Sometimes you can stare at the monitor for days and write not a single word. Sometimes you can lose your sleep because of the idea you have, and honestly, I better prefer something in the middle of those two.
Nevertheless, second chapter is here. I won't say anything here and will relocate my thoughts to lower section.
Enjoy.
PS Whoever invents the gun to kill the typos, please send me a copy ASAP.
The large hall was already touched by first golden rays of the rising sun. The Wayne Manor was an empty place, and during nights it felt abandoned, out of time even. During days, though, this place was a bit better when sun visited it though large ornament glass, filling rooms with light and taking the darkness away. Terry was already awake - he slept a little and took a shower, now working on a laptop while chatting with Max:
- I hate when you do that, - she yawned tiredly, - How can you sleep so little?
- You'll know when you are Batman, - he said, slightly grinning, - Did you find something on Deanna?
- Y-yeah, give me a sec~...damn it, here it is...several weeks ago her housekeeper called an ambulance - she lost her consciousness and fell on a floor...some blunt trauma, nothing dangerous...oh God.
- Max? - Terry asked immediately when he heard Max gasping in surprise.
- They took her blood sample, and...it seems she's slowly degrading. Something about DNA damage, it can't replicate itself and degrades too fast, - Max took a slight pause while typing something on her side, - She decided to take treatment at home, and judging by the logs, she started to constantly feel pain...she can sleep only under heavy medical drugs. Muscle atrophy, inner organs damage...it started to affect even her brain recently, her neurons are breaking apart. The doctors managed only to slow the process down to some degree, but most optimistic prediction? She have five month, six at most.
- ...just like Inque. She is dissolving more and more by the hour.
- You think their conditions are the same?
- Maybe, but I need to make her talk - she seems to know about her daughter more than she wants me to know, - Terry turned his eyes towards the rising sun, looking at peaceful morning over Gotham, - And I don't have much time - Batcomputer analyzed her sample, and in best case scenario she can hold out for two-three days.
- And in worst case scenario?
- Ten hours. Fifteen tops.
- ...and you can't contact mister Wayne, right? - she sighed, while also typing actively on her laptop.
- He said that it's too dangerous to talk about "work" from where he is right now, so...how he said it, radio-silence?...yeah, something like that, - Terry lied down on the couch and closed his eyes, trying to get his thoughts together, - And now I need to help a supervillain, who tried to kill me several times, because she asked.
- I am surprised that this actually happened. She wasn't seems to be the type to, you know, talk to you instead of outright kill you on the spot...do you think she changed?
- ...maybe, - said Terry, opening his eyes and looking at the ceiling, - Maybe she is just using me to save yourself and Deanna, and when it's done, she will be at it again.
- But it's worth the try, right? And if she goes insane, you probably will stop her...right?
- Dunno, - Terry sit on the couch, staring at the monitor of his laptop, - She pulled off some crazy moves, and fighting her...is freaking scary, Max.
- So, what's our next move with her?
- I'll try to find a way to stabilize her, or find someone to make that happen...Batcomputer has the solution, but it's temporary and requires a lot of materials, which are not so easy to get...and if I will get them, it must not be stealing.
- ...how about stealing from those, who steal? You know, compromise to your code?
- You have something?
- Probably will, just give me some time, I have few ideas. And maybe you can check Batcomputer and some other leads?
- Yeah, will try to. Thanks, Max.
When Terry walked down to the Batcave, Inque was still inside, and judging by her look, her condition worsened - she turned into a liquid serene pool, and to make things worse, Terry noticed some bubbles were forming on her surface. Something like that already happened in their last encounter, and it led to her near-dissolving...though she survived, but it seems it was the final point for her. He quickly stepped to Batcomputer and started to work, trying to gather more information and to get some ideas on how he could help her condition. Inque was quite all that time, only extending her large white oval from her mass to watch him closely.
The problem was more than just serious, it was complex - trust issues, Deanna's condition and Inque's instability were all tied together to how she became Inque in the first place. Terry studied many villains and their origins, and he could sometimes understands their motives, and sometimes he couldn't. So...how can you help the world's most effective and dangerous thief and saboteur? Fixing her condition and trying to get her talk about what she was will be a good starting point, but the chemicals that were needed are really hard to come by...except that there are several groups that like to steal chemical compounds - new splicer gang that appeared on the streets just two weeks ago, KOBRA cell operating somewhere in undercover, maybe Jokerz, but they went underground along with the T's.
- We have better chances with splicers, - suddenly said Inque. Despite how far she was from the Batcomputer, she seemed to see perfectly anything on the monitor, despite the distance, - They need chemicals to produce custom DNA-stabilizers for the splicing process.
- Yeah, except it won't be easy to find them, - Terry said, still working on the Batcomputer.
- If you don't know where to look...but I do.
- Where? - Terry quickly turned towards Inque's cage.
- Oh, I can take you there, - she said in playful voice.
- You are in no condition to fight, Inque, - Terry crossed his arms on his chest, glancing at Inque strictly.
- I said, that I will take you there, but you will be the one to fight...open the tray, - she extended her tentacle towards and poked three times, - I will leave most of myself here.
- Only with the bag, - said Terry, quickly finding the infamous sealed bag and coming with it towards the Inque's cage.
- Fine, be it bag, but don't you dare to forget about me. I hate that bag more, than I should.
- So this is the famous Batmobile from the inside...quite dark interior. Love it.
It was already morning, and Terry had to flew around for about half an hour before he opened bag with small Inque inside it. She was now occupying the top of his head, holding with her small tentacles to his sharp ears while Batmobile was flying across the Gotham. Terry asked Max to keep digging around other possible options while he was "working":
- You are here to chit-chat, Inque?
- Let's stuff you inside the small dark bag for an hour or two, how about that? - she quickly angered at Batman, descending her white oval eyes right in front of his eyes, - I am still human being, scraphead.
- Right...sorry for that, but you don't have much time.
- I never do, - she retracted her eye back and sighed, - Go to mid-Gotham, sector three, level three, I will give you directions.
"Mid-Gotham" was a section that was for everyday people - factory workers, small clerks, police officers and other little gears in big sprawling machine that Gotham became over the years. Some of the Terry's friends were from here, and he had to visit this part of the city from time to time, will it be investigation or another matter. It was much prettier than lower part of the city with much cleaner streets and absence of homeless people, but it wasn't as good as upper part of Gotham, where life shined with richness and technology. Still, people that lived here had decent life, but the majority of known crimes were coming from the mid-Gotham, with lower-Gotham being the absolute crime champion. The police was working hard here, and you can't deny the effort Gordon put into mid-Gotham to make life for all thugs as miserable as possible - constant patrols, every street and intersection had infopanels about local wanted criminals, security cams on every corner, quite effective raids on hideouts...but it wasn't enough, and considering the recent news about cops leaving GCPD, it will only get worse.
