It took longer for this episode to be completed, despite the constant work around the plot.

You hate typos? I know I do, because they appear like RKO from Randy Orton - mind is typing one thing, hands - another. Gurrr. Hate it.

Nevertheles...here we go.

Enjoy.

With most of the crimes done at night, it was no doubt that Batman helped with them when he could. Without Batman, though, the crime rate seriously rose up all over the Gotham. New tech and gear, though limited, appeared here and there - some thugs could barely afford the needed stuff while big groups, such as T's and Jokerz, managed to but themselves a lot of valuable gear. While Gordon tried her best to fight against those groups, it was clear that GCPD was outnumbered and outgunned. It was bad for the several days after the the famous explosion that supposedly killed Batman for good, but just tonight something happened, that changed everything.

The skies were lighted up with the old bat-signal from the roof of GCPD HQ. It was a clear message - Batman is alive, and he is out in the streets. Of course many gangs decided that it was a hoax, pulling wool over the eyes of the city, and they decided to keep their plans for tonight. Take for example that group - newly formed gang that was robbing the jewelry store in mid-Gotham. They bought themselves some expensive stuff for disabling camera systems and cracking safes, they even managed to not trigger the alarm while breaking inside.

- How long?

- Just a few more minutes.

- If you wanted a jewelry for your coughing jacked up gals, you should've picked the store several levels down.

Without any delay, Inque appeared from the air duct and threw some two of men outside of the store, pinning them down and trapping inside herself to choke them up. The other two yelped and took out laser pistols, but Inque threw her tentacle arms forward, keeping their point sharp enough to pierce through hands. When choking of first two ended enough to make them faint, she quickly wrapped her tentacles around other two, who were holding their bleeding hands.

- Now, - she frowned, closing her face with their's, - Here's what we going to do...eeny, meeny, miny...moe, - Inque mockingly used counting rhyme, counting with her third tentacle, - Go on and spread the word that Inque is now on Batman's side, - she threw one of the perpetrators towards the aerobike, - And you are going into GCPD, congratulations!...but with something to remember me by, - she wrapped one of her tentacles over last thug's leg and with one quick movement knocked it out of it's place. Thug immediately screamed, while Inque kept mocking him by leaving inside the bush before dashing towards Batmobile and slithering inside it.

- So your tactics is too let a word on the streets that you are now with Batman, - Bruce was on a radiolink with his face in small screen.

- And to keep them afraid, - Inque quickly glanced at Bruce while carefully leading Batmobile towards another location, - When I was out, I dig up some files on Batman, and he used fear tactics to fight criminals in his time, - she glanced over the navcomputer and took a turn to the left, - And this is what I learned in the cave - how to use fear.

- Could you minimize how you are brutalizing them?

- I already did, - she raised her eyebrows, looking at Bruce, - I am no fool, I know a thing or two about reputation, but don't expect me go easy on them...and to be honest, I am enjoying it maybe too much, - she grinned while looking down at armed robbery that was in the valley under her, - Talk to you in a second.

Pulling the levers, Inque dropped down from the Batmobile and morphed right in the air, extending her "cape" to carefully aim herself over the two thugs that were pressing a woman in the alley. Closing her cape, Inque dropped down on both of them, raising their choked bodies in the air and colliding their foreheads together. The woman yelped from surprise, but Inque silently saluted her and returned back to Batmobile, continuing her patrol duty.

- Don't get it over your head, or no Batmobile.

- ...by the way, can you make me another one? - she asked while looking at Bruce, - It's much faster than me, and handles smoothly.

- If you prove yourself useful.

- I don't have to prove anything, I am useful, - retorted Inque flatly, while taking Batmobile higher to have a better vantage point, - So, I can run around and spread the news about Batman being back, but maybe I can work on something?

- I have studied every lead for the past days that you can work on. How about to start with a visit to Seagull?

The familiar apartment building was the same from her last visit, and Inque quickly slithered inside Seagull's room. He was already there, sleeping and snoring so loud that in made Inque cringe on the inside. But before waking him up, Inque took a look around his room, searching for weapons, mobile phones and some means for leverage. As she expected, she found several laser pistols all over the place, several burn-phones and hidden data-pad, which was locked by password system. After her search she started to shake Seagull violently, waking him up:

- Wh-what?...Oh crap! - he looked at Inque and reached for his laser pistol under the pillow, pointing at her and pressing the button...without any result. Seagull gone pale, as he pressed the button two more times, but Inque threw pistol's battery, hitting Seagull's head.

- Press it more, maybe it will fire, - Inque wrapped her tentacle around his neck and lifted into the air, smashing his back against the wall, - But I doubt that.

- W-what do you want?! I thought we had a deal!

- We had, - she closed her face towards him, - But do you know what happens with liars? - she hardened her tentacle around Seagull's throat a bit.

- I...I wasn't lying! - he started to wheeze from her grip, - I asked around, nothing came up except what I told you, swear to God!

- Swear to me! - she yelled in anger and smashed the windows with Seagull's body, changing her grip from neck to shoulders, extending him far enough from balcony, - Names, Seagull!

- Th-they are in the data-pad, it's inside the air vent! - he looked down to see how far he could fall, with eyes widened in surprise, - The passwords are "WRK4SLF" and "EZM4NY"! Please, don't kill me!

- ...I won't, - she said after some long seconds of thinking about the situation. Her tentacle crawled inside the room, throwing Seagull back to his bed. She was standing over him in threatening pose as she leaned in to terrified dealer, - But that doesn't mean I will not chain you into medical bunk for the rest of your life...and I can do it easily, - she made a pause before continuing, - Tell everyone to stop selling those weapons from train wreck and toss them to GCPD, I don't care how.

With that final warning, Inque quickly slithered away up the wall into Batmobile, taking her human form. She slowly ejected from her mass already stolen data-pad and connected it to Batmobile, while typing passwords to unlock it.

- Connected? - she asked Wayne, while driving across the Neo-Gotham.

- Yes, give me a minute to study it.

- Seagull wasn't the one who set this up, of course, he's just a pawn, - she started to analyze the situation, taking a quick look and Bat-signal in the sky, - But he is a pawn who is connected to other pawns, who have other connections to next tier.

- His data-pad has encrypted files, but nothing too complicated.

- Maybe I can check the lead on that carbide dealer? - she asked while checking police radio frequency.

- I am digging it myself, for now you can focus on patrolling Gotham.

- Guess being the head of "Wayne-Powers" really helps with undercover investigations..., - she paused and asked a question, that was on her mind for a long time, - How's the progress on...

- Her therapy will be long, - Wayne interrupted his work to look at the main monitor, where Inque was, - And I can not guarantee her full recovery, at least for now, but it looks optimistic.

- ...can I visit her?

- It's your choice.

Inque's night patrol was a success - news were talking about new Bat in Gotham and about decreasing, though slowly, of crime rate in various parts of city. The GCPD started to fight back, but it wasn't enough. For Inque, she liked the changing of her direction, it felt...right, and she took great pleasure from what she was doing, but it was only for a reason, that was now lying in bed in front of her. It was already past morning when she decided to wait for doctors to leave and visit her daughter. She took her human from and sat on the bed next to Deanna, placing her own hand over Deanna's and carefully touching her forehead. To her surprise and terror, Deanna's skin was moving like a plasticine.

- M-mom? - Deanna sighed and opened her eyes slightly, almost whispering - she was really weak, couldn't even move, - ...you are here...to kill me?

- No, no..., - Inque moved closer, touching Deanna's cheek, - I am here because...we need to talk.

