Okay, I'm back sorry for the HUGE delay. I was just too busy with my other SW story, I fear. Fortunately, I'm back with a new chapter now let us continue on with the story.
Traversing across the rooftops, Batman scanned the area looking for Dengar. Alfred had been helpful, having found where the Bounty Hunter's last known location was on New Plympton.
After an hour or so, Batman found him walking outside a bar. A good sign, Dengar was noted for being overconfident, but a brutal fighter nonetheless. It had been some time since Batman had fought a bounty hunter after all.
The Dark Knight began to stalk the bounty hunter from above, using Detective mode he found out that Dengar was heavily armed. Carrying a DLT-19 strapped to his back and had several explosives on his chest.
"I need to be careful," Batman thought. "Intoxicated or not, Dengar's carrying quite the arsenal. One false move and someone could die." He analyzed the situation. "I'll need to get him above the streets, fight him on the rooftops." The Dark Knight concluded.
The problem was that Dengar was walking with a crowd, the last thing the vigilante needed was any attention from the public or police force.
"I need to lure him into the alleyways." Batman thought. "And I think I know how."
As a Bounty Hunter, Dengar would have to be wearing a communication piece, it wasn't uncommon for Bounty Hunters to work together and share their prize. They'd need to keep in touch with one another while on the job.
Taking out a Sonic Batarang he threw it into the nearby alleyway. Batman turned towards Dengar who was walking down the street until he fell to his knees in pain. The Bounty Hunter took out his earpiece and shoved off any nearby civilian who was willing to help him back up. The Bounty Hunter rubbed his ear and began to head towards the alley. Taking his blaster out the moment he entered.
"Alright funny man!" Dengar shouted. "Show yourself!" He called out.
At that moment, Batman shot a cable that wrapped around the Corellian's left leg. Dengar looked down at his leg and pulled out a knife to cut the line to no avail.
Batman pressed a button and Dengar was being pulled up the rooftop. Dengar screamed in fear before being silenced as Batman put a boot on the Bounty Hunter's head.
"If you want to keep any teeth, I'd suggest you talk." Batman threatened.
"Well I'll be damned, you really do exist." Dengar said sounding mildly astounded.
Batman pressed down a little harder eliciting a pained groan from the Corellian.
"Yes, I am, now talk!" The vigilante threatened once more.
"About what?" Dengar questioned. "What exactly did I do to get your attention?" He accused.
"Gaeriel Jae." Batman responded his voice emanating fury.
"Who?" Dengar asked completely oblivious.
At that moment, Batman grabbed the Bounty Hunter by the collar and hoisted him up.
"You know exactly who I…" Batman said, but was cut off by a head-butt from Dengar, staggering both men briefly.
Dengar grabbed his blaster and fired at Batman's chest. Hitting the bat-shaped emblem. Knocking the Vigilante to the ground.
"Looks like, I'll be the one to get that five thousand credit bounty." Dengar said walking up to Batman. "But first let's see who you really are." He said looming over the fallen Dark Knight preparing to unmask him.
As Dengar was about to touch the cowl, he was answered to a powerful kick in the gut by Batman. Dengar fell down and dropped his weapon; he clutched his gut trying to ease the pain.
Batman, likewise, struggled to get up. A blaster of that caliber at that range could have killed him even with the suit.
"Idiot." Batman scolded himself. "Now is not the time to get too angry." He thought, the incident with enslaved children had affected him much more than he thought.
It was fortunate Dengar aimed for the emblem which was where the strongest layer of armor was located.
Batman remembered how both Alfred and Lucien believed that it was suicide, suggesting that the head would be much more suitable. They were smart men, but none of them understood the general psychology of these low lives as much as he did.
Batman got up and began to walk towards Dengar. Unfortunately, Dengar recovered and began to open fire blindly with the semi-automatic. Batman dodged his fire and hid behind an Air Conditioner all the while keeping note.
"He's dazed, those were warning shots." He noted.
"Alright, fine!" Dengar shouted. "You want a fight then let's do it, you pointy-eared freak!" He challenged.
Dengar removed a thermal detonator from its holster and threw it over the AC. Batman quickly threw a smoke pellet at the Bounty Hunter covering him in smoke. Dengar's ragged coughing could be heard as Batman approached the smoke cloud at breakneck pace. He activated Detective Mode and entered the smoke cloud. Dengar had resulted in using his blaster like it was a club, trying to smack anything close to him.
"I need to be smart," Batman thought as he began to attack.
The first target was Dengar's arm with a swift jab to the nerve bundle in his deltoid, paralyzing his arm. Even with someone as fit and skilled as Dengar, it would be impossible to use that blaster with only one good arm.
Finally, Batman got low and kicked Dengar's kneecap, dislocating it entirely. Unlike the last blow, this was entirely painful, as Dengar screamed and collapsed.