With Inque's direction, she pointed Terry towards local "credit house" - basically a criminal and poor people dream come true, where you could get yourself a room for a long period of time, if you have cash. And if you have more cash, no questions would be asked and the security cams will "suddenly" malfunction when it needed to. It wasn't cheap, and despite raids on such hideouts, they were keeping popping up, with some of them cooperating with the GCPD, and some - not. This one, by Inque's intel, wasn't, and was used for deals between couriers of variety of splicers gangs and black market traders. Terry switched Batmobile to silent running mode and dropped down with Inque on the roof, quickly taking cover behind large solar panel and signaling Batmobile to leave. The roof was empty, but Terry still took his time to look around before venturing to the door with the control panel. As he was about to hack the control panel, Inque stopped him:
- Wait, - she quickly launched herself towards the panel and squeezed herself inside it. After some time she re-emerged and jumped onto Batman's hand, - The panel was wired with the signaler, which could activate if you tried to brute-force it or use spike on it.
- ...you knew that? - Terry resumed the hacking of the door, extending the port on his finger, while looking around.
- Had a hunch, - she replied, while taking place at the top of his head, - I remember that they had multiple silent alarm systems, in case of the raids...or rats poking around.
- Got it, - as Terry opened the door, he was stopped by Inque again.
- Laser alarm, - she pointed her tentacle towards the small red laser emitter that was on the floor.
- ...they are taking this seriously, - he carefully stepped over the laser ray and quitely closed the door, - And probably that's not all they have.
- They have their share of cuts from the deals inside these walls, - explained Inque as quite as possible, while Batman was silently walking downstairs, - And it depends from place to place, but if a "house" has serious security, they can charge bigger cut.
- And those money are spend on more security? - Terry reached the first door and pressed two fingers to the wall, activating sound enhancement system.
- Police bribes comes first, of course, - Inque reached a bit forward, trying to see what Batman was doing, - Then bribes to local government, inspectors of various kinds, and of course the biggest local group that protects "house".
- And exactly what we are looking for?
- We are looking for cellar. The group I knew and had some small deals preferred to make business there, and they tend to left messages about next meeting.
- Encrypted? - Terry began to descend slowly, trying to spot possible danger.
- No, why? They believe this place is secure...and you should probably keep it that way, if you can. To your own benefit.
- Yeah, to allow them profit and make God knows what they are discussing here, - he replied sarcastically, carefully hugging against the wall when he heard footsteps on another floor.
- To catch bigger fish, you need to pass on small ones, - she was whispering right on his ear, - Come on, Batman, play smarter, because you can.
- No "slow learner" line, Inque?
- Not today.
- ...and why you chose my head? - he asked, stopping briefly to wait for some local denizens walk back into main floors from the stairway.
- Your silly pointy ears are very handy, and I like to be on top.
As they reached the lower levels, Inque used herself to silently open the physical lock on the door, that led to cellar, and when Batman came inside she closed the lock and slithered back in. The cellar was a typical one - water purifiers, boilers, some clothes and belongings of other people, and lots of pipes. When Inque get back on his head, Terry activated optical camouflage, but suddenly Inque whispered to him:
- Not working on me. I will lead the way, you follow.
Terry just nodded, and two of them started to slowly creeping around the cellar, which turned to be occupied by some people. Some of them Terry recognized - they were wanted for variety of crimes, from thievery to third degree murder, and it was hard to pass on all of those criminals that were still sleeping in safety from justice, while justice incarnate was walking among them. Carefully following Inque, both of them soon were facing very sturdy looking door, which was closed on a mechanical lock. Inque quickly slithered inside the lock, silently opening him and waving at Batman to come closer. As Terry walked past the door, Inque repeated the procedure with closing the lock from outside and slithered back in, quickly crawling to Terry's head:
- That's the place, - she said, while Terry was looking around small room with old metal table and four crude chairs around it, - The messages are hidden inside the false brick, which is...here, - she pointed towards the left wall with her tentacle. As Terry walked towards the wall, he and Inque slowly took out the false brick, which revealed piece of paper inside vacuum seal.
- And this is going to..., - Terry quickly stopped his question when he got the letter in his hands. He took a quick glance on it, and then he looked at Inque - she leaned forward, studying letter closely, - It's your lucky day.
- Maybe, but you still have to pull this one alone, remember?
- I know, - Terry quickly put letter back, with Inque carefully returning it to it's original position, and he slowly placed the false brick back, - Let's head back, we are done here.
Inque wasn't quite happy when she returned back to the Batcave inside the bag and had to get inside her cage again, but this time Terry made a small compromise - he moved her cage close to Batcomputer, so they could work together:
- You know something about those splicers?
- Only that they use a normal humans for courier job. I never met their alpha or any of them...it's how they call their leader, - she explained when Batman turned to her with raised eyebrow, - But I know that those rogue groups really hate you for what you did with other splicers you put in prison, and especially for what you did with Cuvier.
- Never was a fan of his work...the meeting will be held in lower Gotham area, in this very building.
- Plan?
- Trace the courier back to splicers, beat the splicers and get your chemicals intact, - he glanced back at Inque, who looked sceptical...despite the lack of face to read such emotions from, - What?
- Just taking notes that you need to be better at this, - she sighed before starting to explain, - Tracing the courier could be waste of time - they never go to such places right after deals and meetings, they could wait up to a month before moving to the hideout.
- ...intercept the courier and get the location.
- After the deal and when he is far away from witnesses or to call for help, - she sounded pleased when Terry quickly got the idea, - And after that?...
- ...make sure he can't inform the splicers, - nodded Terry to her, - But no...
- No killing, I get it.
- You got it when you assaulted those cops at chemical plant without killing them? - asked Terry, coming closer to her cage and crossing his arms together.
- You wouldn't understand, what I felt back then, Batman, and...