- Might be...not the best time, - she tried to smile, but closed her eyes, convulsively sighing.

- It is. Because I went that procedure I talked about...while I was pregnant with you, - Inque squeezed Deanna's palm and closed her eyes, - I did not want to talk about that, and when I saw you for the first time up close, I convinced myself that you are going to be fine, - she opened her eyes to see Deanna's shocked face, - But it was just a beautiful lie, Deanna...I am sorry that I lied to you, - Inque felt her black tears slowly coming out of her eyes, - I am sorry that I did this to you...and I am sorry for not being around to made you a good caring person. To do that..., - Inque warmly smiled, still feeling herself crying from the inside, - I will steal the money I transfered to you.

- Wh...you can't! I...h-how I am...you will kill me! Without money, how I will..., - Deanna quickly panicked, but Inque pressed her finger to her mouth and gave her a strong look that made Deanna shiver.

- I will steal all your money, my darling, and I will use them to pay for your medical treatment, - Inque pat Deanna's palm, still smiling, - You will be treated, and I will make sure that you will be that active young girl that you are...but when your treatment will be over, - Inque leaned in to face her daughter, not smiling anymore and painfully squeezing Deanna's palm, while sounding harsh, - Your life will change a lot, Deanna. First - I will send you to college, because even if I do not have higher education, you will get one...second - you will sell your manor and everything I will point for selling, and all your servants will be paid before you will dismiss them...and third, maybe the most important thing out of them all, - Inque carefully ejected a data-pad from her mass and used one hand to brought up some files, - I was digging around your credit history and asked a friend for a favor to get full picture..., - she glanced at Deanna, who was silently trembling from her mother, and continued in quiet, but clearly pissed-off tone, - ...it looks like you were a big spender, huh? - she listed down the files, slowly boiling up from the inside as Inque continued to read, - Expensive car rents, top-of-the-line screens you tend to smash around, subscription to some elite content...wine, crystal dishes?...parties...you need to learn how to use your money in proper way.

- Mother, I...

- What?! - Inque threw the data-pad to the wall, smashing it in pieces and silencing Deanna with angered yelling, - What "mother"? "Mother, sorry, I was just screwing around with your hard-earned cash"? Is that what you are trying to say?!

- N-no, I!..

- You killed me, Deanna, - Inque leaned in to her daughter, who gulped from her stone-cold look and voice, - You betrayed me, you stole from me...but I can forgive that, because I wasn't around for you when you needed me most, you had no reason to love me...but you stole from yourself, Deanna, - Inque's tone changed to caring one, as she saw Deanna genuinely crying, probably from fear, - I gave you the future with limitless possibilities, a future that many will kill for...and you wasted it on luxury life instead of doing something good. Hell, starting a business or buying it still would be something better to do, but...you did it the easiest way, - Inque's eyes suddenly widened when he realized what she said. Deanna, still crying silently, now was confused from Inque's sudden change of behavior, - ...you did the same thing I did - the easiest way..., - Inque finally explained, staring at Deanna and slowly rising from her bed, looking perplexed by the revelation. Inque shook her head and continued to berate Deanna, - You will not do the same mistakes I did, I will make sure of that, I will not let you ruin your life...so you better think over what I said, - Inque turned away from her daughter and walked towards the opened window, - I will visit you from time to time until you recuperate, will watch you over..., - she was about to jump down into the Batmobile when another realization hit her. Closing her eyes, Inque absorbed her black tears back in, trying to sound calm, - ...but I don't think we will have the relationship I wanted, - she said finally, dropping down inside the Batmobile and flying towards the Batcave.

- You look distressed, - said Wayne, working on the Batcomputer. Inque was nearby, sitting on the side with one leg crossing another and studying Batcave.

- I talked to her. You weren't listening?

- I always listening, - Bruce glanced at her for second, - But that is not the point why I am asking.

- ...it isn't, - she nodded, closing her eyes, - Both of you gave me a chance, a way out...maybe even forward, and I want do the same for Deanna. We can't be together after all that happened, but she will have a better life...she didn't even bother to change the password to my account, and I already emptied it to other accounts I kept for emergency, - she opened her eyes and looked at Wayne, - How much do I need to pay for her?

- Protect Gotham and your daughter, I will do the rest...about the latter - Gordon called, she wants to have a word with you.

- ...now that I think of it, it means that Gordon know who you and Batman are, - Inque widened her eyes a little, - You were?...

- You will learn everything in time. For now, you will learn how to deal with commissioner.

- And with others, - suddenly came a voice from the stairs.

Inque took her "Bat" form and faced towards the direction of the voice, but she quickly realized that the fight was already over. Slowly coming from the stairs towards Batcave, making intimidating "thud" sounds, Superman was watching Inque closely. Bruce turned to face him and rose up in his chair, taking a few steps forward.

- I guess I can't even ran off right now, - Inque frowned, taking a tense pose and taking a step back from Kal'El.

- You can't, - he said looking over Inque's "Bat" form for quite a time, - Interesting gimmick, young lady.

- Why are your here? - asked Bruce, giving Superman a hard look.

- Heard the news. Bat-signal, new Batman...funny thing, no one can come up how to call you - Inqued Bat, Bat-Inque, Black Bat...

- Very imaginative, - she grumbled with irritation.

- ...but you also the one who escaped from our prison, and the one who committed countless crimes, - Superman crossed his arms on his chest, - And that puts you into interesting position - on one hand, I should take you in...but on the other hand, Gotham needs Batman, especially now, when every newscaster talks about Bat-signal being turned on again for the first time in decades, - Kal'El turned to Bruce and smiled a little, - You got the attention from all over the world, Bruce. And you know, what that means.

- More than you could think.

- For now, I will not take you in, Inque, - Superman turned to her now, - But Justice League will watch you closely, and we will not hesitate to take you down.

- That's why you never done that before when I was free? - she asked maliciously, narrowing her eyes to "bat-glare" effect.

- Inque, - Bruce reacted quickly, seeing how Superman was about to react, - That's enough...go on and run the diagnostics on Batmobile.

- As you wish, - she quickly dashed away towards the Batmobile, where she slithered inside the opened cockpit.

- ...you sure about her, Bruce? - asked Clark when Inque was far enough.

- If I wasn't, she wouldn't be here, - said Wayne, not even looking at Superman, - Setting everything up for her final test was hard for my age, but it payed off - she finally decided to choose a new road. She's a powerful asset...and maybe one day she will become a powerful ally.

- I still don't know how managed you do it. Probably one of those secrets you will never tell me, - Superman chuckled a little, but he turned serious pretty fast, - I want to warn you, that something is happening in the world. Justice League is working hard, but we can't be everywhere...and something tells me that those long years of peace were ended with the signal from the past.

- For you, they ended, for me - they never came.

When Superman left the Batcave, Bruce slowly approached Inque. She had some knowledge in some areas, being able to drive vehicles and knowing electronics, Bruce gave her credit for that, but she was not so...educated as Terry was. Inque raised her head to meet Bruce and slithered outside of the Batmobile, taking her human form:

- I will not back down to him, no matter what you might ask.

- And I don't expect you to, - Bruce put both of his hands on a cane, looking at surprised Inque, - Batman, or anyone that wears that symbol, never surrenders or retreats, but he must have the room to acknowledge his mistakes and work to not repeat them.

- I will work on it, - she nodded in response.

- You will. I won't comment your methods...for now. But there is a room of improvement.

- Of course...by the way, when Batman will come back?

- He needs a few more days to recover, and when he will, you have to step back from main role.