The smoke cleared and Dengar was knocked down. The Bounty Hunter tried to crawl away as fast as possible only for Batman to put his foot down on Dengar's chest.
"Now where is Gaeriel Jae?" He asked this time in a more eerily composed tone.
"C-count Christo!" The Bounty Hunter blurted out, his cocky façade having been broken. "His castle is not far from here!" Dengar said.
The Bounty Hunter took out his holopad which had a series of coordinates which most likely was where Christo was.
"Thank you." Batman said before punching Dengar in the mouth, knocking out a few teeth in the process.
"Okay, Christo. Time to pay you a visit." Batman thought.
It took some time, but Batman had now snuck his way into the Count's castle. Dispatching all of his guards, and freeing all of the slaves. He was now facing to face with the Count in his bedroom. The count was shorter and lighter than most Nosaurians. Batman figured this was most likely because of old age. He threw the count against a wall, which caused a massive hole. He tried to crawl away, but Gaeriel kicked him in the head
"You think you can barge in my home and assault me. I don't know who you are, but I'll have you know I have important friends and you will pay dearly for this." The count declared.
"Let them come because no amount of money or power can ever save them. In fact, as of right now you'll have to make some new friends in prison." Batman replied before punching the count a couple of times in the head.
Batman threw him through the door. The count tried to get up, but couldn't. Batman started to drag him to the balcony.
"In fact, I want you to tell them who did this to you." Batman threatened, holding the count by the neck.
"Who are you?" The count replied fearing for his life.
"Batman." Batman simply replied. Batman punched him in the face.
Batman began to call his ship.
"Sir, I regret to inform you, but law enforcement will be on its way." Alfred informed Batman.
"I know." Batman said. The batwing came into view; he put Gaeriel in the containment unit. Gaeriel went to Batman.
"Thank you." The young Nosaurian said.
The ship began to take off. It took a couple of minutes, but New Plymptons' finest had arrived once they were in space.
"This is the New Plympton Royal Guard, we demand that you turn your vessel around immediately." One of the ships ordered.
Batman paid no heed and flew past them. Effortlessly dodging their hits, one of them attempted to fire a concussion missile, but the Batwing's missile jammer prevented it from locking on.
The Batwing was designed to keep up against the ships that even the Jedi used. In fact, the ships' afterburner had more power than any of the Jedi starfighters. Its shielding was also more powerful too. After punching in the coordinates, the Batwing began its way back towards Coruscant at hyper speed.
"I cannot tell you how grateful I am," Gaeriel said as Batman dropped the ship not far from her home.
"No words are necessary, be safe." Batman stoically replied as the girl got out of the ship. Batman watched as she knocked on the door and was greeted by her parents who quickly embraced her in a tearful hug.
Batman watched on at the moment a deep sense of longing emerged as memories of that night began to come back to him. Blaster fire echoed in his mind as the sound of a young boy screaming came back to him.
"Master Bale!" Alfred called out breaking Batman out of his thoughts. By the tone in Alfred's voice, he had been trying to get his attention too long.
"Alfred?" Batman asked.
"I think it's high time you came back home." Alfred suggested feeling highly concerned.
"Just one more stop." Batman replied as he looked back to the ships containment unit.
Count Christo woke up to a cold sweat and hyperventilation.
"It was just a nightmare…" He thought relieved.
The Count tried to move his arms, but couldn't. They felt bound by something, he looked around and realized that he was no longer in his bedroom with his new slave. He was strung up to a streetlight in his undergarments not far from the Coruscant Police Department. Outside and far away from where he held authority.
He looked around for an answer until the light disappeared and was now surrounded by shadows. He heard a frightening whisper echo in his ear.
"I have given all evidence of your actions to the police. You are going away for a long time." The voice said. "Remember what I said to you, Count…" it said.
Needless to say, the Count barely slept a wink that night.
Batman had returned home, he figured his work was over. For now at least... The ship was in Coruscant's orbit and was heading towards the western hemisphere. In a matter of minutes, the Batwing was now flying towards Coruscant. It went straight into a waterfall. The Batwing went through with no problems. It landed on its landing pad. Batman stepped out; awaiting him was an elderly human male.
"Welcome back Master Bale." Alfred said.
"Thank you, Alfred." Batman responded. He took off his mask revealing his face.
He was in his mid to late twenties with black hair and blue eyes.
"Wake me up in a couple of hours." Bale said.
"Will do. Also, I'd like you to know that Mr. Foxx wishes to meet with you at the Kea'ton enterprises building at one. He kindly gave you an extra hour because he figured what with all your nocturnal activities you could use it. It seems to be rather important." Alfred said.
"I will." Bale said with the batsuit completely off and back in its case. He stretched and headed towards the elevator to the mansion about to get some well-deserved sleep.