- That's just an excuse to not talk, Inque, - he interrupted her quickly, - If we are working together, and we are now working together, I need to know, if you can keep it up and not fall back again, - he made a pause, to let Inque some time to retort, but she fell silent all of sudden, - ...and to do that, we have to talk about what happened to you before you became what you are now. Because I don't believe that you became world's dangerous criminal out of good life, - he waited for her to talk back, but there was only silence from her. After a whole minute of waiting Terry finally sighted and started to walk towards the exit of Batcave, - I will see you in several hours, the stabilizer inside the tray.
- ...we will talk, - she finally spoke when Terry was about to leave, - But later. At least for now I will try to hold myself, if it's what you want to hear.
- It's not about what I want, it's about what you want, - he replied back before switching lights off, - Because I can't force you to change...Only you can.
Terry took more time to sleep, and made a call home to chat with mother - he and mister Wayne made an alibi about Terry's responsibilities around the manor, which in turn allowed him spend weekends inside the manor and Batcave. But, of course, his sleep was suddenly disturbed by the call from commissioner Gordon. Still sleepy, Terry quickly pushed the button and yawned into the microphone:
- Yes?
- Restless night, kid?
- Something like that...you are calling about work? - Terry still tried to get yourself together, yawning again, - Because I really wanted to rest.
- Got it, kid...Tim called me today.
- Mister Drake? - the sleep was gone in a second Gordon mentioned his name, - Is he alright?
- No worries, kid, he is fine, he...he just reminded me how much we owe you and how harsh I can be, - Barbara sighed, as on the other end of the Gotham she was looking at a picture of smiling, but old Tim Drake, - Unjustly harsh even...Tim will come over to town to work on some new satellites, and he wanted to meet with you...when you are not working.
- When mister Drake will come to Gotham?
- Next month...and kid, we need to talk tomorrow.
- Got it...but where?
- The same place as Bruce used for talking. Have a good day, kid.
Of course Barbara meant rooftop of GCPD HQ, that was easy to follow. But they never talked like that, never before, even after when Barbara acknowledged that she was wrong about Terry after dealing with the Joker, and accepted Bruce's proposition about private secure link with Batmobile...which she never used until last night. And now she wants to meet him in person? The situation either worse than he thought, or commissioner Gordon decided to be a little bit like her father in terms of relationship with Batman...or maybe she wants to berate him in person, who knows. The most important thing was about dealing with the courier today, so Terry returned to rest and later started to prepare. Inque, of course, was watching him closely, and she wasn't looking good - the bubbles that formed on her slowly now were forming much faster, and those bubbles popped with a nasty sound, effectively reducing her mass at alarming rate.
- ...can you keep this up for long? - he finally asked her when everything was ready.
- For tonight, but I can't return back to my mass, if I leave it - it will degrade much faster without me, - she had a hard time talking, and she was constantly pausing herself, - And if I connect myself to it...I won't be able to halt the reaction as I am doing it now.
- Alright, - Terry walked towards the cage, and he noticed that she really lost at least quarter of her mass just today, - Bo bag today, but you better have to tricks, Inque.
- Believe me, if I had tricks...damn it...you would've known, - Terry nodded, and opened all trays. Inque slowly detached herself from her mass and walked towards the exit, quickly jumping in Batman's head and moaning with relief, - Much better without bag, I can tell you...and you probably call it bat-bag.
- Just try to hold your form, Inque, - Terry quickly approached Batmobile and entered his seat, connecting suit with the control systems, - I'll try to get this fast.
- I know you will, - she said with a strange expression before falling silent for the rest of the ride.
Terry had to improvise in terms of navigation and confusing Inque for a while with flying all over the Gotham with inner sensors turned off - he was navigating with the help of a computer grid for fifteen minutes before he pressed the button and made inner sensors display Gotham. To his surprise, Inque wasn't as talkative as before, even when they reached the destination and dropped down. It took some time to reach the point, where they could observe the building without being noticed, and lucky for Inque, Terry was quite mobile in his suit. The building they were after was some old hotel, abandoned for ages and eroded by time in many places. Some homeless people were around the place, lying around or resting near fire, but they were not around the hotel or inside it.
The work of Batman can sometimes be dangerous, but most of the time it's poking around, piecing everything together and waiting, watching. This segment required patience Terry lacked from the start, but he learned how to be patient and tried to be as observable as possible. For instance, he noticed that some people were walking around the streets, definitely trying to spot snitches or other threat, some of them even entered hotel several times. After thirty minutes of waiting, Terry finally spotted a group that appeared at the backyard of the hotel and walked through broken wall inside the hotel building. That group had no gang marks or clothes to make them distinct, so they were something else...but something about them was really off.
- I hope you don't have stupid ideas of charging in, - Inque whispered on his ear, while also working as a spotter.
- You can read people's mind now too? - asked Terry while looking over the street to spot a lone man approaching building also from the backyard.
- That's our courier. I recognized him, - Inque also turned towards the man just in time to saw him, - Don't know the name, didn't care to ask, but he was doing it for a while.
- What for? Money?
- You never considered options where people are drugged into this world against their will? Without the options to leave? - she said with a slight sigh and disappointment in her voice.
- Touche. And don't even think to say...
- You are a slow learner, - she said quickly in a playful tone.
- I hate you so much right now...
The courier left building first, and it didn't looked like he had something on him, but Terry knew that he must've have something. He and Inque were following the courier for a while, and when the time was right, Terry threw a batarang with a rope attached to it. The man didn't expect that, as he didn't expect to be quickly pushed up five floor's up. Screaming all the way up to the roof, the man also yelped when he saw Batman himself, holding the rope with one hand.
- W-what do you want?
- I saw you making that transaction with some shady people. I want to know what was that about.
- I-I d-don't know what you are talking about!
- This is taking too long, - sighed Inque, quickly jumping from behind Batman's shoulder towards the courier, quickly disappearing inside his clothes.
- W-what was that?!...cut it off, cut it!.., - the courier was shaking for a while, but suddenly went silent when Inque started to throw out items from his hidden pockets, which all were plastic sealed cases. She even managed to throw his belt for some reason.
- There, - she jumped back to Batman, pointing at items with her tentacle, - Those cases are used to transport chemicals from one place to another - easy to hid and carry around.
- And the belt?
- Hidden compartments, - she jumped down and quickly teared down the belt, revealing an elastic sealed case with some sort of liquid inside, - Bendable...very expensive toy.
- So you don't know anything, - Batman glanced at the courier, narrowing his eyes.
- L-Look, they are using me for several months now - pay them, get money from those, get this, get that... don't know even know what this stuff is! - he quickly broke down, shouting loudly, - And they don't want to release me!...they pay a lot, but the crap I have to go through is too much!...B-Batman, m-maybe you can take them down?
