Kept you waiting, huh?

I had some distractions and decided to take some time for rest, since the last chapters were coming in within days, or even within one day. Burning myself out was not a good idea, but the inspiration is something that never asks about conveniences.

So, chapter 9 is coming up, and it's gonna be the end of this ark. Probably. I still need to think about some things, but this will be a short arc for sure, but we still have other arcs going on.

This chapter includes the appearance of yet another familiar character.

Enjoy.

- So, kid, - Gordon smirked, looking at gathered vigilantes, - You trashed them hard, but it's not enough - we still lost some of the cargo and we have to deal with the auction...and metahuman, - Gordon glanced at Terry, - I heard everything from boss, but I hoped that you could come up with something against Banshee.

- The only person who can fight her one-on-one is Inque, - Terry nodded to woman, who was discussing something with Sidonia, while Curare meditated nearby, - But you also know that Banshee is a captive.

- I know, - Gordon frowned, nodding to Terry, - And it complicates things a lot...maybe we can do something about it.

- Like what?

- She is needed still, and she won't be killed off in the event if we force her to retreat from battlefield, - Gordon took her glasses off, rubbing her nose-bridge, - The other thing is we don't know how to make her retreat, since her powers are too great to deal with...and we still have other things to deal with - "New Dawn", senators, assassins, dirty cops, "Unity", crime rising...I never wanted to be wrong so badly, but it seems I was right about new storm.

- How can we help? - asked Terry quietly.

- We have some information from Sidonia and from other captives, and it could help us to locate the place of illegal auction, - she said, putting her glasses back, - But I know about dirty cops in this very building, that could jeopardize whole operation, and it wouldn't be easy to get rid of them and replace with some proper men. Some of them are bought, some of them are intimidated and blackmailed, and the legal system can't properly fight with this, - with some hesitation, Gordon took out a small disk from her coat, extending it to Terry, - I can't believe I am the one talking about this, but I need your help to clean the department, if you and old man have time.

- I will look into this, - Terry nodded, taking CD into secure storage, - And what our plan now?

- The auction will held in several days. Sidonia insists on her partaking in this operation, - Gordon nodded towards armored woman, - Says she has personal interest, but it's not about the antiques.

- She wants to get someone who crossed her, - said Terry, glancing at Sidonia, - Who made her wear this exosuit.

- My thoughts exactly, - sighed commissioner, - Vengeance. Sounds familiar?

- Maybe too familiar, - Terry nodded in response, - I will keep an eye on her. Where the auction will be held?

- It's all on CD.

- ...right. Inque, Curare, Sidonia, - Terry raised his voice, - We are done here.

- Finally, because we have a rain coming up, - Inque pointed towards the heavy dark clouds, jumping into the Batmobile. As Inque promised, she bought Sidonia new aerobike, which now was following Batmobile with Sidonia and Curare on it. Inque, as usual, placed her hands over Terry's shoulders, - So...what's the plan?

- Patrol for tonight, analyze the data, make a plan that will actually work this time, - answered Terry, inserting CD into the receiver, - Boss, uploading information.

- It will take time for me to systematize it, - responded Wayne, - Patrol the city for tonight, I will assign you to different parts of the city...and yes, Inque, you will be assigned to lower Gotham to avoid rain.

- Great...

- And what about me? - asked Sidonia over the radiolink.

- You, as usual, will be assigned along with Curare. Consider this a training routine before the major mission, - answered Wayne with a slight chuckle, - Of course if you do not have something better to do.

- No, I do not, - she sighed, - But why with Curare?

- Because you are not the only one who must train in my ways.

The night went as usual, without major accidents, and Wayne released them just hours before morning. Terry got his quick sleep, enough to travel home and pick his stuff for studies, and his daily routine continued - home, quick breakfast, trip to college, studies and another meeting with Max on the parking lot:

- I should probably buy one, - sighed Max, looking at Terry's bike, - It just takes too long to use public transportation.

- I know, used to use monorails for some time. At least splicers are gone from them, - grinned Terry, - Long night, Max?

- Yeah, old man is pushing me hard...but he knows so much, even more than our black creepy lady, - Max took a pause, looking around to spot Inque, and only when everything was clear she continued, - But it's not a problem right now. Dana is.

- How so?

- She is digging to me about what you are doing and why we are talking here a lot, - Max sighed, rubbing the back of her neck, - And she wants to ask you out the same day when we will have our...extra-class activity.

- ...great, - Terry sighed in response, placing his hand over his face, - Just...great.

- Terry, I don't want to push you, so hear me out...I don't think this will work out. It's your choice, - Dana quickly interrupted him when Terry glanced at Max with an irritated expression, - And you know better how to deal with it and what is better for yourself, but that was the reason you broke up in the first place.

- I know, I know...I just..., - Terry sighed again, placing a helmet on his head, - ...I just wanted it to work, and...come to think of it - I hate to say it - I knew somewhere deep inside that it wouldn't be the same, that...it would not work out in a long run.