- I see no problem there, - she just shrugged her shoulders, - I am not Batman, just someone who reminds everyone that he will come back.

- ...good, - Bruce suddenly smiled, turning back to Batcomputer with Inque watching his figure with silent question in her eyes.

The next days went quite, with Inque patrolling Gotham and pushing criminals left and right. She was much more brutal than Terry, took pleasure in dealing pain around her and there was another trait Bruce discovered - overconfidence. In the history of fights against Inque, she was never truly defeated - Victor Fries's gun won the first round, Aaron Herdst took down Terry when he as about to win the second fight, sudden rain won third one, and her own daughter's greed and betrayal won the very last encounter. Inque was quite a formidable opponent, and as Bruce observed her actions and clashes with the criminal world, he learned her true power - adaptation. She quickly changed tactics and approaches to her goal, but many times she done something unusual and quite unnecessary because of boredom. There was nothing that could possibly challenge her, at least for the time being, and her overconfidence kept slowly growing. Bruce knew that one day it could cost someone his life, but for now he needed to work with her in terms of gaining reputation and authority.

The Seagull's data-pad hold interesting information, but pressing around dealers was a dead end with no one knowing anything or giving vary vague leads, and for now they stopped looking into "shipment case", focusing on dealing with low-level thugs that kept popping around all over the Gotham. That was also a test of Inque's reaction, but despite her growing boredom she wasn't arguing to Bruce's surprise. Even more - he had to sometimes call her back for rest and new lessons. That's what Terry caught them doing when he entered Batcave early in the morning:

- I can still spot you, - Bruce was standing in the middle of the cave, looking at the ceiling.

- Damn it, - Inque sighed, dropping down right in front of Wayne, taking her human form, - How you do?...oh, right, - she saw Bruce's grin and raised her hands up, - Keep forgetting that.

- I see you two are having fun, - Terry waved at Inque and Bruce.

- You will have your fun too, - Bruce just kept grinning.

- ...OK, now I am scared. You bought synthoids with better algorithms? - asked Terry sceptically.

- Better, - Bruce nodded towards Inque.

- What? - she widened her eyes, not understanding a thing.

- I am too old to be an active mentor when it comes to martial arts...but you two share something in common - ability for constant improvisation and adaptation, - he crossed his palm on a cane, looking at his soon-to-be-students, - You can learn from one another, and I will help you with that...and other things.

- Sounds like fun, - Inque nodded, taking a quick look at Terry, - Don't worry, I can take anything from you.

- I know...when do we start?

- Now.

Both Inque and Terry shared even more, when it comes to combat - despite Terry's training and experience as Batman, it still wasn't enough sometimes when he faced someone with better experience in combat, and he had to think on the fly...which wasn't perfect sometimes. Inque, on the other hand, did not needed martial arts training with her experience from early ages of her crime career and the abilities her condition provided. She rivaled Terry in many terms, but Bruce knew that if McGinnis lacked experience and tend to make reckless decisions, Inque's downsides were overconfidence with underestimating her opponents, playful attitude, anger issues. But for now, they needed to be put together in training in order to learn from one another, and Bruce was here to guide them. Of course, Inque could take anything McGinnis could threw at her in normal close combat:

- Really? - she asked, holding Terry's foot inside herself after his kick, - Again?

- I picked up something, - Terry used his second foot to deliver a blow to Inque's head, using momentum to free himself from her grip...only to be hit in the back with Inque's kick, that made Terry fell on the floor, - ...ouch.

- Don't leave your back unguarded, Terry, - said Bruce, observing the sparring session.

- Yes, you tend to do that, - agreed Inque, taking defensive position.

With two of them now being on the same side other changes happened in Batcave. The first one was a brand new chemical facility to develop Inque's mass and research her condition further. The second change was that Batcave came alive with Inque's presence - she was not just a spare pair of hands, but also she was a talkative person, and after sharing her story Inque felt a little bit liberated from her past, knowing now the stories of Terry and Bruce. Of course it was a strategic move from Bruce's side - he studied the conversations that were recorded from the Batsuit in order to make a profile on Inque, and her backstory only confirmed what she was - a broken woman, victim of series of events, who saw the world from the bottom far too young to deal with it.

But for now she was the woman who was sitting on the side of Batcomputer (it was her favorite place now) with a bewildered look on her face:

- You serious?

- It's never too late for education, - said Bruce, looking for needed material on the Internet, - and while your knowledge is impressive for someone who never attended school, that knowledge could be further improved, - he now took a strong look at Inque, - But for that knowledge we need a solid foundation.

- Don't look at me, I am going for medical pHd. Pharmacology, - said Terry when Inque turned to him for support.

- Fine, - she gave up, raising her hands in the air, - But I don't know who could teach me, if Interpol is still after me with at least several other agencies from all over the world.

- I will help you with the foundation and call in some favors, but you have to think about the specialty you are going for, - said Bruce, making a purchases of variety of books.

- I guess I can't get pHd in sabotage and espionage? - she asked with a slight grin, crossing her arms together.

- You already got those, - noticed Terry.

- Right...

- By the way, do we have the leads on someone who knows about shipment incident? - Terry came closer to Bruce, looking at the monitor.

- No. Inque interrogated Seagull, and his data-pad while had valuable information for future occurrences, proved to be a dead end when Inque pressed some dealers. I also had a talk with Gordon - she now thinks that it was a major setup, with no one knowing anything, - Bruce rubbed his chin thoughtfully, - Someone knows how to cover his tracks.

- That shipment couldn't be just to kill Batman, - said Inque, gathering her thoughts and observations, - There were too many of thugs in the port, probably to deal with the SWAT team. And the sudden gang war was just too obvious.

- It was a decoy to just lure the police with me away from...something major, - concluded Terry with Inque agreeing with her silent nod, - And they left the muscle to make an impression that is was the real shipment in case me or SWAT coming in.

- Good thinking, - Bruce glanced at Terry with a slight nod, - The perpetrators that Gordon captured do not know anything also, but they were paid very generously by their standards for this work.

- Someone must know something, - said Inque, changing her pose slightly, - This is how underground works - everyone is connected.

- ...we should press Jokerz and T's, - suddenly said Bruce, - Someone pushed them into that shootout, and their gangs have the numbers to hold on for some time from anyone who is cleaning up.

- Guess they won't cooperate even under such circumstances? - asked Terry.

- They never do, - said Inque with a sore expression.

- Any ideas where to start?

- I have a few, - Inque grinned, turning towards the Batcomputer and starting to name places from her memory.

With Inque now in team, they could cover more ground at the same time. The idea was simple - investigate the safe-houses and push the owners into giving Jokerz or T's, and both of them were met with armed thugs. And, of course, when they took down the first two safe-houses, others received a warning message regarding the Inque and Batman sweeping the lower Gotham and beating the living crap out of everyone in their way. Terry was on his way to next location where he saw something unsettling - several man were kicked out of the windows and dropped down from the sixth floor. Terry couldn't help but to turn away before those men died, squeezing his hands on control levers of Batmobile to make it fly faster:

- Inque, I got something at "Smoking Hide", probably the cleaning crew. At least...four dead. I would appreciate the cover.

- I will be there soon, just had to finish interrogation - I found one of the T's.

- Take your time, nothing I can't handle.

- Liar.