- I will. Now tell me everything, - Terry reached for the courier and got him on the roof, freeing from the rope.
- They call themselves "Nocturnality", but they were doing just robberies and racketeers...at least for some time, - the man sighed when Batman released him and sat on the roof, watching Inque with strict fear in his eyes, - ...recently they got contacted by some group, and they started to...they called it "wet work", and those people payed them a lot...they also supplied them with the chemicals and other stuff in exchange for some...problem solving.
- Those contacters that were in the hotel during exchange?
- Y-yes, - the courier nodded, while also going pale and starting to sweat, - They always hid their faces, and...I dunno, something is off with them.
- What was the recent exchange? - suddenly asked Inque, moving a bit closely to the courier.
- Data chip, I don't know what was on it, but they seemed to accept them without even looking at the content of those chips.
- And they gave you chemicals? - Batman picked up a small plastic container, carefully studying it.
- Y-yes, I have no idea what are they for...l-look, they have a hideout in northern part of the lower Gotham, in a big ruined "Polar Night" hotel, - the man quickly started to explain, because Inque suddenly moved towards the courier and stopped only when he started talking, - They have a lab, pretty big one, in the cellar level.
- How many of them? What splices they used? - Inque outpaced Batman with the same question he had in mind.
- F-four - one girl took a panther splice, and other three guys took hedgehog, bear and...some sort of reptile, looks creepy as hell.
- Who is the leader? - asked Inque again, crawling creepily and slowly every second courier was not talking.
- The hedgehog one!
- When you were supposed to deliver them those chemicals? - now Batman asked.
- In f-four days!
- I will send you down, but those chemicals are staying, - Terry slowly rose up and helped the courier to get on his legs, - And you better go to police and tell them everything.
- Except about me, - Inque made it clear with her indisputable, threatening tone while she was talking to the courier.
- ...except about her, - sighed Terry, because she was right - knowing that Inque was working with Batman could lead to confrontation with Gordon, and Terry wasn't ready for that confrontation yet.
- See? We can work together, - Inque was lazily swaying on top of Batman's head while he was driving Batmobile towards the location.
- That's quite a stretch, Inque.
- And I can stretch a lot...but I got your point, - she sighed when she saw the glare from Batman in reflection, - What's our plan?
- Take out the splicers and raid their chemical supplies. I have no idea what you need, so you might have start to remember all that chemistry stuff, - Batman glanced at the computer map of the area, carefully turning at intersection.
- Of course I remember, but that wasn't the question...May I inquire on how you will take them out?
- Starting with the alpha or other big guys.
- Sounds like a semi-good plan to me, - she replied in pleased tone while looking outside of the Batmobile.
- Bet you could better, huh?
- Of course, - for the first time Terry heard her laugh, even if it was a brief one...and wasn't a maniacal laughter either, - But you improved from the last time, I can give you that. And no, I will not pester you with that catch-phrase right now.
- That's a relief.
The Batmobile dropped Terry on the roof of a hotel before leaving the area in silent run mode. Terry quickly ventured towards the door that lead to the stairway of the hotel. The whole building was slowly falling apart - the holes dotted hotel from the inside and outside, the stairway collapsed in many places years ago, the walls were crumbling just by looking at them, and some of the exposed wires were sparking from time to time. Thanks to enhanced vision, Terry could see in the dark just enough to maneuver inside the crumbled building, slowly searching every floor with sonar sensors for any activity until he reached the second floor, where he heard voices talking in some remote room. As Terry was about to open the door inside the hall, Inque stopped him:
- Wait. They probably can smell you from afar, if they already haven't.
- Yeah, but I have to get closer on them.
- Go get closer, but make an advantage of it.
- Mind games, - Terry nodded, slowly going inside the large hall and using sonic sensors on his fingers to track the right room.
He quickly found the right place - it was a big room that had several broken walls, from which Terry could see some figures inside the far away room, constantly arguing about something. Inque quickly dropped down and slithered towards the broken walls, pointing at them:
- Booby-trap, - she whispered as low as she could, - Behind you also.
That was a good idea, but Terry even made it better after he studied the environment around himself. Inque was on watch duty, and joined Batman when he prepared a small section of the corridor for possible fight. As he walked towards the room where he spotted the figures, he could heard them more clearly when Terry pressed his fingers to the wall:
- ...are really schway. Gotta admit - they know a lot about it.
- You know, we probably should find others at this point.
- Again with that idea? Look, the others are broken or gave up. We are on our own for now, and we can count only on...
The explosion along with the surprised female scream were a clear indication, that one of the traps actually worked. Without hesitation, Terry quickly rolled away from the wall just in time for it to be punched through. Throwing timed batarang to the ground, Terry just ran off, jumping over his own booby-trap and rolling to the side before he could hear another explosion with another scream that changed to constant swearing. But it was too soon to celebrate the victory - he just made two opponents out of facing all four...for now. And those two quickly dashed in, staring with a surprised look at:
- Batman! What you forgot here, you freaking rat?! - one of the splicers was really a hedgehog - he was covered in short, but very sharp spiked, that covered all his back and the back of his hands, so he wasn't wearing a shirt to that reason. Tall one, and he looked really strong, even stronger than the other splicer - he was some sort of skinny lizard, and was constantly licking the air with his long swift tongue. For some reason, the shirt wasn't on him too.
- Pest control, - he responded coldly while moving backwards slowly, staying away from the holes on the floor.
- That's it, tear him apart!
As the lizard-splicer made a leap forward, Terry quickly delivered a kick from his foot right to lizard's face, sending the splicer through the wall. Alpha-hedgehog moved right from behind his comrade and assaulted Terry with a series of punches, pushing him towards the hole in the floor, where other splicers were probably waiting. But when splicer opened Terry's defenses and was about to deliver a serious blow, Inque leaped forward and closed alpha's eyes with herself. Terry quickly reacted and started to kick the crap out of alpha, while he was struggling to tear Inque from his face down.