- ...I wish I could help you somehow, but...look, maybe you cal listen to that new album of "Screaming Veil"? I know it sounds stupid, but their music is just so good, and that singer could really make you forget - at least for a time - about who you are, and problem you have. Clear your head.

- Yeah, maybe I shou..., - Terry suddenly paused. Something that Max said was not right, because...she never liked something like this before, she doesn't even like this genre.

- ...McGinnis?

- You don't happen to have a copy of their new album?

- Yeah, I have, - she nodded, taking out her PDA, - Is everything fine?

- I just need to check something, - Terry took out his own PDA, downloading the music and closing his helmet off, - It's probably nothing, but I have a weird hunch. Talk to you later.

All the way to the Wayne Manor Terry was trying to compose his thoughts together, because he kept feeling like he was about to reach for something important, but what? He just had a very weird feeling, and after a while of being Batman he started to trust his own feelings, and this was the one that wasn't from McGinnis. Terry parked his bike inside the garage and quickly dashed inside the Batcave with a PDA in his hands. Wayne, as usual, was working on the cases, and when he turned to face Terry, he quickly noticed how tensed up he was:

- What happened?

- I have something really weird to ask of you, - Terry quickly approached Wayne with his PDA and wireless headphones, - I need you to listen to this. I know that you don't like modern music, but...I have a hunch that this is important.

- ...play the track, - Wayne said after a pause, putting headphones on his head and making some adjustments.

- What. Is. Happening? - that was Curare, who was spending all her free time in Batcave. She noticed that weird scene happening right in front of her eyes and decided to approach.

- I maybe doing something stupid or important right now, Curare, - Terry played the track, adjusting the volume settings for Wayne, taking a quick glance at the woman - she was relatively naked, aside from her mask and straps of cloth that were used as her bra and loincloth.

- What?

- Nothing, just...don't go around fully naked.

- Is. Batman. Embarrassed? - Terry could swear that she was smiling under her mask. She crossed her arms together, looking at Wayne who was still listening to the music, - And we need. More. Training. Sessions. You are still. Weak. From left side.

- I know. And you are not as good as I am at improvising.

- That is why. We should. Share our knowledge. Faster, - Curare glanced at McGinnis, - We failed. To trace. Sidonia. She left. Aerobike. And used. Sewer systems. But she is. Even more amateur. At combat. Than you are.

- That's a relief, - Terry sighed and paused the track, taking off headphones from Wayne, - So, what do you think?

- Relatively good. The singer got a serious talent, - nodded Wayne.

- You never liked this kind of music, - said Terry, slowly building his case, - It hit me when Max said the same thing today...and she said that "this music can make you forget who you are for the moment" - you were sitting here in your chair, without movement, and you had the most relaxed face I ever seen, - when Terry mentioned this, Wayne quickly regained his composure to be more serious, but he was listening to McGinnis still, - I can say that if we put this on Curare, it will be the same result.

- Let's. Try it, - she quickly nodded, taking headphones on herself. Terry played the same track for two minutes, and when he ended it, Curare said this, - ...I tried. To keep my thoughts. Together. And failed. I really liked it. And there were nothing. Of my thoughts. When she. Started to sing.

- Three people, who do not like this genre or indifferent to it have the same reaction, which is unnatural, - said Terry, looking over Wayne and Curare, - No matter how good this music is, it couldn't have such effect, especially on mister Wayne, - Terry took a pause before he could realize and said something, that finally formed inside his thought process, - ...I think the singer is Silver Banshee.

- It makes sense - Banshee possesses the ability to control sound with her voice, - nodded Wayne, crossing his palms together, - And as I can recall my condition before and after listening to this track...it only proves your point. The only one person who understands the sounds on the same level is Shriek, and he is behind the bars in Arkham...who is the main singer? - Wayne turned towards the Batcomputer, establishing connections to multiple servers.

- Aileen Durant, - responded Terry, approaching the Batcomputer along with the Curare.

- Give me a moment, - said Wayne, quickly typing. He was using his connections and data from Batcomputer to dig under Aileen, trying to figure out her connections to the first Silver Banshee. It wasn't, however, "a moment" - Wayne spent a whole hour of digging around in various places. Inque and Max came together, and as Terry signaled them to be quiet, they exchanged one's eyes with a confused expression. After a long while Wayne sighed, rubbing his nosebridge, - It it true - she is Aileen McDougal, daughter of Siobhan McDougal, the original Silver Banshee. She covered her tracks and origins pretty good, but not good enough, - Wayne opened several files, containing a large variety of information, - The McDougal clan owned a large island near Ireland for generations, but it was sold to Ireland for a large sum of money. The mansion that was stood there for several centuries is replaced by ecological hydro power stations, and beside the Aileen I can't find anyone of McDougal clan.

- I guess we can't find how she is connected to her mother and became a new Silver Banshee in the Internet?

- We can't...but that's why we do detective work on site, - grinned Wayne, turning in his chair to face everyone, - Terry, you will study Aileen today, if you can carefully get into contact with her - try to. Inque, you will work with Sidonia, Curare - you will be paired with Max, - as Curare glanced at her, and Max nervously gulped - she remembered that episode in bathroom when Curare was on a rampage, - I will instruct you further later when you will enter patrol. And also today will be a flight-test of your new vehicles, - Wayne pointed towards something that was under a big tarpaulin.