Terry opened the cockpit and flew inside the broken window, looking at the massacre that was around him - people lying around dead with their throats sliced and limbs being cut off. Turning on optical camo, Terry slowly started to move after the trail of dead bodies and blood, trying to not step on anyone. His sensors picked someone moaning in the end of the corridor, where large door was lying on the ground in several pieces. Preparing for the worst, Terry rolled inside the room, quickly turning around to face the possible ambush, but he found only beaten up thug, who was moaning from his broken legs. Terry turned off the optical camo and came closer:

- Who did this? - Terry took a quick look on his leg. It was broken carefully, at least.

- Some strange freak, man..., - thug closed his eyes, shaking from the pain that surged through his body, - ...dressed in some fancy dark clothes, came in slicing everyone until it came to me...used some sort of voice-changing device.

- What it asked?

- The location of the T's that survived the police raid...we got a hideout for them, but I sold them out...yeah, heroic, I know, - the thug shrugged, groaning through clenched teeth, - ...but you are not the only one after him.

- Who else came?

- Some strange woman...white clothes with armor pieces, a sword too...she ran past me to chase that creep in black suit.

- That woman, - Terry narrowed his eyes, looking at thug closely, - Did she had blue skin?

- ...yeah, I think...yeah, she had, and she had those creepy yellow eyes.

- Curare, - Terry rose up from the floor, - I will call the ambulance.

- And what I will pay them, huh? - the thug managed to smile through pain, trying to hold his laughter, - No, Batman, don't bother call anyone...I will give you the location and I will call them, so they will let you in. You can bust those T's to police, but we had enough of that crap for the past days, - the thugs spewed to the side, shaking his head, - Get that costume garbage out of the streets, because folks will seek blood when this is over, and you don't want them demand too much blood.

- Will try to. Now the location.

Soon Terry and Inque were on their way towards the safe-house, both of them were holding onto the Batmobile, which was controlled by Wayne. The safe-house was the same old rusted place that littered the lower Gotham levels, and looked like it was about to shatter in any second. The party already started - people kept flying around the house with laser shots being clearly visible on one of the floors.

- ...I see him, - Terry zoomed in to find the assassin, - The suit has no insignias, and looks armored.

- It's lightly armored, don't focus on that, - said Wayne, studying the captured image, - But this an experienced assassin. Do you visuals on Curare?

- She is coming from behind the black one, just entered the building...but I can see a tail behind her.

- You know Curare? - Terry reached inside the opened cockpit to restock everything he had.

- As a professional, yes, in person - no, - Inque narrowed her eyes, still looking around, - ...not many of them, but they look trained. Too bad they are norms.

- Don't underestimate them, Inque, - said Bruce on the radiolink, driving Batmobile closer to the safe-house.

- I won't. I will deal with those who are coming from behind, - Inque dropped from the Batmobile, opening her "cloak" to glide down, - Have fun.

- Was it the same in your days? - Terry asked Bruce while dropping down and gliding towards the windows, where he saw the shadow of the figure with a sword that was running through the halls.

- Sometimes.

Batman smashed the windows and flew inside the building, bumping into the figure with such force that...she?...grunted when she hit the wall. Terry rolled back and got into defensive stance with batarang ready, when he finally saw that he hit Curare, who was briefly stunned from the sudden collision. As the witness reported, Curare upgraded her outfit, making it more armored while keeping her agile and light on feet. Taking a quick look around, Terry found out an assassin in black, much more advanced combat armor, who prepared a kunai, aiming for Curare's head. Terry tried to intercept it with a batarang, but only changed a direction of kunai - it hit Curare not in the head, but right in the right shoulder, making her growl from pain again. She rolled backwards and disappeared inside the opened room, pulling kunai from her shoulder and studying it for any poison traces, while Batman went in to engage the assassin. His first blow from his leg to assassin knee was blocked and parried, delivering a foot uppercut right into Terry's chin. He stepped back and went in again, trying this time to went for the chest area, only to be blocked again.

But this time Terry was not hesitating. He closed the distance quickly, connecting his knee with assassins lower waist area several times and delivering a blow so fierce to his head that assassin collided with the wall, passing out instantly. When Terry turned towards the direction where Curare went, she suddenly rolled out from her hiding spot and threw two kunais, that flew past Batman and hit the targets from his back. But she also had a thing coming from behind, and Terry shoot the explosive batarang towards the floor, making the assassin's jump fail miserably. Curare quickly glanced back and threw another kunai towards the fallen assassin through the hole in the floor, giving Terry enough time to see two bodies behind, holding for their bleeding necks. The very next thing Curare did was that she approached Batman, looking at him with a strange expression in her eyes, and after a short while she started to make...gestures.

- ...Boss?

- It's the common sign language, - Bruce studied her for a while before continuing, - She says that other assassins are nearby.

- Inque, how's it from your side?

- They actually not that bad from the inside...relax, I got them. Coming right...now, - Inque appeared in the end of the hallway, jumping on the floor in seamless stream while Curare took out a sword and slowly walked past Batman, holding her fist in the air for a second. Terry now noticed that her armored plates were battered in many places, and her cloth probably seen better days, judging by cuts and dirt all over it. Inque crawled on the ceiling, quietly asking while taking a flat form, - Plan?

- Improvise, - Terry glanced at Curare firmly, - But not further killing, - Curare responded with a very skeptical look in her eyes, but later she just nodded, letting out a slight sigh.

- ...I feel vibrations on the floor above, - suddenly said Inque. Curare quickly dropped down to the floor and pushed her ear to it, closing her eyes to concentrate. She later stood up, showing Batman four fingers, and pointed towards the other end of the hall, making gestures again.

- Four under you, and three more in the front, - translated Bruce, - Probably four on the floor above you.

- I hope this works, - Terry took out the explosive gel sprayer, - Inque, where is the group from above?

- Right where I am, - she slithered a bit on the ceiling, shaping herself in black oval.

- Spray it around and press the green button to insert the detonator inside, - Batman threw the explosive gel towards Inque, knowing that she would catch it anyway, and turned to Curare, - And yours? - Curare silently took out a kunai and pointed it towards the nearby stairway, making another quick gestures.

- She thinks that assassins will try to push you to stairway and try to overwhelm there.

- Can't you jump several meters high? - asked Batman from Curare, who rolled her eyes and pointed at her legs. From the first look it wasn't bad, but the armor was pierced in several places, making Curare slowly bleeding out, - ...got it.

- Done, - said Inque, finishing her explosive work.

- Make the other one right under, - Terry slowly walked towards the stairway, preparing several small capsules, - Inque, grab Curare to the upper floor after explosion and head to the roof.

- I hope you don't mind your privacy being assaulted, - Inque slithered towards Terry, holding the gel sprayer, while Curare took a cover with a kunai prepared, - Ready.

- Do it.

The explosions made a big hole between floors, sending the assassins from above to the floor under them. Wasting no time, Terry threw a flashbang capsules - one to the stairway, and another one behind the corner along with a smoke one. Inque waited for flashbang and grabbed Curare with her tentacles, jumping to the upper floor through the hall. Terry followed behind them and threw another flashbang capsule behind him just in case.

- I left the interior and going up to the roof. Do you have a plan now?

- Not at all, - Terry jumped out of the window and activated his rocket thrusters, flying past Inque with very pissed-off Curare partially inside her.

- The Batmobile can hold only two. Someone has to stay behind, - that was Wayne on the radiolink.

- I will, it's easier for me to escape...and also I will search for other survivors and deliver those fashion disasters to GCPD, - Inque reached the roof, releasing Curare from her grip. The blue-skinned assassin quickly removed any leftovers of Inque from herself, while looking very disgusted.

- Do not kill anyone, Inque, - Terry quickly dashed towards the landing Batmobile while waving Curare to follow him. She started to run without hesitation, taking a short glances to see possible threats.