And probably because he was so focused on Alpha, Terry forgot about a lizard-splicer, who quickly came from the side, smashing Batman into the wall and biting on his shoulder. Terry let out a short growl, forcing his both hands inside the maw and trying to pull them out. The suit managed to hold out worse, but the maw of lizard-splicer kept closing in, increasing the pressure on the suit. Inque was not doing good either - Alpha finally managed to threw her from his face and now he was closing in on Terry, who couldn't think anything better to just turn the electrical current on his suit. The lizard-splicer quickly opened his maw and stepped back, trying to get his thoughts together, while the Alpha started to press on Terry again, but this time Terry saw the pattern of incoming attacks and hit the Alpha several times above his waist with his knee. A roundhouse kick send him flying across the corridor, but as he was about to storm towards the Alpha he felt something jumping on his back and trying to tear through the suit. Working almost on instincts, Terry raised his legs to get a hold of a panther-splicer before throwing her to the side while also overturning. The panther-splicer cried, since Terry got her leg into a painlock, but she was quickly knocked down by Terry with several punches to the nape. The lizard-splicer guy was about to finally shake that stun down when Batman kicked him several times under his maw with his fists, with only on fifth strike managing to knock down the second splicer.
Suddenly something pierced through the wood and grabbed his legs, quickly dragging Batman on the first floor..and then on the ground floor when everything collapsed under the bear-splicer. Terry quickly kicked splicer to the face and used the momentum to roll away from him. The bear-splicer was fierce - even more muscular than the Alpha, with the jaw so big it made Terry shiver for a second. Terry was about to start a fight when he heard a shout from above:
- Use it! Rip that bat idiot in half!
The splicer just silently nodded, and he took something out of his black pants Terry have not seen for a long time - a patch of Venom. When he took out the Chappell, who managed the production and distribution of new Venom formula, a lot of patched went to black market. They were for a price of gold, since only Chappell could replicate formula while other copy-cats couldn't, and thus Venom while was on the street, it was hard to obtain due to limited quantity. Meanwhile, bear-splicer quickly applied the patches to himself - two on each arm, one to his neck and one near his heart. If the splicer-thing was bad enough, the Venom-splicers were unheard of...at least for today.
Terry walked slowly backwards while bear-splicer was approaching him. The very first punch made Batman flew through the wall and lie down for a long time before he could come to his senses and got up to dodge the tackle just in time. The punches he threw at bear-splicer were nothing, and Terry had a hard time avoiding grabbing attack, which he evaded with a rolling backwards. The bear-splicer started to close in again, and though Terry managed to avoid his attacks, some of them actually teared down the suit, while his own attacks were ineffective. The bear-splicer suddenly made a quick move and grabbed Terry with his hands when suddenly Inque quickly dropped from the ceiling, closing his eyes completely.
- Now! - she shouted, while also covering the nose of the splicer with her own body, making bear-splicer open his jaw to breath. That gave Terry good idea, and he quickly threw two tablets of sleeping gas inside the jaw of the splicer. Terry had a hard time closing the jaw, he head to literaly wrap himself around it, and it still was hard - the splicer panicked and started to smash Batman into the walls, while trying to tear Inque from his face, but the tablets already were leaking sleeping gas, and soon enough the splicer was down, lying on the floor, - Whew, that was harder than I thought, but I got the edgy one.
- How? - Terry sighed and just sat down, trying to collect himself from the fierce battle.
- Got inside him and blocked his trachea...don't give my that look, he's alive, I double-checked it.
- Why you have a habit of entering inside people?...and why you didn't do that again? - he sighed, slowly getting up from the floor.
- First - it's the easiest way, - Inque quickly slithered across the suit and reached the top of his helmet, - Second - he had a really bad breath.
- ...really?
- What? I have my own standards.
When the splicers were secured and Terry informed the police about their hideout, he and Inque raided the lab on cellar level. It was surprisingly good, considering it was in lower Gotham and inside the building that could collapse any day. Inque's chemistry knowledge helped not only to find needed materials, but she also stated that such lab produced a lot of splicing injectors and chemical drugs. Shutting this place down was a small victory, but Inque was most exited about the quality and quantity of chemicals they found. Terry even had to attach a fridge to Batmobile just to take the needed with him, and short while after Inque and Batcomputer were helping Terry to create a stabilizer. It, of course, was a crude one - it could stabilize Inque for about several days, but they had a lot of them...for now. The real question was about trust issues:
- ...oh no, you don't. I can tolerate being inside this cage for so long, but I won't get inside it again, - she wasn't happy to hear that Terry wanted to keep her in it, to say the least. To be fair, she was genuinely pissed off, - So you will give my that stabilizer and let me out.
- And you will behave?
- I turned for your help, Batman! - she exclaimed annoyingly, pointing at her mass that faded by another quarter, - If I wanted you dead, you would be. Right now you have me, just like anyone else had before you - completely at your mercy, - she slowly realised her position and changed her tone to a one of complete defeat, - ...again.
- I am not a big fan of slavery, Inque...and when I said I will help you, I will kept my word, but! - he quickly continued when she tried to retort, - I need to know if I can trust you. You will not know the secret identities or the location we are at, but I don't want you to trash this place for the second time.
- I won't. If it means something, you have my word - for now, I will not do anything against you and will be on your side, - she took a pause to look at her mass, which was dissolving rapidly, - If it won't work out as we both probably want - we will start it all over again.
- Do you really want to start it all over?
- ...no. But it's not my choice to make.
- You are wrong, - Terry took two stabilizer bottles and walked towards the cage. Inque quickly dropped from the table and followed him, - It's your choice always, - Terry opened all five trays, putting the stabilizers inside the trays and taking steps back, with arm crossed on his chest.
Inque was quick - she jumped in, took the first bottle with her and entered her mass. The mass started to swirl inside, and from it a tentacle extended towards the second bottle, quickly opening it and carefully apply it all over the mass till the last drop. After long minutes of waiting Inque slowly crawled out of the cage and she finally started returning to her human form. While the process was slow, she at least stopped dissolving and it felt like she returned to at least fraction of her power, as she was testing herself - stretching her arms and legs, changing shapes and sizes, even tested her blade-arm on the ground, leaving a scratch on it. It wasn't ideal, though - she lost a lot of mass and now she was even shorter than Batman remembered her from the last encounters, with more androgynous rather than famine form. Sure, she wasn't able to stretch as far as she previously could, shapeshifting also took more precious seconds, but she quickly discarded her negative thoughts while constantly clenching her fists back and forth, just to feel herself again:
- ...maybe it is, - she finally said, returning to her human form and looking at Batman seriously, - Did you find out what is happening to my daughter?
- I am still trying to figure this out.
- You are bad at lying, you know that? - she approached him slowly before asking, - At least tell me, is she alright?
- For now.
- Don't make me~
- I will tell you soon enough, Inque, - Terry quickly interrupted her, - I have an accomplice that watches her condition and digs into it. That's all I will tell right now.