- I am still demanding secondary Batmobile...Or will it be Inque-mobile? - Inque theatrically rubbed her chin in thoughtful manner before letting out a laugh and going towards the new vehicles.

- If you. Say. Curare-mobile. I will. Slice you. For hours.

- You said it, not me...should I take a peek or let it surprise me?...no, I can't resist, - Inque quickly threw her arms under the tarpaulin and threw it away, revealing a new vehicles. While it wasn't a Batmobile, it was something between aerobike and Batmobile - two black sleek aerobikes with low profile with completely closed-off cockpit part, which was formed from black glass-like material. Inque tried to get inside one, but she just smashed herself on the cockpit glass and formed on top of it in sitting position, - OK, it's air-tight, - she knocked on the black glass two times while slightly grinning, - What about specs?

- Consider those a downgraded version of Batmobile, - said Wayne, slowly approaching Curare and Inque, - It's faster than any aerobike, armored to the point it can withstand a lot of fire from slug-throwers or laser rifles...armed with XM-501 Gatling gun with rubber bullets for crowd control, EMP rocket launchers, camouflage systems, sensors that are worse than on a Batmobile, but they still are here...you will get the specs quickly. And now the most important part, - Wayne put his palms over his cane, looking at Inque and Curare, - While they can be opened and operated via Batsuit and my voice activation, they also respond to you. For Curare, it takes a blood sample to open one, we will do something better in the meantime...for Inque - it's a chemical compound verification.

- Smart, - nodded Inque, - So, I guess this one is mine?

- It's actually Curare's one.

- ...damn it, - Inque sighed, slithering to her own..., - ...wait, so this make them...Batbikes?

- Pretty much.

- ...and they can have passengers? - Inque pressed her tentacle to the panel, opening protective shell of her Batbike and looking inside, - ...one passenger at most.

- Those bikes are designed to make your travels around Gotham easier and efficient, and as a means of a quick getaway, but they won't last long in a major confrontation.

- And consider how crazy this city is, this happens a lot, - Inque nodded to herself and lazily stretched to her sides, - So, boss...you seems like you have something to say, - She glanced at Wayne with a bit of challenging glare in her eyes, but it was mostly curiosity.

- Our investigations are coming slow, slower than I would want it, - Wayne frowned, looking at everyone, - And too many things happen at the same time for even our small team to handle. We need to make some powerful allies, re-establish connections and convince the right people to our cause.

- It's that bad, isn't it? - asked Terry very seriously. Everyone got the same question by the look on their faces - except for Curare's one, but her eyes betrayed her this time.

- If we can trust my experience, something much bigger plays in the shadows, - he nodded, seeing how everyone tensed up, - And that is why we need to focus to get to the bottom of this.

- Think Justice League will help us?

- If they can...I will put everything in motion to prepare for the worst possible outcome, considering the possible scale of this threat we are facing, but you can already start to prepare for trips all over the world. For now, let's focus on our current tasks.

- So, if she is wired, how can I make a contact with her? - asked Terry, looking at the penthouse where "Screaming Veil" were located. They didn't buy the penthouse, they rather rent it for a short while, but Aileen was on the balcony, looking over the city. Terry could see her clearly without costume now, and resemblance to Silver Banshee was obvious - same height, same cut hair (but blond one), and Batcomputer confirmed that there were similarities in facial structure. Despite how young she looked, she was a bit older than McGinnis, and there was something in her blue eyes that made her even older. She wore a simple pair of jeans and turtleneck black sweater, with a small skull amulet on a silver chain on her neck.

- Curare said, that while the Spine of the Sinner has the ability to be wired, but it mostly comes from connection to her optic nerves, - said Wayne, working on his side, - And it's also connected to auditory nerve, having no other means of any tracking devices other than beacons.

- Why? - asked Terry, looking around to spot something unusual.

- Easier to hide. The Spine itself couldn't get past the border without large bribes and connections, and if something goes wrong, the connections to her eyes and ears are also designed to...stimulate her behavior in needed way.

- I can't spot anyone tracking her - nothing on thermals or EM's, except for small security, - said Batman, completing the scan of the area from the Batmobile, - Think they so confident they decided to let her alone?

- They think she won't rebel against them if they let her live her life...until they need Banshee again. She probably gets some benefits out of it to keep her sanity stabilized.

- But that's just offering a pillow to someone, who is chained to the rock, - frowned Terry, looking over Aileen, - So how does one make a contact with someone who is being wired?

- ...try to make her notice you, and improvise.

- Just what I wanted.

As Batman dropped down, he turned his optical camo on and glided towards the penthouse. Aileen was standing on the balcony and she was observing the night-time Gotham, feeling the air in her hair. She rose her head up a little when Batman sticked to the wall above Aileen, with still active optical camo. Aileen sighed, placing her elbows on the railing:

- They won't hear our conversation, I still in control of myself...but I can't turn to you, and this conversation won't last long - I need to act natural, - she sighed again, looking to the side of the abyss of open space under her, filled with aerocars and automated trucks, - I suppose you know already, who I am.

