Tony felt his whole armor short-circuit. Electrical sparks discharging from head to toe before dropping like deadweight. "What the hell?!" Tony howled, "JARVIS? JARVIS what just happened?!"
"M-my a-a-apologies sir-r-r, y—ourrr… aa-rmor has bee—e-en c-c-compromis-ed," JARVIS' voice came in a static condition.
"How long til we can get a full reboot?"
"Appp-proximately s-s-six minutessss, sir—"
"Six minutes?! You gotta move faster than that JARVIS!"
"W-illl unlo-o-ock yyyou-r f-facep-plate t-to a-s-ssure brea-a-athing—"
Tony's faceplate pops open, allowing him to breath, now he just has to wait until his systems reboot. Lying there on the concrete like deadweight, not able to move because of the weight of his armor while trying to watch his teammates fight one nut in a batsuit. Sighing, Tony decides that he really needs to install an insulator in his future armors to prevent this from happening again. "Go team! Kick his ass for me, will you?" he cheers them on sardonically.
With Stark down, Batman continued his attack, facing Agent Romanoff. According to his sources, Natasha Romanov has been a SHIELD agent for quite some time, prior to that she was already an adept assassin at the age of sixteen. He never got the information about where exactly she got her training, but due to her name and skill-sets, he thinks KGB in some secret training grounds that recruits young girls and trains them in infiltration, interrogation and assassination. While her skill-sets and accomplishments really are remarkable, her training doesn't specialize on extreme combat, she may be able to hold her own against low-to-mid combatants, but the high-end individuals such as Hulk, Thor, Captain America, even Iron Man. She's not prepared against either of them one-on-one.
Charging at her, he landed a couple punches to her cheek and abdomen, making her recoil from the attack. Attempting to take her down as fast as he can, he kept pouring on the offense, much to his surprise; she managed to hold her own. He'd land a couple hits here and there, but she would be able to dodge, defend or even counter against him, despite the bats hindering her field of vision.
With the bats still swirling around them, Clint could barely get a lock on anyone. He could see Tony down, Thor and Steve still waving them off while searching for the Batman, who he spots fighting Nat. Finding his opportunity as he noticed the Batman's back was to him, he pulled out his 'bola' arrow, hoping to ensnare him this time. But before he could aim Bats and Nat switched position, and if the Bat can see his arrow coming he wouldn't risk the chance.
"Nat," he calls in his comm link, "I got him on sights, but I'm in his field of vision, a little help here would be nice, gonna tie him up," he aimed and pulled, careful not to miss, watching the bats flying around blocking his perception as he waited for the opportune moment.
The two of them still fighting it out, Natasha carefully made it look like she was losing, taking a punch to the jaw and an elbow to her shoulder. Still standing, holding her damaged shoulder while wiping some blood that trickled down her mouth, she had successfully made the Batman turn his back on Clint. Patiently waiting for Clint to fire, she slowly looked up, thinking it couldn't possibly take this long to fire an arrow, despite having a swarm of bats blocking his sights.
Hearing their communications, Batman knew what they were planning. He slowly approached Agent Romanoff, taking his time to make sure Barton got a sure shot. Clint finally sees an opening within the swarm, not wasting a second he lets the arrow fly.
As the arrow quickly approaches, the tip of it pops open revealing high-tensile strength polymer cables able to immobilize anybody who doesn't have super strength. But before it would reach its intended target, Batman immediately made a high back-flip jumping at least two meters off the ground. And instead of ensnaring the Bat, the cable wires latched onto Nat, tying her up as she fell to the concrete, slowly falling unconscious from the impact of the cables and whiplash.
"Damn! Nat! You okay?!" Clint called to her, "Nat! Respond!" still no answer.
Determining that Agent Barton is distracted enough; Batman grabs a special batarang from his belt, this one has a tranquilizer at the tip of one end, the amount of sedatives in it will knock him out for at least an hour. Using his throwing skills, he flings the batarang towards Barton's location, aiming true the dart hit its target right in the neck.
Pulling the dart out from his neck, Clint's vision slowly darkened, reaching for his adrenaline shot before he knocks out, holding the syringe by his thigh he couldn't make it in time as the effects of the sedative took over as he blacks out on the roof.
With Barton, Stark and Romanov down, all Batman has left is Steve and Thor. Reaching for the 'sedative booster' in his belt he saved for Dr. Banner, he speculated that it should also work on Thor. The God of Thunder, he didn't have much intel on the Asgardian, just what he read in Norse mythology and files SHIELD has on him, but he could see it plain as day. The god was very confident in his strength, perhaps to the point he's too reliant on his powers and the fact that he's a god. But he's going to experience something he's never going to forget.
As he approaches them, the last two Avengers still standing were still busy with the enshrouding bat colony.
"Thor! I need you to use your hammer to blow these bats away!" Steve shouted over the sounds of thousands of squeaking bats, keeping his shield by his side.
"These little creatures don't deserve to be exterminated Rogers! They're not even attacking us!" Thor shouted back, unaware of a shadow creeping up behind him.
"Not destroy them with lightning! You can use your hammer to conjure gusts of winds, can't you?!"
No reply came back.
"Thor?!" Turning to his comrade, Steve finds Thor lying down on his back barely moving at all. "Thor!" Running up and kneeling by his side, Steve checked his teammate over for any sign of injury, nothing. Opening his eyelids, Steve noticed something, Thor's pupils were constricted, his skin flushed and he seems to be fading in and out of wakefulness. He wasn't quite sure, but Thor looked completely euphoric.
"Word of advice for you Captain?" Batman's gravelly voice came from behind.
Standing up and slowly turning to face the man who practically incapacitated the Avengers, Steve's face was stone cold serious, "What?"
"Your team is good, but they need more work with their synergy, they tend to talk too much, especially Stark. They also need to adjust their flaws if you're going to be defenders of the earth."
Unsure if that was supposed to be an advice or if he was looking down on his team, Steve charged at the Batman. But before he could reach him, Batman casually tossed some device his way. Catching it, Steve noticed the bats swirling around seem to navigate to him more. Deducing this must be what summoned the whole colony here, Steve looked up to find the Batman has disappeared, and this time he had no way to find him. Dropping the device to the ground, he crushed it underneath his boot, within seconds the bats dispersed, making everything visible again.
"Is the fight over?" Tony's voice was heard a few yards away, "Did we win?"
Onboard the helicarrier, as they watched the bats fly away everyone could see the current situation of the Avengers, everyone down for the count, save for Captain America, who was just standing there looking at the night sky.
Leaning slightly towards Maria Hill's direction, Fury asks her, "What was that you said about the Batman not being able to stand a chance against any of them one-on-one?"
Rolling her eyes at him, Hill merely sighed and kept her mouth shut, perhaps she needs to look over Batman's files in more detail to get a better grasp of his overall aptitude.
"All right men," Nick calls out to the hangar, "I need evac down there, bring 'em in," he tells them, giving the order to pick up the Avengers.
Underground Sewers
Down in the deep sewers of Gotham, having finally escaped out of that situation, Batman was leaning against the sewer wall taking deep breaths. His was exhausted; having cracked ribs and a mild concussion didn't help matters either. Even though, he still has a mission to do.
Taking a few minutes to get his second wind, Batman stood back up and traversed his way towards the location he was supposed to meet up with Selina Kyle, not aware of the trap laid in front of him…
To Be Continued…
A/N: Whew! I had fun writing this one! Though it was hard keeping Batman grounded and stll making it believable that one man took down the Avengers, let me know if there's something I should've added or should've taken out from this chapter. Thanks.