- Fine...and you probably don't want me to visit her? - she crossed her arms together, looking at Batman with a grim expression on her face.
- At least for now. We have to figure out what is happening to her, and even more, how to stop her being a target...that's what I forgot to ask - how you managed to arrive to manor before the attack?
- Learned it from the street and pushed the right people...just as you did. It has to do something with the...train wreck, right?
- Yeah, the weapons, suits and other tech got into black market after the supposed sabotage, - Terry nodded at the Batcomputer and walked to it, quickly opening the files he had right now, - I thought it was your work at first.
- I won't take revenge on my daughter, Batman, - she said, walking towards the large monitor and quickly reading the info, while pressing one of her hands on Batman's shoulder, - ...the official version talks about computer parts, that means they are covering the sabotage from the press, if weapons were stoled instead.
- The police already looking into it, but no one know how many weapons and other crazy things went to black market.
- ...that means someone can try it again, - she slowly clenched her fist, but realized that she was holding Batman's wounded shoulder when he growled, - ...sorry.
- Someone can try it again even without weapons - your daughter is a walking "Rob Me" sign, thanks to her large credit deposit, - Terry slowly rose up and walked away from the Batcomputer towards medical table, carefully touching his shoulder to find out that it was dislocated.
- My credit deposit, - Inque came to Terry, looking at his shoulder and poking it herself to see the reaction, - Left her so much money just so she could become a target...I am very good mother.
- At least you don't want to kill her...despite her attempt to kill you, - Terry growled through his teeth when Inque was poking at his shoulder where it was dislocated, - And that says a lot.
- Maybe, - she slowly rose her left arm and wrapped herself around his shoulder, quickly pushing it back before releasing. Terry only growled a little louder, and took the bandages that Inque got from the table, - There. Anything else?
- Where you learned that? - Terry nodded Inque slightly while he took the bandages.
- Had the experience...you won't dress it here, right?
- Yeah, sudden case of shyness.
- And you going to leave me here? - she chuckled a bit, looking around the Batcave, - Of course not, but we have to find a way to find a solution to~, - she fell silent as she saw Batman waving the all-to-familiar "batbag", - Son of a...
- ...you just dropped her?! - asked Max surprisingly.
- I had no other bright ideas, so, yeah, I had to drop her in a remote location with a promise to pick her up at another place tonight, after I talk to commissioner, - Terry sighed, rubbing his nose-bridge, - She doesn't know where Batcave is, I made sure of that.
- ...what you will tell Wayne when he arrives tomorrow?
- Truth? Isn't that obvious that I need his help to deal with...all that? - Terry made a slight pause, thinking about his experience with Inque this night, - ...at least she helped even when she was weakened, and maybe she can help more.
- Whoa-whoa, McGinnis, don't rush like that into that...femme fatale. She maybe helpful, but you know what she did.
- Yeah...but don't you think that I should give her a chance?
- Maybe, but...it's just too dangerous to keep one of the world's dangerous criminal that close.
- Keep your friends close, but enemies - closer...I will keep her closer and ask Wayne for advice.
- Terry, this is really dangerous, - Max said in a very concerned tone, - I am not just worried, I am terrified, because the moment she decided to switch sides...you won't be ready.
- ...I know, Max, - Terry answered quietly than usual, - I know...I will try not to do anything stupid when I around her.
- And remember about Monday, Terry. Batman should protect Gotham, but McGinnis had to graduate...and he has yet to call his mother because he probably forgot about it.
- What I would do without you, Max?
- Probably something stupid...take care, Terry.
This night would be busy, Terry knew it somehow, and he had to take a long nap before coming to meet with Gordon. To make things more dramatic than it should be, rain started to pour down...which reminded Terry Inque's relationship with water, He decided to take more more stabilizers, just in case, and went meet with Gordon on the roof of GCPD. He warned her about his arrival, and she quickly got on the roof along with her husband, Sam Young, a district attorney of Gotham City who had lots of enemies and countless assassination attempts. He was holding the umbrella for Barbara, who looked really annoyed. Terry quickly jumped from the Batmobile and quickly approached the couple:
- Commissioner. DA, - Terry nodded slightly to both of them.
- We have a problem, - Barbara frowned, looking at her husband, - Tell him.
- Someone is pushing the inspectors and even my office to stall the investigation, - Sam Young was looking nervously around, - Some of my ADA's even disappeared without a trace when I ordered them with this case against "Wayne-Powers".
- Those morons you dropped us provided vital information about a deal that will happen in three days - a shipment of weapons from this train will leave the city via old Gotham harbor, - Barbara shook her head, trying to get her thoughts together, - And I learned that someone is pushing my men to leave the police work and join new PMC called "New Dawn".
- That PMC was formed recently, but it got a lot of support in terms of providing...services, - explained DA, glancing at Barbara with a distressed look, - And they are pushing their interest in Gotham City, trying to get the right to provide protection for local departments.
- They are trying to push us out of the city, and no one can do a damn thing! - Barbara raised her tone for a moment, looking furiously at Batman for some seconds before she managed to calm down, - What do you have?
- A splicer-gang that was arrested yesterday was dealing with some group that had access to high-tech chemicals, and they were dealing for a long time - the splicers got the chemicals in exchange for espionage and assassination, - Terry crossed his arms on his chest, looking straight at Barbara, - I have no info on that group for now, but I will look into it...and into "New Dawn".
- You have to look fast, Batman - "New Dawn" is gathering a lot of support, and I am afraid they will try to take over the GCPD, - said DA worryingly.
- Not on my watch. Anything else?
- I will overlook your new acquaintance, if she will behave like you, - Barbara looked at Terry with a pessimistic expression on her face and really accusing glare. It was hard to hide something from commissioner, especially when she was good at putting pieces together, - Maybe you could use her for now to prevent the crisis, but when it's over...we will have a talk.
- We will. Commissioner, DA, - Terry quickly returned to Batmobile and headed towards the rendezvous point, where Inque supposedly was waiting for him.
Turns out, she was there, and she looked mad as hell when Batman opened the hatch to let her inside. Without hesitation Inque took place behind Terry and took a prepared stabilizer:
- Next time find a place where I can take cover more easily from the rain, - she mumbled, slowly stretching her arms.
- Next time. Do you know something on "New Dawn"?
- Heard something - they are new PMC popped out of nowhere with very advanced gear and funding, - she leaned forward looking at panorama of the city, - But beside that, nothing else - I haven't established my connections with the underground after my escape.