- The daughter of Silver Banshee, - Terry narrowed his eyes, speaking in a whisper, - How?

- ...all I can say is that the power of my mother is not with me forever, - she responded after a pause, - Her powers and her soul are contained within an artifact, which could be used to make someone a new Silver Banshee...that would be me, - Aileen changed her pose a little, now looking at the stars, - But there is a group of magicians that want to force my mother's power to be transferable to someone else, and they will receive an artifact as a transaction in just a few days. I will be forced to protect the deal, and after that I will just disappear, - she leaned over the railing, closing her eyes for a moment, - It all happened when I got kidnapped by...someone. They never tell names, not even nicknames, and they were well sure about my abilities, so they kept me under drugs until they..., - she shuddered wholly and slowly hugged her own shoulders, - ...until they planted that...thing onto me. They wanted me to transfer the power to another person, and it did not worked - my mother was...displeased, to say the least, but she is weak, and so they started to use me, - Aileen got a hold on herself and stopped shivering, wiping a small tear from her eye, - Damn it, they will register this...look, they want to get rid of me and learn how to bound this power to another woman - because man can't become a Banshee - so those fu...idiots made a deal with those magicians - they got the artifact and me, and in return they will made a Banshee for this...group, to serve their will for the next five or ten years. Of course when they find a way to force the power of my mother to another woman, I will be dead, if I fail another mission - I will be dead, if I won't kill you or whoever is on your team...well, you can guess, - she turned towards the exit and looked right where Batman was. Aileen was not just tired - she was hopeless, desperate...broken. She closed her eyes, slowly opening the door and keeping it open long enough for Batman to get inside, - Tell me...there is no hope for me, right?...you can speak freely here - I check for bugs every night, and I send my band downstairs.

- There is always hope. And it's not just words - we identified the device. Our...specialist is looking into it.

- ...the artifact is still a problem - the magicians were allowed to study it for a while before buying, - Aileen walked into the shower room and left the door slightly opened, slowly taking her clothes off. Seeing where this advanced, Batman stayed near the door, pressing himself to the wall, - You need to get the artifact out of their hands.

- How does it look like?

- A scythe, black blade, white grip, very elegant, - Batman heard Aileen opening the water taps to fill her bath, - But you better not touch it, my mother is already pissed off about whole situation.

- Got it. Anything else?

- Because we will fight, you need something to protect yourself - I can not steal souls or anything like that, my mother and I restrict my powers together...but you won't be able to fight with me one-on-one...because I will be forced to seriously fight with you, if you show up on the transaction...

- I will, - said Batman, slightly nodding to himself.

- Do you know the location?

- I have a lead.

- Place a tracking beacon into my clothes, several even, just in case...and now I got some questions, could you answer them?

- You get three questions, except for this one.

- Magical numbers, - Aileen sighed, touching the water and turning water taps off, slowly getting inside the bath, - You are not the same Batman, are you?

- No, I am a new one...two left.

- Will you kill me if nothing will work? - she said, looking at the opened door with one eye.

- ...I will try to make everything work, - said Batman, turning his head towards the door inside the bath, - Or I will think on the spot when you will scream at me. One question left.

- ...I will hold this one, in case everything will have a happy ending, - she sighed, closing her eyes, - Now you can try to disappear, because I know you are already moving away. Are you placing the tracking beacons?

- I already did when we entered the house.

- ...you are Batman.

When table smashed against the wall, Sidonia was rolling to the side with her sword out of the scabbard. Inque was nearby, but she was pressed by lasers coming to her direction, so she had to slither inside the ventilation duct. They were fighting near industrial zone, repelling a heist on warehouses with a local security forces, waiting for GCPD to come.

- Hey, Sidi, their laser rifles are overheating, but not enough, - said Inque, making her way back to the warehouse to get herself a better position, - Can you...

- I am doing my best! - she yelled in response, throwing grenade towards the thugs. As grenade exploded, it send rubber shrapnel everywhere, hitting nearly every thug in a group...except the one inside the exoskeleton. He run towards Sidonia, firing slugs from little autocannons in his arms, but Sidonia deployed a shield from her arm, covering her helmet and taking her stance to face her left side to exoskeleton.

- Oh, you wanna fight?! - thug inside the exoskeleton started to laugh, - I am gonna crush all your freaking bones!

- Inque, do something now! - as Sidonia blocked the strike with her shield, she pressed her sword right inside the left arm of the thug, activating the electrical discharge. The thug inside exoskeleton yelled, but he quickly kicked Sidonia right in her kneecap and let go of her shield, punching right into her helmet. When she fell down, Sidonia tried to roll out quickly, but thug managed to step right onto her arm, slowly pressing his weight against it - wasn't Sidonia wearing the exoskeleton herself, this fight would be over much sooner.

- Your slimey friend isn't anywhere, - the thug took out Sidonia's sword from his suit with one hand and pressed it against Sidonia's neck...but nothing was happening. Suddenly the visor turned off, as other systems inside the suit, - What the...

