Chapter 16 I know it's been a long long time since I updated this story. Been really busy with life and haven't had time to work on it. I tried to make this one pretty decently long to make up for it. I will be finishing it here soon so expect updates and the story should be finished mid November! Thank you to all who take the time to read.

Batman scanned the bullet from the rifle that shot it. Barret 50 Caliber. Deadshot's favorite. Batman scanned the bullet's landing point and the window it entered through and was able to get Deadshot's shooting location.

"Jason let's get to the roof of the clock tower. Deadshot is going to shoot again soon." Batman ordered.

Jason got up and, with Batman, grappled up to the roof of the clock tower and hid out of Deadshot's line of sight. Jason reached into his holsters and grabbed his pistols that combined to form a sniper of his own and lowered his red visor.

"No Jason. No need for that." Batman said.

"Are you serious Batman? This guy is clearly a high level sniper. Only way to beat him is at his own game." Jason argued.

"I've faced him plenty of times. He can be beaten without guns." Batman said.

"Well what're you gonna do? Get close enough to use that disruptor of yours?" Jason said sarcastically.

Batman ignored the question and attempted to peek around the roof of the clock tower and was immediately met with a bullet that barley missed.

"He's gotten good." Batman said.

"Jesus that was quick. Should we try to split up and get closer to him?" Jason suggested.

"That could work. I've already scanned his trajectory and location. He's far. But we can get close. He can't watch two targets. So here's the plan. I'll get him to fire again. The second you hear that bullet leave the gun you use that opportunity to get to the next form of cover. I'd say jump off and through a window of the tower. Deadshot can headshot targets falling in mid-air so it's important to get cover fast. It's also possible he's using a custom sniper that allows him to shoot more than one round before cocking the gun so he'll definitely see you jump off this roof." Batman instructed.

"Gotcha. Ready when you are." Jason said.

Batman held up three fingers. Three seconds. They'd have to be quick. One. Two. Three. Batman stuck his head out the side and as he predicted a shot was fired. Jason was one step ahead and had already jumped towards the ledge of the clock tower roof before batman barely stuck his head out to draw fire and had breathing room. Dead shot did fire another shot at Jason but missed by a mile. Jason was far faster than Batman had anticipated.

On Mercy Bridge Deadshot was aware of what was going on.

"Two of em. Batman and a red masked guy. Probably another robin, who cares they both die. I got something for them." Deadshot said.

Deadshot grabbed his bag and took out another Barret 50 caliber and attached it to the 50 cal he already had out.

"Now let's see what kind of splitting up you plan on doing." Deadshot said to himself.

Batman was still in his same position and radioed in to Jason.

"Jason how's it going down there?"

"Pretty good. I'm situated. Waiting for the next move."

"Get down to the lower level using the steps. I'm going to call the batmobile around to this side of the clock tower and get into it."

"Um. You probably don't want to do that." Jason said concerned.

"What now?" Batman said annoyed.

"He's got guys down here putting bombs all over it." Jason responded.

"Not an issue." Batman said typing in a command to the batmobile.

In a split second the batmobile released a static field of electricity shocking and knocking away the thugs. Batman jumped down to the C4 covered batmobile and got ready to take them off carefully take them off, until he heard a gunshot and an explosion filled the area. BOOOOOOOOOOOOM! The explosion was heard by thugs all the way in Founders island! Inside the clock tower Jason was knocked off his feet.

"Jesus! What the hell was that? What is Bruce doing?" Jason looked out of an window and saw the flaming batmobile. "BATMAN!" He yelled.

On Mercy bridge Deadshot was celebrating.

"Yes. The bat took the bait. There's more than one way to set off a C4. You'd think he'd know that. Now. Just one more. Come on. I just need a little bit of a shot."

Back at the bottom of the clocktower Jason analyzed the scene. Fire and bomb smoke filled the air. The batmobile rest inside the intense inferno.

"Batman! Batman where are you! Damn it!" Jason started to get concerned.

He looked around for clues to find any signs of where Batman might be. Next thing he heard was his radio ear piece scratch.

"Hello? Hello?! Batman?" Jason asked.

"Unfortunately, not." The man said.

"Who's this? How'd you get this line?" Jason questioned.

"I borrowed it from a friend of yours." The man responded.

"That friend would be who?" Jason asked.

"Let's just say he gave me this on his deathbed. Everyone already knows Bruce Wayne is batman so you don't need to call him that anymore." The man explained.

"So who are you anyway?" Jason asked frustrated.

"Oh you know who I am. The man who just blew the bat to pieces. What you're going to do is give up right now and bring me the bat's body."