- Commissioner knows, that you started working with me, - said Terry, quickly glancing at navigation computer.
- ...oh. And? - she leaned even closer, resting her arms at his shoulders in impudent manner.
- And if you will behave at least like me, she will overlook you...for now.
- Gotta give her some points for being open-minded, - she sighed, getting off Batman's shoulders and asking more seriously, - What's our next step?
- Patrol the city, nothing more.
- What, you won't work on train wreck or "New Dawn"?
- The shipment of weapons from that train wreck will depart from the city in several days, we will intercept it later, - retorted Terry glancing over his shoulder, - As for "New Dawn"...we need careful approach with them.
- You can always ask me. It's not like I don't have experience in corporate sabotage and espionage, - she chuckled a little, moving to the side of Batmobile to watch the streets from above. She went silent for a while, watching Terry checking police frequency and alarm signals before asking, - ...what do you get from that?
- Meaning.
- Being Batman is your meaning? No pride, no glory - just like that?
- ... you said that we will talk about your past, and now you trying to dig mine, - Terry glanced at Inque quickly, continuing his patrol over Gotham, - Let's say, that if you tell me your past, I will tell you mine.
- You will keep that word?
- I will, - Terry looked back at Inque and seriously nodded.
- In that case...let's wait for this moment to come, - she agreed with a slight nod of her head, - But still, we better work on something related to those cases you have...we have.
- The splicers are in prison, along with the team that assaulted your daughter, and there are no other leads available for us right now.
- ...actually, there are, - Inque carefully leaned forward, glancing at Batman with one eye, - I know at least several black market traders that specialized in selling high-tech gear, and considering how well that group was equipped, somebody must know something - all those traders are well connected to each other.
- Where are they?
- I like when you don't waste time, - she grinned before continuing, - I will give you directions, go to industrial zone four at mid-Gotham for now.
The industrial zones of the city were something that Gotham was both proud of and shamed for. New advancements in technology made it possible to build safe-to-use factories, plant, refineries, you name it - it was all nice on the surface, making it possible to create jobs for variety of people. The downside was corporate greed that kept pushing people into new form of slavery - low salary, very dangerous working conditions, unpayed mandatory overtimes and other means of control kept corporations stupid rich while hopeless people spend decades trying to get by. Sometimes justice prevailed in one scenario, but one or two closed down factories with large payments and massive backlash was not enough. Such places also could be used for illegal trafficking of material or be targets for insane raids, like it was when new Jokerz tried to steal circuit boards for Joker.
- You sure he is still working here? - Terry and Inque were on a rooftop, watching closely at small private warehouse, where many workers were busy with moving packages from warehouse to trucks, running machined back and forth for at least an hour without a break.
- I am, - she took her Inque from, watching creepily from behind the cover while her body formed a solid ball, from which she extended her head, - GCPD wasn't even looking here while they were busting other traders several weeks ago.
- What can you tell me about this...
- He calls himself Clairvoyant Seagull, ex-military, but don't let that name and occupation fool you - he was kicked out of the army for selling arsenal equipment to highest bidder, and he haven't seen any combat action outside of the street, - Inque leaned a bit forward, looking with her periscope vision at the workers at warehouse, - That warehouse belongs to him, where he spends his days working for public and trading with others...and here he is, near the gate number four.
- ...the walking fashion disaster? - Terry quickly found the Seagull with Inque's direction. He was an adult man in clothes with man pockets and utility belts all over his body, with two holsters for laser pistol and at least two knife scabbards, all done in strict military fashion.
- Exactly...Look, he is leaving.
- Yeah, I see it, - Terry zoomed in a bit to see that Seagull was holding his aerocar keys. He quickly reached for his utility belt and took out a small tracking beacon, which he gave to Inque, - You need to...
- I got it, but you better give me something to communicate with you.
- Yeah, good point, - soon Terry gave her a small earpiece which she absorbed inside her along with the tracking beacon.
- Stay out of sight, as far as you can - he maybe an idiot, but he's a cautious idiot, - with that words Inque quickly dropped down while Terry returned to Batmobile.
She was right - Seagull was not just cautious, but paranoid. He changed several aerocars, used the subway three times and even managed to get from one taxi in just several seconds. But Inque was a pro, Terry got to admit it - she managed to stay out of sight and tail him through all Seagull's shenanigans. When he finally arrived, Inque quickly followed behind the Seagull, whispering on the radiolink:
- Look's like our Seagull stole enough money to get himself an apartment in upper Gotham...that's interesting.
- What? - Terry was moving towards the location, guided by tracking beacon on navcomputer.
- Our friend just got a call, and he's moving faster than before to his box...I'll get closer. He lives on the...fourth floor, the one with open balcony and stupid looking yellow deck chair.
- Don't let him spot...oh, yeah.
- I was about to rant about being offended, you know...got closer to him, increase the volume.
- Yeah, we can talk, that line is secured...I know about them too, and, if you remember, I told you - do not sell that stuff to them! - while Terry was listening to Seagull's conversation, he reached the location and dropped down from the Batmobile, activating optical camo and gliding down. The "stupid looking deck chair" Inque mentioned quickly got Terry's attention, since...it was stupid looking with all those smiley faces on it, - ...what, it's my fault now that you screwed up? You are really have some nerves to call me, demand my help and...shut it! - when Terry silently dropped down on the balcony, he saw Seagull walking around his small room and shouting violently, - Shut! It! You sold them that stuff, and it is gonna be your ass in jail for a lifetime sentence!...yeah?...Ok, look, I'll think about it, but you better have clean money ready, because I don't do charity...depends, because I have to look into how screwed you are...yeah, none taken, but be ready to leave Gotham the moment I call you...don't thank me, - Seagull ended the call and threw the telephone into the wall with a yell full of anger.
- Now it's the time to take him. Good cop/bad cop routine? I want to be the bad one.
- Not surprised, Inque...on three. Three!
As Terry charge through the glass, turning optical camo off, Inque quickly slithered across the floor towards the Seagull. He only yelped from surprise because Inque already was wrapping herself around him tightly, even closing his mouth. Grabbing Seagull by his shirt, Terry lifted him into the air and smashed against the wall:
- Guess you couldn't predict that, Seagull...I need information on your friend you were talking with.
- L-look! - Inque allowed herself to drop from his mouth, but she closed enough to Seagull's eyes, menacingly hanging down from the forehead, - I-I don't know what you are..., - Seagull suddenly muffled from surprise and fear when Inque forced herself inside his throat.