- Actually, I was there after electrical discharge, - suddenly said Inque, slithering from the inside of the suit. With careful and mocking movements, she released Sidonia's sword from the grip, finger by finger...but suddenly she moved closer to the thug inside the exosuit, narrowing her eyes to "Bat-glare", - Now...two options. I closed off your suit so it would take a lot of time to get you out - one guy was there for two days, hearing constant drilling, with little oxygen coming in...or I can get you out of the suit, and maybe I won't break anything if you talk, - she carefully helped Sidonia to stand up, returning back to the thug, - Five seconds to decide. One...

- OK, get me out, you won! Get me out!

- Fine, - sighed Inque. Suddenly something clicked inside the suit, and it finally opened. The thug was really happy about his release until Inque get a hold on him with her tentacle arm. As Sidonia watched, small parts of Inque left the exosuit and returned back to her mass, - Now...you are new to the city, right?

- R-right, we had some jobs at Central City, - gulped thug, trying to hold onto Inque's tentacle around his neck, but his hands were sucked in suddenly, - Crap!

- Keep talking, or bye-bye fingers, - she narrowed her eyes even more.

- W-we received a word that black market got a hold on weapons, and after one job we moved here. They got lots of stuff, legit one, and this is serious operation.

- How many groups moved to Gotham?

- M-many? - thug gulped, feeling that something was slowly pushing against his fingers inside Inque's mass, - L-look, I don't know how many, but I know they came nor even from other states, there were some guys from other countries! Everyone wants to get a hold on that stuff. W-we wanted to go big and leave, because other's are working at Lower Gotham, rarely coming up to Mid-Gotham.

- What about other gangs?

- T's and Jokerz are pressed a lot, they gathering their numbers after gang war and massive raid, the U's have taken some large portions of the city, they are now in fight with Maroni.

- ...anything else to add?

- N-nothing!

- Fine, - sighed Inque, releasing the thug from her grip...but not before she got a hold on his middle finger on his left hand. With one quick move, she broke all three phalanges.

- Y-you said you will think about it! - yelped thug, falling on the ground and holding his hand.

- And I thought I would do only this, - she leaned in dangerously, lowering her tone, - You want more?

- ...n-no, - he replied, trying not to look at Inque.

- Consider this mercy, - Inque waved to coming GCPD aerocars.

After a short while Inque and Sidonia made their report about the robbers, with Inque pointing out important things that Gordon should know. With all thugs loaded up with their gear, Inque and Sidonia left the industrial area and landed on top of some building for a quick rest and area scan. When Inque got out for fresh air, she noticed that Sidonia was not talkative as before, and it wasn't about the damage to her exoskeleton.

- ...you know, in moments like this Batman usually asks me about what is going on, - she turned towards Sidonia, who raised her head to face Inque, - And maybe I don't see your face, I can still see your pose and attitude.

- ...you can read people like this?

- I am a woman of many talents...and flaws, - Inque sighed with slight irritation, moving to her aerobike and taking a sit on it, - And probably I have flaws over my talents...but still, - she turned her eyes towards Sidonia's helmet, - Are we going to talk? Because talking can, surprisingly, solve many things.

- ...I was working with Curare before, and she was serious about what she was doing...not a person to talk about, but you like to talk, just like Batman, - Sidonia sighed, trying to repair her arm by herself, - And you are more...brutal.

- One finger is not a tragedy...and you are also brutal, - Inque slithered towards Sidonia, who suddenly tensed up, - Relax, I am going to help you for once.

- You have experience in repairing exoskeletons? - asked Sidonia with a clear skepticism in her tone.

- I have experience in breaking one, so you better guide me, - Inque walked behind Sidonia, looking at damaged left arm.

- Fine...try to remove bolts of protective plates first, and later remove the said plates.

- Got it, - Inque took all instruments in her arm, picking the right one and starting to work on bolts, that were holding the plates to the carcass, - So...you are brutal too. You threw that grenade and some of those thugs got shrapnels to their eyes and lower parts.

- ...really? - Sidonia turned her helmet in order to face Inque.

- Yup, - Inque slowly removed the plates, looking at damaged carcass, -...before I continue, it looks really bad.

- Can you free my arm? You have to remove other plates around the area that was damaged...so...you can't avoid this.

- You can't, - said Inque seriously, while she was slowly removing bolts and plates around Sidonia's arm, - Even the original Batman made mistakes in his lifetime, and we are making more because we are not The Batman...but that's what you have to accept, learn and move on when you are one of them, - she pointed to her head, which was shaped in her "Bat-Inque" form, - But because no one died and because this grenade was designed to be used as a non-lethal weapons, we don't have to worry about it.

- But you are still doing it to criminals...as Curare. You do not kill, but sure you maybe overdoing it, - said Sidonia, still looking at Inque.

- ...maybe we are overdoing it, - Inque paused, looking at broken parts with narrowed eyes, choosing to use plasma blowtorch for this job, - Maybe this is too much, but our rage is under control. But it is your rage I am worried about.

- What do you mean?

