Chapter 2

Infiltrate the Final Offer

AN: Sorry to keep you waiting, I've been busy with my other story Hellbreaker but here it is, the latest chapter.

"In the room beyond you will find your next test, one of intimation. The three ninja in the next chamber had been instructed of upon pain of death to keep the pass phrase from you. Don't make your presence known until you've become a wraith in their minds. Use it to convince them that you are terrible than death. Then they will give you the words." Talia explained and then took off. I climbed up the ladder to the doorway observing different ways to attack the assassins. Then I spotted a wire that was leading above across, so I climbed up and shimmed it to the other side. Then I spotted a cage made of bamboo hanging by a support cable. So I used a shirken to cut off the support cable and then the cage came trashing down. It caused the ninja some worry about my presence, so I took advantage of that by sneaking behind two ninjas in the shadows and threw a smoke bomb disorientating the third. I took him down and pressed my foot against his throat making it hard to breathe

"What is the pass phrase?" I demanded,

"Please… Ra's Al Ghul will… kill me." He begged,

"Then I'll make you wish I did. What is the pass phrase?"

"The… Demon's H-head."

"Thank you." I put enough pressure on his throat to put him out. Then I walked to a big gate and knocked on the door.

"What is the pass phrase?" The guard behind the door asked,

"The Demon's Head."I answered, the gates opened to reveal Talia and her guards next to her.

"Well done, brother." She complimented, "You've completed the second test. Now it is time for your final challenge, the Demon Trials. Follow me." I followed her down the hallway as she explained the Trials.

"Thousands of warriors have fallen in pursuit of the Demon. Would-be successors have proven to be nothing more than children battling the enormity of creation."

"I've been through worse." I replied,

"Nothing can prepare you for what comes next. Destiny will decide your fate." Talia continued,

"I won't fail." I stated,

"I have heard these words a hundred times. Let us hope that you are correct." She replied as we stopped at the door. "Your journey begins through this door."

"Let's do this." I announced as I walked towards the door, but was stopped by Talia

"Be careful, Jericho. Only one man has passed this ordeal."

"Are you trying to talk me out of this?" I asked,

"Of course not, I just…" She answered looking away, "I just want you to understand, when the blood of the Demon takes hold, you'll be on your own."

"Like always." I said,

"Then I pray the sprits will be kind." She stepped aside as I walked to the door not knowing what to expect.

"There's only one person who can get his hands on something like this, the Penguin." Bruce stated, I wasn't surprised by the statement, Penguin has his ways of getting high tech weapons but the problem is that since the turf war with Two Face ended, he hasn't been seen since.

"According to GPS, the last known location was Jezebel Plaza where a Arm's Deal is gonna happen tomorrow. That's where we're headed." I said, "I'm call it a night. See you at home, baby." I kissed my fiancé goodbye before leaving the Batcave. When I got into my car, I got call from Talia.

"Not a good time, sister." I told her,

"I know, I saw the news. Is it true?" She asked,

"Yeah. Unfortunately." I sighed rubbing my eyes, "Are you at the airport?"

"Yes, just arrived two hours ago. Don't keep waiting."

"Sure." I got into my car and drove to the airport.

"Welcome, Jericho. I am the Great Ra's Al Ghul Before you lies your first Demon Trial. Simply drink from the chalice. It is that simple." I was in a dark room staring at a chalice in front of me when my fathers voice echoed. Drink from the chalice? Sounds simple enough.

I took the chalice and drank the liquid inside.

"Good. Feel the blood of the demon coursing through your veins, renewing your strength and twisting your will. " the walls suddenly fell a part brick by brick and I was sent to a wasteland that looked scary like Gotham only that was in ruins. Good ol' Dad appeared in form of a spirit.

"Your next task is simple. Follow me through this world and the trial is complete. Touch anything along the way and you will die." He then disappeared creating a icy path to a iceberg. Wow, what was in that chalice? Sighing I had no choice but to follow the ice path and from the moment I stepped on it, the iceberg started to sink. I ran as fast as I could and then on instinct I jumped to the platform of the iceberg. I made it. I took a moment to recover only to look up and spotted my father.