- One day you should stop worry about that...see you in the cave, - Inque waved at spouted several tentacles from her "Bat" form, running towards the assassins that appeared on the rooftop.

- Boss, you here? - Terry pointed Curare to take the front sit, taking a place behind her. When this happened, Terry quickly grabbed her hands and handcuffed them behind the seat.

- Here, - the Batmobile closed his cockpit and flew away from the rooftop, leaving Inque with the assassins, - Curare doesn't look good.

- What do you mean? - he asked while looking at the reflection of Curare.

- She's sweating and her breath is heavy. Place your hand on her neck...her heart-rate and blood pressure are way too high. She has been poisoned.

- She took kunai to her shoulder, - Terry remembered that episode, and Curare suddenly started to nod to her pouch while also trying to move in such way to make her point. Terry opened the pouch and inside it was a kunai in Curare's cloth with a blood on it. Terry carefully pressed the finger to it's blade, transmitting the information to Batcomputer.

- ...classic poison, but in very high potency. Curare must have some degree of poison tolerance, because such potent poison could kill dozens.

- You know what I am going to ask.

- I know, there are no other options...but that doesn't mean I like it.

Curare slowly opened her eyes, staring in the dark far away cave ceiling. The noises of bats flying around gave her general idea about her location, but she couldn't move - she was tied to a table with plasteel handcuffs, one even was at her neck and forehead. Her armor was gone, only her clothes remained, and judging by her quick attempt to take a lockpick from her cloth on the wrists someone also searched her for surprises. She noticed an IV drop nearby with some liquids that were dumping inside her veins and machines for cleansing blood.

She closed her eyes again and let out a quite sigh when she heard a familiar voice:

- You took quite a beating, - Batman appeared from the shadows in front of her, holding his arm together. She haven't noticed him because of the optical camo and because he was staying in one place, - The poison stopped your heart eventually, but we brought you back...I will release your arms, and you will answer my questions. No tricks, Curare, blink two times if you agree and one time if you don't, - she blinked two times and Batman nodded to someone behind her. Her arms were released, but her head and other parts of the body were still tied up to the table she was on, - Now...start from the beginning, and take it slow.

Her story was a short one - after some time in prison she managed to escape again, and returned to the temple of League of Assassins. She did not clarified why, but she was met with...forces, that captured temple. She never saw anything like them, but it looks like they knew everything about League's past doing, including the hunt on Curare for her failure. But those new assassins were good - they expected her, despite the fact that she managed to outsmart them for some time of her private investigation. She almost died in that temple and managed to escape, changing her tactics to learn more about the new assassins and their motives, to find the one who was on top of the new operation. Her searches led to Gotham, because there this new unknown organization had interests. Curare was after the lead about recent gang shootout, specifically after the leaders that went hiding. She stopped some of those assassins and tried to interrogate some of them, but they died.

- How?

- ...she says it looked like a heart attack, but she never saw assassins taking pills or injecting themselves anything, - said Bruce after translating her gestures. He was behind the Batcomputer, looking at the monitor and wearing his Gray Ghost suit, - She doesn't know details, she had no time.

- Clearly.

- ...she also says, that despite your rushed entrance, she can appreciate the fact you decided to side with her after your initial mistake. She forgives you for that mistake and accepts the fact of saving her own life.

- And that means?...what?

- It means that she wants to join forces, at least for a while of her investigation, - said Bruce, - She wants to find more about that group and find the leader to cut it's head and take his place, and all she needs is to investigate one location.

- And why should I trust you? Or even help you? - Terry crossed his arm together on his chest, - If you will take his place, you will just rebuild the League of Assassins or take control of the one that took it's place.

Curare rolled her eyes and closed them, letting out an irritated sigh. She gathered her thoughts and pointed to her forehead and neck, that were under titanium straps, holding her to the special table. Terry raised his eyebrows on silent response and Curare sighed again, gesturing again.

- She says she wants you to give her sword to make a blood promise to not attack you nor make operations in Gotham or making it suffer in her operations.

- I don't think it will work that way, Curare, - Terry came closer to her, narrowing his eyes, - I am not falling for that.

Curare suddenly grabbed Terry by his wrist. Terry tried to shake her off, but she was just staring at him while holding his wrist in place with sudden iron grip. She slowly raised her left arm and extended it to Batman, showing inner side of her left hand. Curare used her two fingers with short sharp nails to open a part of her skin, showing Terry that under her skin there was a small lockpick device. The slowly released Batman and showed her right arm, opening her skin again and showing Terry tiny capsule. Carefully she opened a capsule and poured it on the stone floor, which started to slowly melt. She threw the capsule away along with the lockpick, reaching now for her shoulder when Terry stopped her by grabbing Curare's hand:

- I got it. You have a lot of toys to escape, - she nodded in response, placing her hands together above her waist. Terry sighed and asked, - Boss, what do you think?

- She is a dangerous individual, who can play her own game, but her expertise from League of Assassin along with Inque's knowledge of crime world could prove useful. It's your choice.

- What is that blood promise you want to do? - asked Terry from her, checking how leg straps were holding up.

- ...she can cut off her finger of your choosing. That makes me think that this is serious, Terry - she wouldn't harm herself if she wasn't committed to her cause to such degree.

- I will take your word for now, let's not get so extreme...but you will be restrained until we return to the city.

Curare rolled her eyes again, but she placed her hands on the table and soon enough she had even more straps to hold her in place. Terry checked on her again, placed earmuffs on her and returned to Wayne, who was working at another formula, which Terry, surprisingly, understood:

- Her poison? - he asked, looking at analysis.

- Yes. Ancient, yet effective cardiotoxin...her ability to survive it long enough is extraordinary.

- Guess they don't call her "Curare" for nothing...any other news?

- Inque delivered everyone to Gordon, but all assassins died from sudden heart failure. Gordon will perform autopsy to get something and will press the survivors Inque delivered, but we got nothing for now, - Wayne glanced at Terry with a firm look, - You should sleep and get to your other life.

- Got it, - Terry nodded and yawned tiredly, asking Wayne quietly, - ...how you can get those...

- Moments of death and blood out of your head? - he finished Terry's question, turning in his chair to face McGinnis, - I wish I had an answer, but the only way I know is to focus on something else.

- Doest it help?

- Of course. Until it hits you again in your most private moment.

- No, mom, I have a part-time job again, I am fine, - Max sighed, opening the door to her apartment and placing her bag with goods on the table, - ...sorry, I should've called you more...I will, I promise...love you too, - Max closed her phone and sighed, placing it on the table.

- Family matters?

Max yelped frightfully, taking out a small hand-held taser from her pocket, but she was alone in her apertement. She gulped, looking around terrified, when voice spoke again:

- I am sorry for invading private life like that, but I don't have a spare passkey.

- W-who are you? - Max carefully looked into her room when she suddenly felt something wrapping around her wrist. It was some sort of black goo, that now held her hand with a taser firmly. Another tentacle wrapped around her waist, turning around to face..., - Inque!, - Max gasped, dropping taser on the floor from shock and surprise.

- Hi, - she waved her normal hand, while being in her "Bat" form, - Max, right?

- ...y-yes?...

- Old man gave me your location, - Inque removed her tentacles inside her mass and crossed her arms together, - ...the old man.

- ...oh, right...

- I am creeping you out? - Inque asked with a genuine curiosity, raising one of her eyes in confusion.

- T-That's like in an old comic book...and your suit is very elegant, but...