- A woman forced herself inside this suit and live very complicated and dangerous life, and she never even swears? - she sighed and she shook her head, still working around with blowtorch, - I don't know, what is your story, but if you will keep that rage inside, you will be...consumed by it.

- So breaking bones in criminals is your way to fight stress?

- It feels good, and I never overdoing it, - Inque made her eyes to look cartoonishly happy before she continued seriously, - But it's just one of the many ways to deal with stress. When was the last time you took rest and slept more than six hours?

- ...probably several weeks ago, - sighed Sidonia, lowering her shoulders in defeat, - And...you are right, I am under constant stress, sometimes I...I just can't keep my thoughts together, and sometimes I feel like..like I want to go beyond my own limits.

- I know someone who is obsessed with vengeance, - Inque finally helped Sidonia to remove her arm from the exoskeleton, carefully dropping parts nearby, - And I know someone who managed to let it go, despite what he faced.

- ...both of them, right?

- Exactly, - nodded Inque, crossing her arms on her chest, - So, since I saved you and because I want to be a bad girl now and then, you owe me your story. Not right now, if you want, but it better be before the raid.

- Are you always that...dominant? - sighed Sidonia under her helmet.

- Batman got used to it, - Inque shrugged her shoulders, letting out a small laugh.

- ...fine, - said Sidonia after a long pause, looking at the night-time Gotham, - But it will be...in bare outlines, so to speak.

- Better than nothing, - nodded Inque.

- Just several months ago I was like any regular woman out there - career, family, hobbies, good times, bad accidents...and this simple life was more than enough for me, - she turned her helmet to look at Inque, who was listening closely, - I guess most of us start like this.

- Most, - responded Inque in a more serious and quite tone.

- But not you.

- Let's just say I got it harder than anyone I know...but no complaining here, I moved on...recently.

- I see, - nodded Sidonia, continuing her story, - But back to myself...I had a very interesting job and hobby, and sometime ago I had...a confrontation with the reality of this world.

- Someone appeared from the underground, - guessed Inque.

- ...yes, someone, - sighed Sidonia, turning away to face the Gotham again, - They wanted something we could not provide in legal ways, and first came offerings of money. When this did not work out as they wanted, threats were their next step to get what they wanted, - Sidonia clenched her fists, taking her time to come down with everything that she was bringing up in herself, - ...police helped us for some time, and everyone were so naively thinking about safety, how this was over...in fact, when it hit us, we already forgot about those people from the underground...

- They were waiting for opportunity, and since you were dealing with the police, they were waiting for them to stop protecting you, - continued Inque, with Sidonia turning her helmet again to face Inque, - You, and whoever was with you...they were shocked and not prepared for this.

- Y-yes, - nodded Sidonia with a clear stutter in her trembling voice, - We were not ready...the police couldn't find those who did...who did things to us, and I decided to take it into my own hands.

- Do you want to kill them? - asked Inque in a straightforward manner.

- ...no, I want them to rot forever...there was a movie, a very old one, and one of the villains said that death is a liberation. I don't want to give them such honor to be liberated from their possible suffering, - Sidonia slowly rose up, sighing under her helmet and going towards her aerobike, - Let's call this a night, Inque.

- ...Sidi, - she said suddenly. Sidonia stopped in her tracks and turned her helmet to the side to face Inque, - You need to let go of this...it's hard, I can tell that myself, but you are burning out, slowly...take your time and try to relax, because if you snap right in the middle of the mission...

- I know, - Sidonia placed her arm in the storage area of her aerobike, nodding to Inque, - And...I will. Will it be fine if I will take a break before raid?

- It will be the best thing to do, actually.

- It will be...see you next time, - Sidonia waved and closed the protective shell of aerobike, slowly rising up and moving upwards to the upper levels of Gotham.

- Was it enough, boss? - asked Inque, contacting Wayne directly and watching at Sidonia's aerobike.

- More than enough. With your information I was finally able to piece her story together...her name is Hilda Jaeger, she has many companies in her pocket, including several for weapon and armor production.

- Figures.

- ...now this is interesting. She is married to a holder of archaeological society that helps to gather and preserve ancient artifacts, granting them public access. Several months ago he was put into a coma with heavy injuries, and after that Hilda Jaeger started to travel around the world - she visited city, checked out, moved to register to another city, and several days Sidonia appeared after her...that's interesting.

- What is it?

- The injuries her husband received were done during the heist, in which many antiques were stolen, including the artifact of Silver Banshee...Batman got the information about it from her daughter.

- So she had the artifact and wouldn't hand it over to...someone, and said "someone" put her husband into a hospital for heck knows how long, - Inque got onto her own aerobike, starting the engine, - And now she wants to get to the bottom of it.

- She needs some...guidance, and probably you need to keep an eye on her during the raid.

- I keep my eyes on everyone, starting from myself.

- Good, keep it that way...rest for now, we need everyone in a good shape.

- On it, boss. Before I go I will return this beauty back, - sighed Inque, going towards the Batcave.

The very next night, when everyone in the team had their time for resting and preparing, Terry suddenly visited Inque in "Chillnight". She was seriously surprised, because he was looking...bad:

- Can I die here for a second? - Terry moaned and threw himself into the lounge where Inque was resting.