- Inque! - Terry even made step backwards from her sudden move, already reaching the back of his utility belt for electrical batarang.
- I moved just enough to stop at the entrance of this liars throat, and he still has the nose to breath...for now, - Inque slowly moved around to face the Seagull, looking at him with her white emotionless oval, - So, if you lie again, I will get inside you and tear your stomach apart.
- ...She is very pissed off right now, and you better cooperate, - Terry quickly played along, - Inque, let him speak.
- As you wish, - she slowly retracted herself from Seagulls throat, - But you better talk. Now.
- F-Fine, Christ, fine! - he coughed for a while, looking completely pale and terrified, - It was Running Danni, he was the one that sold weapons to some newcomers that stormed the manor, - he stopped for a while, trying to collect his breathing before he could continue, - I warned to not sell weapons to those hotheads, that he should wait for a more serious buyer, but he was running low on cash and make a stupid decision...he's now hiding, somewhere in the city, don't have any idea where - he uses burn-phones.
- What about the train wreck? - Terry crossed his arms together, and Inque squeezed Seagull just a little bit to make him talk faster.
- A gift from heavens, that's what every last dealer thinks - corporate-grade weaponry and gear is near impossible to come buy, and now market filled with those items.
- Examples? - Inque asked with a dangerously polite voice.
- Laser rifles and pistol, upgrades for them, exoskeleton plasma casters, exosuit parts, full-body type four combat armor, jammers, spikes, EMP's, portable proxy-servers, radars...the list goes on.
- Do you know why gangs ceased their activity? - asked Batman now.
- They are testing new gear, - Seagull licked his lips nervously, - They spend lots of money to buy that stuff, and now they are trying to use it...some say they have some sort of instructors to teach them, but I don't know any details.
- What about shipment from the city?
- You think it's weapons? - Seagull laughed nervously, - I have my sources, they say that something, instead, is coming into the city with that shipment. Maybe it will be a trade, maybe it's a decoy, I have no freaking clue.
- ...guess we are done here, - said Batman, reaching for his handcuffs, but Seagull quickly started to talk again.
- L-look, maybe sometimes I am an idiot, but I know that those weapons and gear are no freaking joke. I was dealing with custom-made stuff, but it's something top tier, Batman...look, let's have a deal instead, huh?
- Assuming I am even listening...
- I can give you that guy, Danni, on a plate and send him to GCPD, I can do it, - Seagull watched nervously as Inque was moving right above his eyes, - He will talk, a lot, and I will search for others who deal with those weapons. All I ask, is to not give me over the cops, Gordon and DA will skin me alive for illegal trading and recidivism.
- And I should trust you because?...
- Because I will sell you out other guys, give you connections! - he nervously gulped when Inque formed around his nose, like a predator ready to pounce, - You will make me profit, and I will give you dangerous clients who want to go all out big.
- ...let's say I said "yes", - Terry walked to Seagull, glaring at him menacingly, - I will let you go this time, but don't even think about double-crossing me.
- And if you think you could disappear, I will track you down personally, - Inque squeezed Seagull again, this time a bit harder.
- Is that clear?
- Y-yes, yes!
- Get Running Danni into GCPD and try to dig on that shipment, Seagull, - Terry turned away towards the balcony, walking out of the room win Inque quickly dashing behind him, - I will contact you soon.
With those final words, Batman and Inque went up, towards the waiting Batmobile, disappearing into the night.
- Whatever is going on around, it's something really big, - Batman and Inque were now on a rooftop of some old building in lower Gotham. She returned to her human form, looking troubled and more serious than ever, - And it's all part of one picture...and we maybe missed some pieces of it.
- I will dig around, and maybe you should too...for now, take this, - Terry glanced at his visor and reached the secure package with stabilizers, giving them to Inque, - I put more in case of emergency.
- Thanks..., - she reached for the package and after some consideration she gave Terry back both tracking beacon and radiolink, - I wanted to keep them for myself, but that's not how the trust works, right?
- ...you earned a little of it now, - Terry took the devices and walked towards the Batmobile, jumping inside the cockpit and taking the control levers.
- When...when you gave that to me, it felt...different, - she approached him just in time Terry was about to close the cockpit. She opened the package and counted down eight autoinjectors with a genuine surprised look on her face, - ...a lot more different from when other's.
- They never gave you much?
- It was about trying to survive from one injection to another...and being on a short leash with those things, - she glanced at Batman with a serious and grateful look, - We had a...bad start.
- That's one oversimplification...but I know what you mean, - Terry looked back at Inque, who was just standing there, not knowing what to do, - It's all up to you, but if it will make it easier...you made first steps.
- But the road is long, - she sighed silently.
- It's not long. It's endless, - he was about to close the cockpit, but Inque asked one last question.
- And is it worth it?
- That's for you to decide. For me...it's more than worth it, - he closed the Batmobile and raised to the skies towards the Batcave, leaving Inque alone on the rooftop, who watched him closely before Batmobile disappeared completely.
I always was fascinated with the idea of heroes and villains working together, there were times in comic books when Edward Nigma was private investigator and worked with Batman, there were times when Poison Ivy was on Batman's side, even Bane was fighting alongside with Batman. The union of such different characters adds such dynamic you never knew it could be even possible to achieve.
But those are really rare cases, because for the convenience of the plot villains and heroes must stay where they are, without major changes. Considering how many parallels comic books had with historical mythology, it's true to the very core, because gods from Greek pantheon were also static in terms of development, for example. Loki from Northern mythology also was an example of static character who never asked himself - even after fails and defeats - about his agenda.
Some of the comic book stories went forward in terms of this in self-contained stories, like Watchmen, where characters were complicated and were changing not only because of outside force, but also because of inner self, such as Comedian and Ozymandias.
That is my idea. The changing of the character due to outside force AND due to inner self. Some things should the way they are, can't deny that, but some things and characters can change, even should. After reading all the stuff about Inque, I saw a potential for her, which still is in constant conflict with her old self despite her desire to break the vicious circle.
Of course, that's not all to it. You probably realized that I dumped down all B:B comic book stories. While it is true to some degree, I left some things for future plot, which is slowly unfolding before your very eyes. And to make it good would be a really hard task.
I should probably take a break and have long sleep, because three hours were not enough.
Oh, one thing to tease you. Next chapter - Bruce Wayne. I am praying to altar of Kevin Konroy to make him right.