- But I battled Batman several times, nearly killing him and old man...yeah, I know that too, - Inque sighed and reformed into her human form, still crossing her arms together.

- ...and making Aaron into a monster, - Max gulped, gathering her courage to make that statement. She was in front of a deadly individual, maybe one of the deadliest on Earth, but she had to stand up to her, for own Max's sake.

- ...I did turn him into a monster, but this is not the topic we will discuss, - Inque frowned, nodding towards the laptop, - This is why I am here.

- You are not stealing it, are you?

- And old man said you were smart, - Inque sighed, walking towards the laptop and taking a seat on the couch, - No, he send me because we both have something in common, - she grinned to Max, opening her laptop that was already turned on, - Breaking in.

- ...how you?...I just made a new password and...

- And installed some fail-safes, that were supposed to wipe the hard-drive, - she waved her hand, dismissing Max's words and clapping on the couch, inviting Max to sit down near her. After some hesitation, she sat near Inque who emerged several devices from her body.

- Neat...and creepy, - commented Max, studying those devices, trying to get a hold on herself from all fear and adrenaline that coursed through her.

- Get used to it, - Inque grinned at Max and pointed towards the laptop, - I want to see your abilities, and for our prelude...

- ...sheesh...

- ...I picked some targets for you, - Inque opened a file on the laptop and moved it towards Max, - Those targets are probably easy pickings, but we will see.

- And you are here?..., - asked, carefully taking laptop and glancing at the list of targets.

- To take your preliminary exam, - Inque placed her hands on the couch, taking a relaxed pose, - And probably teach you a thing or two.

- Ter...Batman said...

- I know his name, but let's stick with Batman, - interrupted Inque Max.

- Right...Batman said, that you are some sort of professional thief and saboteur.

- Have a degree in those fields, would you believe? - Inque grinned again, watching Max's work on the laptop, - Smashing everything is easy, but you will be paid ten times more for stealing without traces...or using computer systems for even more massive destruction, - seeing the expression on Max's face, Inque chuckled a bit, - Don't worry, it's in the past, I have something more interesting to do with my life right now.

- Of course you do...oh no, - Max started to type furiously on the keyboard.

- "Oh no"?

- I-I was spotted, but I have some time to keep cover my trace...got it, - Max sighed, quickly closing all connections and shaking her hands, - They suddenly got very strong "ice" to work with.

- It's because I put it there, - seeing Max's expression, Inque took a pause to appreciate that moment before continuing, - You wouldn't though that I will get you some targets that will harm you in our exam?

- ...r-right...

- You did everything right, and considering how outdated that piece of metal on her knees, I am even more impressed, - Inque started to talk seriously, making short gestures with her hand, - And you managed to get away, that's also impressive feat, but you are still an amateur...that's why we going to have a nice private time together.

- Lady, what's with all those sexual innuendos?

- Get used to it.

Inque was not a committed hacker, but she knew lots of things and concepts that Max overlooked. First of all, the "rig" - for Inque, it was trash-level rig, and Max needed something better and faster, preferably custom rig from the black market. Secondary, Inque touched some aspects of breaking through the "ice", and she gave Max several devices to help her stay low in the web and be a little more efficient, along with the custom software she managed to bought on the black market:

- Those toys you had now can rest in piece, you better use those, - Inque nodded to the opened folder on the laptop, - And you can practice on the targets I gave you safely to get familiar with them.

- Got it, - Max was about to install new files when Inque grabbed her hand, - What?

- Don't believe anything, - she pointed with her other hand to the screen, - Use this to open the installer's code.

- ...a-ha. It will also install a tracing malware, - Max frowned, looking at the code, already typing on the laptop, - I dealt with those before. Nothing major.

- That's a rookie mistake, but considering how fast you dealt with it, I let it pass, - Inque suddenly turned her head towards the windows and let out a long sigh, - ...damn it.

- What? - asked Max, but then she heard it herself - a sound of thunder, and with that sound came sounds of rain.

- Guess we have a sleepover tonight, - said Inque with sour expression on her face.

- Great...

- Inque to Ghost, - she had a radiolink inside her mass for easy communications with Batman and Wayne, - Rain is blocking me. I will stay at Nerd's location...

- Nerd?! - Max quietly asked, and Inque just winked in response.

- ...for the time being.

- Use this opportunity wisely, - responded Wayne to her, - I will inform Batman in the meantime.

- Roger, - Inque sighed, turning to Max, - And will use it wisely, because I need your h...he...

- Help? - suggested Max.

- Exactly. Still have trouble with that...

- Help with what?

- ...this, - Inque ejected a disk from inside her mass, released it from safety packaging and inserted inside the laptop, - This will not leave this room, or will force myself on you in so many imaginative ways...

- I got it, - Max quickly interrupted Inque, opening the disks content...but soon enough she looking at Inque with a confused face, - ...why you...you don't have any education?

- Yep, and old man wants me to get one. I don't mind, I want it actually, but this is embarrassing for world's greatest thief and saboteur.

- I can imagine that...this will not leave the room, I promise you, - Max nodded to Inque, - But I will have to do my own studies, so we will have to take some breaks.

- No problems with that. Just don't offer we anything that has H2O in it.

- Is it wise to tell Inque about Max? - asked Terry while loading up utility belt.

- Her motherly instincts came back, - responded Wayne while studying Curare's equipment on the table nearby, - And despite how she talks, she could associate Max with her daughter, developing a bond.

- Were you certain that Inque would change?

- She developed a desire for it, that was fueled from her doubt and traumatic experience, - Wayne closed his eyes and rubbed nose-bridge to focus on his thoughts, - You pushed her further towards the right way, Terry, but it would be all for nothing if she wasn't willing to change.

- You calculated it all, don't you? - asked Terry, taking on his suit.

- There was a seventy percent chance of success based from my observations and making her psychological profile.

- That's about thirty percent chance to fail...pretty big numbers.

- I know...and I did this because you were right, - suddenly said Bruce, turning to Terry with a tired expression on his face, - Victor Fries tried to change, and he put a lot of effort to pay for his past mistakes. I didn't trusted him, and I didn't trusted Inque...but I gave up on Victor, - Wayne shook his head and returned to the table, studying Curare's armor pieces, - There is a difference between being skeptical, cautious individual and the one that buries without any second thought. And to be honest, Terry, - Wayne glanced at him for a second with a keen glance, - I don't want you to follow my mistakes of giving up when there is a chance of saving someone. That...that what makes you Batman - the ability not only stop crime from committing, but to make someone change it's destructive path, - Wayne sighed and pressed his hand on the cane, looking around the Batcave, - I gave up during last decades, and it is not something I would be proud of, but if Inque could change her path...that would be a small victory for me.

- She hasn't changed it yet?

- She is in transition between her past and possible future, - explained Wayne, looking at Terry, - And she will be tested more and more with temptations, grief, rage, loss...and so will you. In time, of course, when life decides to do so.

- ...I hope we will get through this, - Terry put on his mask and after some concentration got his "Bat-voice", - Right now I think we will have to take Curare for a sight seeing, since she told us about a possible lead.

- You probably need this for her, - Bruce gave Terry a strange device of round shape, which he took with a confused expression, - She can't talk due to her trauma, but this could help - it reads throats vibrations and interprets them directly to radiolink.

- ...and it probably serves as tracking device.

- Precisely, - Wayne grinned, nodding to Terry, - She could try to cut it with her sword, but that would be too dangerous.