- Help yourself, but do you need a Lazarus Pit afterwards? - she asked pretty sincerely, despite her playful tone. Terry even opened his eyes in surprise, and Inque just continued casually, - I am studying and catching up things, don't make those "did-you-hacked-Batcomputer-again?" eyes.

- Nah, I can manage it, I just need something...loud. And probably you talking about something-something.

- Have you ever felt that tired after our fights? - Inque looked at Terry with a serious concern.

- ...close enough, - he sighed, closing his eyes for a while.

- It's about your private life, isn't it?

- Yup.

- Want to talk about it?

- ...I dunno, - he sighed again deeply, - Should I?

- Well, who can understand you if not the person who tried to kill you? Several times even, - Inque smiled seductively and pushed Terry into his shoulder slightly, - Come on, if you don't want to talk about it, we can talk about something else, but we better talk - I love doing it.

- Especially with me, - smirked Terry, opening one eye and glancing at Inque.

- Especially with you, - she confirmed that with another seductive smile of hers, waiting for Terry to start the conversation.

- ...can you combine your private life with other things?

- There wasn't such thing as "private life" before, - Inque lowered her tone, turning away from Terry to gaze upon the dance floor beneath VIP lounge, - There were only contracts, survival from mutagen dose to another and seeking a way to wash my money clean to be able to transfer them to Deanna. There...wasn't much else to do - I could go anywhere, but it did not matter since I lived in a very...small world, - Inque returned her eyes to Terry with a serious and...appreciated look on her face, - But you gave me a chance to see more, despite pretty rough start, - she and Terry chuckled a bit, since now it was a topic they could both laugh at. Inque closed the distance between both of them and continued in lowered tone, - And I finally saw the bigger world around me. For only that I should help you with everything mature woman can help.

- You just like pointing out that you are a "mature woman", do you?

- Old habits die hard, - Inque smiled and tousled Terry's hair playfully, - Let me guess...it's about your girlfriend that decided to return.

- Yeah, - Terry sighed and leaned back on the couch, looking into the ceiling, - She wants to meet with me the same day our raid will be, and I told her that I will work for this day.

- And she went hard on you, - nodded Inque.

- ...harder than usual, considering that my "work" was the reason we broke up in a first place, - Terry now turned to see Inque, considering his next words, - You said that we live in the shadows, that this life is not for everyone to even see.

- And this is correct...at least from my perspective, - answered Inque, glancing at Terry, - This...life of ours is hard. Some people, like Curare, were born for it, some other people, like you, me and old geezer, were dragged down to it...and not just dragged - we decided to stay. For revenge, for making up for past...for desperation, - Inque made a pause, looking at the dance floor, - I was thinking a lot about it, and our life is like a habit - even your old man couldn't stop being himself...that punch to the face was actually hard one, - Inque rubbed her cheek, remembering her battle with Wayne, and turned to face McGinnis, - This is not for everyone, but even if you are staying in this world, you can decide if you want to take someone in. I am showing Deanna enough to keep her safe from it, so she wouldn't be dragged down as both of us.

- ...guess you are right, but...

- But you want a hope for normal life, do you? - she interrupted Terry, who was caught off-guard with how accurate Inque was talking, - You want to think that you will not end up as your old man, but you can't quit - it's a part of you now, - seeing how Terry fell silent, Inque continued in a softer tone, - We can understand each other because we both live in the same world, but her world is small, yours is not fitting into it, no matter how hard you try. You can bring it to her, but...will it be worth it? She may probably understand it, on the other hand, and maybe it will be the right thing to do. In the end...

- It's my choice, - sighed Terry.

- Exactly, - nodded Inque.

- ...I still can't get used to you being on a helpful side, by the way. It's...weird, after all we put each other through.

- Well, it's a nice change of things to not inflict pain and misery on each other, don't you agree? - she put her left hand on Terry's left shoulder in a casual motion, - Because that's what we did...Terry.

- You still have trouble saying my name? - smirked McGinnis.

- Batman more suits you, - she smiled again, - So, back to the topic...while we did put each other through nasty encounters, I think we managed to put this aside...or?...

- No, we did it, - Terry nodded in agreement to Inque's words, - Because I don't have a batarang on me right now.

- Liar, you always have one, you just don't put your hands in a way to be able to reach it, - Inque and Terry let out a short laugh, and then she continued, - ...you know, this is so much better than chasing one another.

- Better late than never, - Terry smirked, shaking his head, - So, what happens next?

- Nothing major, - Inque shrugged her shoulders...with a very sly smile on her face and a spark in her eyes, - Bu-u-u-u-ut I got my hands on this, - Inque pressed a button on her remote to reveal a giant screen, that came down from the ceiling, - ...yeah, I payed a lot not only for the screen, but for the mechanism also...I couldn't resist! This is so...how you call it, schway?

- Yeah, schway, - Terry laughed, looking at the giant screen coming down from the ceiling, - Now this is truly your lair.