"Ah, Deadshot. What if I don't want to bring you the body?" Jason asked sarcastically.

"Then I take your head off right now and come get the body myself." Deadshot warned.

"Yeah good luck with that behind a building."

"Look up." Deadshot instructed.

Jason looked up and saw a red beam focused between his eyes. The red beam bounced off of a billboard behind Jason and onto the one in front of him to form a perfect shot at his head.

"What. The. Hell?" Jason asked out loud.

"Waiting behind buildings would only get you so far boy. I am the greatest shooter to ever have lived as you can see. Now. Like I said, bring me the bat's body now. If you so much as even look like you are going to run, I pull the trigger."

"Shit. Alright fine. I'll bring you the body." Jason said frustrated.

"Good. Hurry. NOW!" Deadshot rushed.

Jason made his way towards the burning batmobile and looked for Batman's body and couldn't find it.

"Um. Hey. The body isn't here." Jason said.

"What do you mean it's not there? No way he got out of that explosion alive." Deadshot argued back.

Jason knew for sure Bruce wouldn't jump straight towards C4 without some sort of plan. He most likely used the explosion as a diversion of some sort.

"I will blow your brains out right now and come down there myself and check! Don't you play around with me boy!" Deadshot yelled.

"I'm not playing! He's really not here. I'd really like to know where he is myself!"

Jason put emphasis on the last sentence to let Batman know that if he is out there he needs to do something so he won't get Jason shot. Up on the Mercy bridge where Deadshot was camping Batman was behind him, disruptor in hand. But before Batman could use it, Deadshot spoke.

"Don't even think about it Bat." Deadshot said calmly.

He had a few mines set down behind him in case Batman did get behind him. But this was child's play. Apparently Deadshot hadn't done as much research as he thought. Batman stepped over the mines without them going off much to Deadshot's surprise. And Deadshot fired a shot right at Jason's head who's specially built helmet caught the bullet just barely. But right before he could fire another round to finish off Jason, Batman had already grabbed his arms and put them around his back and tied them up.

"NO! DAMN THIS!" Deadshot screamed.

Batman crushed Deadshot's radio and signaled in to Jason.

"Jason. You can come on up to Mercy bridge. Deadshot has been apprehended." Batman said.

"Gotcha. On my way." Jason replied.

Jason mounted the bat bike on his way to meet Batman.

"Who are you working for?" Batman asked.

"Do you really think I'm going to tell you that? I failed anyway. What's the point?" Deadshot said defeated.

"I said WHO!" Batman yelled slamming Deadshot to the ground and standing on his head.

Jason had just arrived and climbed Mercy bridge to see Batman standing on the suspect.

"Batman take it easy." Jason said.

"Oh take it easy? You just wanted to snipe him a few minutes ago."

"Yeah that was then. Listen to his responses. He's CLEARLY working for someone. Maybe who he works for has evidence on Pyg." Jason explained.

At the mention of Pyg's name Deadshot got noticeably tense.

"Wait. Is..Pyg the one you work for?" Jason asked through pauses.

Batman's face became surprised and his foot on Deadshot's head slightly rose. Deadshot didn't speak for a moment. But after a sigh he finally spoke.

"Yes..he hired me to kill you to stay off of his trail ." Deadshot said.

"WHY WORK FOR PYG? I NEED ANSWERS! NOW!" Batman screamed.

"BECAUSE HE HAS MY DAUGHTER GOD DAMN IT!" Deadshot said holding back tears.

Batman and Jason looked at each other with shock and disbelief.

BACK AT PYG'S HIDEOUT

Catwoman walked around her cell looking for any possible way to get out of this situation. But there was literally nothing as far as her cell. It was all concrete and she had no tools to chip through it and even if she could there's no telling how thick the concrete was. She started to grit her teeth from being so upset and as she did she felt something in her mouth. A blade! One she keeps in her mouth most of the time as a weapon if she's ever mugged without her gear. She thought maybe she could use it to lock pick the door.

"Now something small enough to hold the locks up..." Catwoman said looking at the sink. "Perfect! The sink drain lever was just small enough."

Finally, some progress. She went to the door and got to work the door wasn't that hard to open to her surprise. Most likely because Pyg didn't expect anyone to be crafting lock picks in a situation like this. She looked back at the clock suspended in her room. 8:50p.m she hadn't even been in this hell hole for an hour. Supposedly. As she got ready to grab the door handle she heard someone coming down the hall. So she locked the door back, put the drain lever back in the sink, and the blade back in her mouth, then went back to her bunk to lay down.