- Right, I am just gonna too tell her good news, - sighed Terry, taking this device and walking towards the Curare, who turned to face Terry who put out her earmuffs, - You will not like, but this is how we do it - you put this on your neck, and will be able to communicate, - she took a look at the device and returned her frowned gaze back to Terry, - ...yes, this has the tracking beacon, - Terry pressed the buttons, retracting straps from Curare's forehead and neck. She sighed and leaned forward, allowing Terry to place this device on her neck. Upon activation, Curare started to test this device, and it took several minutes to make it work right. When she finally said a set of random words for testing purpose without error, she turned to face Batman:
- You will. Take this. Off, - Curare's device send a robotic female voice, that was constantly stopping when she tried to talk, - You. Promise. This. Or no. Deal.

- I will take this off when this is over, and you will keep your bargain, - Terry crossed his arm together, narrowing his eyes at Curare.

- My word. For yours, - she looked at her body that was still tied up and glanced impatiently at McGinnis.

- You are not going to like it.

Terry wasn't lying - it was too dangerous to even think about setting Curare free. He tied her up again to the table, put earmuffs on, closed her vision with special device Bruce lend him, and after some voyage around the Batcave (Bruce told Terry that she would attempt to count how many turns and steps in would be to Batmobile for future occurrences) for ten minutes straight, Terry placed Curare on the front seat, tying her arms together behind it with magnetic handcuffs and tying up her legs too. The Batmobile itself was upgraded a bit to be able to carry a second person in not so comfortable position, but it was at least something. Terry took his seat behind Curare, and flew out into the night, flying around in the Gotham outskirts for at least thirty minutes before he decided to take the blindfold device off Curare. She sighed with a relief and took a look around her, studying Batmobile from the inside. From outside there was a stormy rainfall that greatly reduced visibility.

- Where was your lead?

- Hideout. Lower Gotham. Ground level. South-east. Will lead you. To it.

- You traced those assassins to their hideout? - Terry turned Batmobile down while watching at Curare's reflection, - Why you didn't took them down?

- Risky. Better chances. Together.

- And no killing, we need them...

- They. Are. Already. Dead, - Curare glanced at Batman with a firm look, - We need. Someone. Who. Isn't.

- ...you got a point, but if they are already dead, we don't have to kill them still.

- No. Promises.

Soon enough Curare told Terry to stop over the ruined building, and both of them dropped down to the rooftop. Terry gave Curare her sword back, which she took with a little surprise on her face, but she quickly regained her composure, pointing forward:

- On foot. Stay low.

- I think I can manage that, - said Terry, turning optical camo on, - Ladies first.

Curare dashed instantly, startling Batman with her sudden movement, and he followed her through the rooftop of lower Gotham. She had impressive abilities to jump around silently, considering that she did not had to wear a special suit to make such moves. Terry also notices, that her moving was far different from Inque's - Curare was running with a determination and clarity, taking only short glances, while Inque moved around to avoid attention. Curare also had a hand on her sword all the time she was running, leading Batman to an abandoned building on the intersection. She stopped, taking cover and observing the area, allowing Terry to take time for scanning the building.

- Nothing on thermal, - said Batman, looking around.

- It will be nothing - the readings on thermal vision are abnormal, - said Wayne, studying the building with Terry, - Take a closer look at building.

- ...clever, - he said quietly, studying the building again. If it wasn't for Wayne's advice, Terry could easily missed this thing, but there was no heat at all coming from building, while there were thermal sources inside - makeshift campfires, - This is probably it.

- It is. The place, - said Curare, looking around the intersection, - They are nearby. Not here. We have time. Not much, - saying that, Curare dropped down and rolled, running towards the building.

It was another abandoned apartment, but as Terry took a closer look around on the ground floor, he noticed that the walls were smeared with some sort of goo - probably the material that dampened thermal vision. Another thing was a cable, that was hidden in the ceiling and was going somewhere upwards inside small crack. Curare noticed the cable too and pointed silently Batman at it, while slowly going to the stairway, probing walls and floors with her sword first - for traps. She managed to trigger some of them - one with kunai, one with a false floor that led into a pit, and that turned on electrical charges inside the walls. Going up the stairway managed surprise Terry with another set of traps, some of which were very lethal if given chance to be triggered when they were supposed to. Slowly going up, Curare found a cable and followed it two more floors up before she and Batman saw it bending towards the room. Silently approaching it, Curare pressed her ear to the door while Terry prepared a batarang and a capsule.

- What. Is. It? - she asked, taking a closer look at capsule.

- Flashbang.

- Too loud. Smoke bad too. Visible.

- You have a point, - Terry placed capsule inside the utility belt and took another batarang out instead. Curare placed her hand on the door knob and pointed to herself, then to the door. Terry nodded, getting her idea - On three. One, two...three!

She opened the door and rolled in, quickly taking down one man with three hits. Terry followed her a second later, throwing his batarangs in succession to stun another two men that were startled by their assault. Taking quick look around, Curare nodded to Batman and he closed the door, studying the room they entered. It was filled with lots of equipment - laptops, scramblers, jammers, servers, power generator, giant dish that was inside the room...and people inside this room were not the assassins - they had civilian plain clothes, no tattoos or anything. Terry approached all of them, transmitting images to Batcave:

- Can you dig on them?

- Give me moment, running facial recognition...interesting. They were former employers of "New Dawn", they left it just a few month ago...but somehow they were legally payed, judging by transactions history.

- ...and boss, I got something, - Terry took a closer look at radar dish, carefully opening a part of it to reveal partially destroyed serial number, - That's...I have a feeling that's from the train wreck.

- And you are right. That radar dish is manufactured by "Wayne-Powers".

- So those new assassins are cooperating or outright founding "New Dawn"? - Terry took a look at Curare,who was studying her killed man throughly.

- ...it could make sense. "New Dawn" could be just a way to push this new League's interests, that could explain their support in Senate, sudden growth of personnel and popularity along with their immense funding. But that is not enough for us, we need to find a members of "New Dawn" who could be directly connected to illegal operations.

- Guess you are one step closer to find your enemy, - said Terry to Curare, who just nodded silently, - Also, what all this tech do?

- They were connected to the web, judging by this radar dish specs and equipment. Search the area for clues, and try to take those people to Gordon.

- Got it, - Terry started to carefully search around, starting with unconscious people, - Burn-phones, several fake ID's and credit cards for them...laser pistols, retractable batons...

- Logs, - Curare showed Terry PDA she found, and pointed towards the equipment, - They were. Gathering. Information.

- Well, no chance to open it here, it has no ports, - Terry looked at password encryption and took PDA with him, placing it inside the utility belt, - But their equipment is not locked, they were using it, - he sat on the floor, taking wireless keyboard to dig around files, - ...Boss, you see this?

- Apparently they were studying Gotham gangs, creating an influence map of lower Gotham, - said Bruce, looking at the screen closely, - They probably knew how to push gangs into shootout. What else?

- Security cameras, they are placed inside gangs hideouts or meeting points...and..., - Terry looked behind him, inspecting the ceiling. Curare traced his sight too, - ...and this place.

- You have to get out of here, now, - Bruce even rose up in his chair, - They probably know about your presence.

- They already. Are, - Curare quickly stepped back as she and Terry saw how slow the door opened. The door revealed three figures in black outfits with light armor parts, and they stepped inside the room, closing the door carefully. Terry quickly grabbed two unconscious men while Curare grabbed the third one, slowly backing towards windows.

- Curare, - one of the figures spoke, placing his hand on the sword grip, - How you managed to disappoint us - is beyond any comprehension.

- We wanted to give you a merciful death, a fine gift for your failures, - another figure spoke, it was a woman, - But you allied yourself with Batman.