"These tests will prove that you're strong enough to lead my forces, to save this world that is destroying it." He stated, then suddenly two ninjas appeared by the sides. I rolled out of the way and backhanded one of them. the first ninja swung his sword but I blocked it, kneed him in the stomach and headbutted him out cold. The second one I dodged his sword spun him around and snapped his neck like a twig.

"Are you the one that I've been searching for, Jericho? The one to succeed me?" my father asked as a wormhole just appeared. I was confused until the same ice path was going down to the wormhole. Oh great. I exhaled a breath as I spread my arms mentally preparing myself as I fell into the hole. I landed on another iceberg perfectly, although my feet are going to be sore tomorrow.

"The blood of the Demon has allowed me to live for 600 years. Imagine the good that you will do with such a gift." my father said, then three ninjas appeared. I quickly rolled out of the way as they swung their swords at me. I put one of them in a front headlock and made a quick snap of his neck. I thrust kicked the second ninja and spin kicked him taking his head off. Not literary of course and the last one I used a leg takedown on the last one and dislocated his leg in two.

"It's time to face me. In person. Complete this final challenge and the blood of the demon will give you the gift of eternal life." The wormhole suddenly appeared again and I ran freefalling into the oblivion. After what seemed to be an eternity, I was back in the room. I sighed in relief, I was back in the real world.

"Well done, Jericho. Now… come and find me to collect your reward."

I was sitting on the gargoyle of the Jezbel Plaza with Talia as I felt the cold wind brushing my cheeks watching the Arm Deal taking place. After I picked Talia from the airport, I quickly explained what I learned from Croc and about the 50 million dollar bounty, she took it well actually and somewhat calm. I wonder sometimes how much influence our dad had it on her, I don't even want to know. but when I told her about Shiva, she was worried for a second before explaining that she had a few run ins with Shiva. All the encounters came up with a draw. Wow, she must be really skillfull. But then again, I'm not surprised.

When the arms dealer showed up with his men, I had a smirk as I recognized the dealer.
Ricky Loose Lips Leblanc, one of Penguins men who's been running the weapon sale on the streets. you want, he'll get it for you no matter what it takes but not without a price. He's smart but not very bright.

"All right, guys. Now let's see if you've been naughty or…" he opened a suitcase that the buyer gave it to him and had a big grin when he saw money, "oooh, Nice.

"Talia, what say that we crash the party?" I asked,

"After you, brother." Talia motioned to proceed. I drop attacked one of his men taking them by surprise. I knocked him out and then I countered a punch from the second thugh and dislocated his shoulder. The last one was trying to sneak up on me but as luck would have it, Talia kicked him between his legs hard. He muffled a high pitched scream as he collapsed to the ground. Oh, the humanity. Ricky tried to escape but I used the bat claw to get him and dragged him to us.

"Ok, ok. I give up." he raised his hands in defeat,

"Pal, do we like we care?" I asked the obvious as I picked him up and threw him to a chair in front of some Christmas decoration.

"Get away." Ricky pleaded, Talia ignored the plea as she went to kick him in the chest sending him a few feet away.

She put her boot on his throat cutting any oxygen. I went to intervene but she shook her head no, I unwillingly stepped down. As I much as I love Talia, there's the assassin side in that's been trained to kill all her life ,which makes me very concerned. No remorse, no emotions and no mercy which makes her very unpredictable.

"Where is the Penguin?" She demanded,

"I… don't… know." Ricky choked out

"Where is he?" she repeated, he didn't answer as he passed out from the lack of oxygen.

"Damn." She breathed, she looked at me and saw a disapproving look on my face.

"Forgive me, brother. It's diffcult for me to not to take a life. You should know." She told me, I sighed in understanding as I picked up Ricky.

"Come on. let's go."

Third POV.

"Wake up." Ricky stirred as he opened his eyes, looking around his surroundings. He looked up to see Jericho and Talia above him He quickly got scared as he saw how far he is from the Christmas tree in front of the Jezebel Plaza.

"Time to talk. Where is Cobblepot?" Jericho asked,

"Let me go." He begged, frantically

"If you say so." Jericho shrugged, holding a rope that was restraining Ricky from a certain death released it and sending him crashing into the clock. Then they heard a ring from his cell as Jericho dragged Ricky back up who was probably wetting his pants right now.