Janoz entered the room with Mike and threw him in. He stared at Catwoman laying in bed, turned off the light, and exited the room. When the coast was clear Catwoman turned around and spoke to Mike.

"Mike..? Mike. Are you okay? Catwoman asked.

Mike didn't say anything. But he moved.

"Mike..please. You're scaring me." Catwoman said distressed.

Mike got on one knee, then on both, and finally stood on both feet staring at Catwoman.

"Mike stop! Say something!" She said in a loud whisper.

Mike still didn't say anything. He was just staring at her. Catwoman slowly got up and walked over to the unresponsive man and waved her hand in his face. Then out of no where Mike choked and slammed her against the wall. Catwoman couldn't breathe. He had gotten strong out of nowhere and his grip was strong. She tried to kick him in the groin but it didn't work. There was nothing there.

"What…the….hell….?" Catwoman said through heavy breaths.

She didn't know what to do but she thought to use her incredible athleticism to her advantage. With one big swing she got her legs onto his shoulders, wrapped them around him, slid her back down the wall and rotated to throw Mike off of her. Mike somersaulted a little then slowly got back at his feet to charge her again.

"MIKE PLEASE! I DON'T WANT TO HURT YOU!" Catwoman yelled.

But he charged anyway and when he tackled and landed on top of her he quickly got back up and grabbed his neck with both hands. He had landed directly onto Catwoman's mouth blade. Blood came pouring out of his trachea and he slammed his back against the wall and slid down it. A small trail of blood from his back wound also appeared. He squirmed until he stopped moving. Dead. This was all done without a sound. No cry for pain or help. Just staring with that emotionless mask while he died. That in itself was more terrifying than trying to be killed by him.

"Jesus….Christ…" Catwoman said tired and through tears. "This man was clearly altered into a mindless zombie..he's been here for three years and now he'll never see his family again..I feel so bad..but it was either my life or his."

Catwoman went back to the door and unlocked it again. She looked in the hallway. Basically pitch black only lit by candles. She almost cried again realizing the situation she was in but she had no choice but to tough it out to get out. She entered the cold hallway slowly. There was no noise at all.

'I guess 9 o' clock is bed time..' she said to herself.

She walked further down the hall until she came across a room with no floor and a giant computer type set up with at least 20 monitors 5 down and 4 across, also, a large panel that she had no idea how it worked. She turned it on and looked at each monitor. She saw her room first with the dead Mike inside. She shook her head and kept looking. She saw another man struggling to sleep. A woman back against the wall crying. And even a room with a few children in it. She felt sick to her stomach. She looked down and saw a few tapes. She looked around and played it. The disgusting voice of Pyg started talking.

"Janoz. My dearest son. Ohhh my perfect child. I make these recordings so that you know you are not alone. To let you know that daddy loves his son. Daddy loves…his…little…Pyg." After that Pyg sounded like a literal man pig whining and distressed. It made Catwoman cringe. The tape continued saying:

"The circus has traveled far and wide and brought joy to many sad people. Those people have joined us like one biggggg happy family that is growing week by week. Now they feel no pain. They know nothing of misery..I call them my dollotrons."

"So that's what he does to these poor people? Make them mindless zombies so they don't feel anything..I can't believe this." Catwoman whispered.

"To each a new home, we move at night, finding a fresh patch of earth to inhabit Secret places in forgotten parts of town, ugly wastelands where the locals stumble unawares into our candy-stripe tent. The dollotrons are the first to greet them. With open arms and perfect faces. The climax of the show is when I take them to see mother! Ohhhh I tell you they are amazed by my IMAGINATION! Confounded by my dexterity, as each is transformed into a beautiful work of art. But mother is hard to please. She wants more, always more. Never satisfied, always driving me to work harder. To obtain perfection. And I will."

Catwoman couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"He KNOWS what he's doing. I thought he was just insane, I mean which he clearly is, but he knows what he's doing to these people and he won't stop to..please his mother? I'm so confused. I have to keep listening."

"Night has drawn its curtains yet again and the circus moves on, our numbers swollen, to a different patch of earth. On the dark horizon the building tops glimmer, the heat and smog of industry shrouds a den of criminals and beasts. Gotham is her name. Janoz, I tell you. The circus has come home."

The tape ends there.

So much information to process in just that one tape clearly addressed for his son to hear. It sounds more like a plan without exactly stating what the plan was. 'The circus has come home.' "What could that mean? Is he originally from Gotham? If so why did he leave in the first place? So many questions I need answered."

Catwoman looked up and to the left for a second and saw nothing but a white emotionless mask staring at her from the shadows.