- This is the final nail, Curare - everyone knows, that you are not assassin anymore, - third figure spoke as this trio took their slow steps towards Batman and Curare, - You are a beast, pressed to the corner, trying to get revenge and be on top again.

- That is not how things work, - the first one spoke again, slowly drawing his sword from scabbard, - If you manage to kill us, you will be hunted by others.

- Because you are a failure, - woman spoke again, taking out two daggers.

- Because you are a traitor, - third figure spoke, activating retractable katars on on his wrists.

- Because you are afraid to die, - finished the first figure, changing his stance in unison with other assassins.

Curare drew out her sword and took a quick swing, aiming at the floor in front of her. Just as Terry thought, she wanted to cut down part of the building in order to escape to open space of intersection, and it did collapsed backwards. Curare and Terry managed to drop down with their captives, but that trio followed instantly after them. Taking a step back, Batman and Curare exchanged one's eyes for a moment, dropping they captives and handcuffing them while the trio was approaching. Taking a defensive stance, Batman and Curare pressed their backs to each other without saying a word. The assassins slowly surrounded them, taking their time to study both of them.

They attacked in unison - the "dagger woman" closed her distance with Terry, forcing him to block both of her daggers while Curare was also forced into a block when "katar-guy" captured her wrist with both of his weapons. Terry and Curare turned towards the "sword" assassin, that was already performing a horizontal slash in order to cut down both of them in one strike. Terry used his rocket thruster on left leg to deflect the sword safely, while also sending him and "dagger woman" away. Curare took this opportunity to raise her free hand and pluck out an eye from "katar"...but, to her surprise, it only made him release his grip, since the eye was a cybernetic one. Throwing cyber-eye away, she quickly delivered two blows - one to "katar's" knee and one "sword's" head that tried to charge into Curare. She back-flipped to Batman, who was in the process of apprehending his opponent - while he took several slices to his suit, he managed to get one dagger out by breaking her wrist, but "dagger" suddenly hit him with dagger's hilt right into his chin and was about to plunge dagger into Batman's heart when Curare intervened by slicing "dagger's" hand off and plunging her own sword inside "dagger's" stomach, aiming for guts. While doing so, her side was open to sudden charge of "katar" and "sword", who were intercepted by Batman - he grabbed Curare by her waist and threw her away, accidentally throwing her in such way that she hit her head hard. Activating wrist-blades to deflect incoming blows, Terry started his dance with two opponents, but a cautious one. "Sword" was careful and pushed Batman backwards while "katar" disengaged from combat and went for Curare, trying to pierce her from behind. Blocking the sword with wrist-blades again, Terry used one hand to shoot a batarang to "katar's" back of the head, stunning him briefly. It was enough time for Curare to roll onto her back and slice "katar" vertically, while kicking his dead corpse away.

"Sword" was not waiting - he took the opportunity to press onto Batman's blocking hand, making him fall on his knees, disengaging from block and hitting Terry in the forehead with a hilt. While Terry was stunned briefly, "sword" hit Terry again with his own knee to his chin and raising his blade to pierce Terry right into his stomach. But suddenly he threw something out from his hand towards Curare, that was about to help Batman. That "something" was electrical discharge that hit Curare right into her chest, making her fell to the ground, shaking violently. "Sword" was about to finish with Batman when Terry suddenly hit him right under waist area. Quickly grabbing "sword's" hip with his legs, Terry rolled over to knock off "sword" from his feet. Taking the advantage of it, Batman reached for "sword's" forehead and delivered a powerful blow to in, rendering "sword" unconscious. Taking his moment to breath, Terry slowly rose up and walked to downed Curare, carefully removing electrical discharge from her bloodstained chest. He extended his hand towards Curare, and she after hesitation took it, slowly rising up.

- Boss, anything on thermal? - Terry let out a sigh, taking a quick look around.

- Nothing. I am sending Batmobile to evacuate captives to GCPD.

- Got it, - Terry looked at Curare, who was staring at him with a strange look in her eyes, - ...I know, we had a deal...and I am a man of my word. Turn around, - when she did that, Terry took out her neck device, noticing the scar from the back of her neck. She slowly rubbed her neck, turning towards Batman only to stare at him again, - What?

She closed her eyes, letting out a sigh. Turning her head up, to upper level of Gotham, Curare looked at them for quite a time, while Terry was busy with the captives. Closing her eyes again for a moment, she walked to Batman and pat him on a shoulder. After a lot of consideration, Curare...knelt down, slowly taking out her sword from scabbard and extending it to Batman, while lowering her head down, facing cracked asphalt.

- ...Boss? - asked Terry when his initial shock went off.

- Now that is something new...she probably considered her options and decided to side with you in order to win. And if she is ready to sacrifice her freedom and past...she is truly committed to it.

- What should I do?

- ...It was not easy to join League of Shadows - you had to come a lot of trials to even be considered worthy...while Curare is capable assassin, her methods are not ours. She must understand that, as Inque did, if you thinking about accepting Curare as an asset. Her sword should be yours, and she has to prove that with her actions.

- What about loyalty issues? - Terry asked, standing over knelt Curare. She was not moving at all, waiting.

- She was loyal to her cause until it turned around her. It is clear that she has no desire to die for something she doesn't truly believe in, - Bruce took a pause, closing his eyes and thinking about situation, - I don't like the idea of having Curare around, but if she will commit her loyalty to your cause...she could be proved useful.

- It won't be the same with Inque, - sighed Batman.

- It won't be. That is your choice - you know that she is hunted by this new League, that is also our enemy.

- How can we use her?

- While Curare is specialized at assassination, we could use her talents to extract a target, - Bruce started to type on the Batcomputer, opening needed files, - I made my own investigation and found out that coast guard's captain, that was supposed to appear and block the shipment, still receives to this day small transactions to his credit deposit that started several weeks before the raid. They are carefully masked, because those credits are dirty.

- New League pays him for his service, so he could know something we need, - concluded Terry.

- Exactly, and they can not kill him because it will draw attention...I will upload all the information I got to first data-pad.

- Curare, please, stand up, you are making me uneasy with that, - Curare slowly rose up and put her sword inside her scabbard. Terry took out a spare data-pad from Batmobile where information was already uploaded. Curare took the data-pad from Terry, quickly studying it's content while Terry was speaking to her, - You have one chance, if you want in. Get this man alive, without anyone seeing you, without any traces left to track you...and without killing. This man should not see you at all under all circumstances, - she met with Batman's glare and nodded slightly, - When you will get him, take him to this location, - Terry took the data-pad, opening a file with a map of Gotham outskirts area, - You have three nights to do that, - he gave Curare data-pad back, but she refused to take it, pointing to her temple a few times, and than she pointed to neck device.

- She wants to make it harder on herself by memorizing it from the first time and to let you track her.

- Three nights, - Terry gave Curare neck device and launched himself into the air, extending gliding wings. The Batmobile slowly followed him, with three people and one assassin being inside the special net.

Curare didn't waste any time - she ran off to prepare herself, closing the device on her own neck, reaching for the first sewer entry and disappearing inside the shadows. She has some time to wash herself and to dress up the wounds she got from the fight, and only then she will move onto her target.

She will not disappoint. She will not be a failure again. Not when there was a chance for revenge given by some sort of providence. And to be able to do that, she will use those three night to full extent.

Yup. Curare. Another femme-fatale joins in.

I have no other commentary on that, so wait for another chapter. I am hoping that plot's speed is just about right, and small hints are really small.

At least I managed to get some sleep, finally.