"Please, stop! I'll talk! I'll tell you everything you want to know!" Ricky said as Talia grabbed his cellphone from his pants pocket and read a text message from none other than Cobblepot. She showed it to Jericho.

"Too late, we already have what we need." Jericho stated as he let go of the rope, ricky came crashing into the tree.

"You're crazy, you're freaking crazy!" Ricky yelled,

Jericho POV

After giving Loose lips interrogation that he'll never forget, I went to read the SIM card on my cellphone that has a cryptographic frequencer built in but when I put it on, the screen appeared static. Something was blocking it.

"Oracle. I'm getting interferences on my com-systems. Is that on your side?" I asked,

"No, I'm seeing it too. Looks like Penguin has activated some sort of a jamming signal coming from a nearby GCR Tower for security measure. I've highlighted the tower on your map." Oracle answered,

"Thanks." I replied as I nudged talia to the GCR tower. Once we got there, we had some difficulties. the tower was guarded with two snipers. So we had to grapple to the ledge taking out both of them at the same time. Then we got into the tower and entered the server room. I used my cellphone to restore the communication tower. Now that's settled, we can read the SIM card we took from Loose Lips.
After a few moments, we listened to an ongoing conversation between Penguin's men.

"Oracle. I'm reading a signal from Penguin's men. But it's not associated with any known wireless frequency."

"Hmm. Looks like Penguin runs his own private wireless network using laptop transmitters serving as ad hoc com stations that are feeding his men frequencies via two by radio. There are two of these com stations near your position." Barbara stated,

"Good. Mark them on my map, Oracle. If we can find those walkie talkies, I'll be able to triangulate Penguins position." I said,

"Understood." Barbara said, we went to the first one that was behind the Gotham Church. After taking out some of the security, we collected the first SIM card where we listened to a thug making excuses to Penguin about the arms deal that went south. It was pretty intense as we made it to the second one where was behind a steel mill.

"Mr Cobblepot, I swear it was the Jericho's. They dropped Ricky off the clock tower straight into the Christmas tree."

"I don't care what you think you saw. If you don't come back 'ere with my money in the next ten minutes, I'll cut your damn eyeballs out. And then you won't have to worry about seein' nothin' ever again. Is that clear?" Penguin threatened,

"Yes, Mr. Cobblepot. I'm sorry Mr. Cobblepot." I shook my head as we took out armed guards, three to be exact at the com station. Then we collected the second SIM card. Now we can triangulate Penguin's position. I used the cryptographic sequencer in my cellphone and after a few minutes, we finally located Penguins hideout.

"There you are. On board on the Final Offer." I stated,

"He's been hiding on a old ship. Must say, not exactly a idea hideout but it's very efficient." Talia added,

"Hmm."

We used the Batwing to travel to the Final Offer that was at the Gotham Docks. The ship was heavily guarded, two snipers and 6 armed men guarding the ground. We had to split up. we took out the snipers sliently and then we took 3 armed men respectively. After that we met up at the front entrance to the Final Offer.

"Ready?" I asked her, she nodded as we entered the Final Offer where we were greeted by some lowlife thugs with knifes.

I looked at Talia who had the same look on her face as the thugs went to attack us but we blocked them and kneed in the face out cold.

"I wonder, how does Penguin find these clowns? The circus?" Talia asked to herself, I chuckled thinking the same thing. As we went further inside the ship, we entered the boiler deck where Penguin was hosting some sort of a fighting tournament. We saw Penguin briefly before he left. He was heading back to his officer.

"Shall we?" I asked, Talia nodded ready as I picked the locks and entered. There we looked around to see fighters above us. Out stepped Tracy, one of Cobblepots secretarys and took a long look at us.

"Now there's some naughty geezas. Proper naughty. An' 'ey deserves a proper welcome, don't 'ey, lads?" she motioned to someone to appear now. and that same someone was other than Lester Buchinsky, aka the Electrocutioner.

"You two just saved me a lot of trouble, Jericho's." he said as he jumped "I'm-a kill you. Then, I'm-a jumpstart your heart and kill you again." He smashed his fist sending some electricity to us. But it didn't affect us.
"Like I said, this is gonna be a long night, sis." I told her, yep, this might take a while.