- No, it's not lair, it's...damn it, it's not a cave either, - Inque rubbed her chin, trying to came up with a right words when she suddenly widened her eyes and snapped victoriously, - It's the Inque Lounge, and this is Inque-Computer!

- And where is the Inque-mobile?

- In development, sarcastic one, - Inque slightly tapped Terry on his head with a chuckle, - But in all seriousness, I payed a subscription to one private service for a year, and my eyes picked...this movie, - she used her remote to open the menu and select something that Terry recognized after a while.

- ...heard about this one. It's done in a first-person perspective?

- Yup, and I got myself pretty neat surround system, - Inque quickly got out from her lounge, turning it towards the large screen and activating the sound system that came from ceiling, walls and even from the floor, - Couldn't resist, - she explained, throwing herself behind the bar and looking around it for something, - What do you want?

- Water or soda, I still have to drive home.

- Right, - soon enough Inque dropped on the couch, giving Terry a whole bunch of soda cans, - Don't know what's your favorite, but let's find this together, while we still have some time.

- The exosuit was upgraded and calibrated, and while it still provides you benefits, it came with a cost of the time you can use the exosuit, - Wayne was working on the inner circuits of the exosuit with special goggles on, - It still puts a lot of stress on your heart, but the Batsuit should help you to negate this effect...for less than an hour.

- Less than hour? - asked Terry sceptically.

- I took the worst case scenario for precaution, and that is why you will have to limit the usage of this suit with me constantly monitoring your health condition, - Wayne carefully placed the circuit inside the suit and raised his goggles, looking straight at Terry, - It should help you to get on the same level with Banshee.

- Boss, remember what happened the last time we...you used that? - Inque casually stretched herself to look around the suit from various angles, - While it packs a punch, it's not that...armored to fight me, and Banshee is even more powerful.

- I was upgrading this suit with your reappearance, and while it was made out of good alloys, I was able to increase it's durability. It should now be able to take a punch from Superman.

- One? - asked Inque, looking down from her height at Wayne.

- Maybe two, - answered Wayne, still working with the innards of the exosuit.

- That's reassuring, - sighed Terry, looking at the exosuit, - What else?

- Curare was able to find a...specialist that provided us a schematics of the device that controls Banshee, but we can't perform the removal of this device right on the spot, because it must be done fast and with precision, - Wayne rose up and smirked a little, - That is why I asked an old friend for a help, - Wayne looked at his wristwatch and nodded to himself, going towards the Batcomputer and opening the door to the cave, - He could be late, but considering his age it's not...

- ...surprise!

Inque was so spooked that she jumped towards the ceiling and hold onto stalactites with her many tentacles. Curare tried to throw a batarang she was holding in her hands, and McGinnis simply fell down on the cave floor. The man just suddenly appeared with a bolts of yellow lightning around him, and this man was wearing red armored suit with a same yellow lightning on his chest. The man took off his mask and revealed himself to be just a bit younger than Bruce, with short gray hair.

- Hey, kids, - Terry couldn't even saw how this man managed to catch Curare's batarang, - Don't throw sharpy things on people, - he laughed a bit and looked towards Wayne, giving a whistle and carefully throwing batarang back to Curare in an arc, - Wow, Bruce, you look just a bit worse than twenty years ago, - the man walked towards Wayne, extending his hand, and to everyone's surprise Wayne shook it, - Gonna introduce me to kids?

- This is Wally West, The Flash.

- Or "fastest man alive", but probably not as fast as before, - Flash smiled, stretching to the sides, - So, we have...new Batman, looks like Grayson by the way...we have creepy slime lady in the ceiling...

- It's Inque, - she responded with irritation, slowly dropping down and shaping herself into a human form, crossing her arms on her chest.

- Right, creepy lady Inque, and we have an Arabian dancer, - from that commentary Curare just rolled her eyes, - What's with the neck device?

- For. Talking.

- Sounds like you have trouble doing it, - smiled Flash, nodding to Curare, - But you will overcome, just give it a time...So, Bruce, what's the occasion?

- We need your help to disable this device, - Wayne opened a file with schematics, showing it to Flash, who quickly started to inspect the schematics, - It's attached to a daughter of Silver Banshee.

- Huh, now this is interesting...much more complicated than Jokers bombs during that time in Las Vegas..., - Flash rubbed his chin, still studying the design, - Can you do the simulation thingy?

- We can do better, - after some time Wayne activated Batcomputer's holographic projectors, making a full three-dimensional model the "Spine", already attached to a female body with the same proportions as new Banshee.

- You upgraded the old duster! But why not upgrade the looks? Sentimental?

- Old-fashioned, - Wayne took out a pair of special gloves, giving them to Flash, who quickly put the gloves on, - We will work with different configurations, and it could take time.

- Not worry about it if you have a stock of snaks...you have, do you?

- I always prepared, - Wayne smirked again, nodding to Flash, - We don't have much time, so let's start now.

Yup. Flash. I really liked him in Justice League show, along with other JL members.

As I said, the very next chapter will probably resolve this ark, but I still need to think about it. So, again, it will take some time.

But hey, we will have some action going on.