Six bodies were assembled in the Batcave just as dusk settled on the city outside. Bruce stood next to Tim as he punched a last few lines into the central computer. Cassandra, Stephanie, Connor and Damian all watched and listened as he worked.
"That flash drive Figment gave Steph is gonna take this whole thing apart," Tim said. "Passcodes into their tracking systems, instructions for deactivating those bombs, he really did hand us everything on a silver platter."
Damian had remained indignant. "And you really don't think this is some kind of trap?"
"What sense would that make?" Stephanie said. "If Lipov wanted to kill us, he could have set them off when we were at Gram's house. If he wanted to kill Bruce, he'd have just done it the other night."
"They are sick of him." Cassandra folded her arms. "Never wanted this."
"Yeah, Cassie's right," Stephanie said. "They were petty bullies and crooks before Lipov got his hands on them. I don't think they like this kidnapping thing and I really doubt they like the idea of being used as living bombs."
"Disarming them is going to be a two-part thing," Tim said. "I've got five flash sticks up here based on the design documents we pulled and were given. You should be able to install them in a slot near the throat. That'll disable the protections around the deactivation hardware. Then you should just have to cut a few specific cables around the stomach. I'll send those over everyone's cowls and transmitters.
Stephanie picked up one of the flash sticks Tim referred to and gave it a little toss between her hands. "And technology beats these guys again."
As Bruce and Damian approached their secret weapons on the table, Connor cleared his throat and spoke up. "Mr. Wayne, do I have your permission for what I requested?"
"Hm? I thought we'd agreed on that." Bruce turned to face the assembled party. "I'm going to handle two of the disarmings myself. Connor has volunteered to accompany Cassandra and provide her backup."
Damian scowled. "Lipov is using the bombs to ward off interference, and you're sending him in when we're all going to be point blank at the blast site?"
"Lipov won't be watching for Connor," Bruce said. "His track record back in Star City is excellent. He won't be taking any action unless he can help Cassandra without hurting us."
Connor smiled. "I appreciate that trust, Mr. Wayne. I won't let you down."
At last, still stonefaced, Bruce looked toward Cassandra. "We're already surrendering a possible advantage by facing them on their own terms. The two of them, maybe more than any other opponent you've ever encountered, are out to kill you."
Cassandra nodded a solemn nod. "I know."
"If you encounter the people the Reapers kidnapped, do what you can to save them. But keep your mind on survival first. Do not let them get the better of you."
Cassandra's most recent experiences had planted a firm intention in her mind. She knew how she intended to settle her battle with the Odmience, even if she hadn't breathed a word of it to anyone else. So she just gave him a nod.
Stephanie came up behind her and slapped her on the back. "You heard the big man. Come back in once piece, that's an order!"
-000-
For as many times as Cassandra had ventured into the part of Gotham on the edge of suburbia where the Wellspring of Hope sat, its context was greatly altered. Most, though not all of the machinery, was silent. The wooden frame of the church, as it had seemed, had indeed not been worked on for months. Just how Lipov managed to snatch the property from its contractors and how he could hwve done so for so long was beyond Cassandra, but audacious, overly-elaborate plots seemed to be what Lipov knew best.
The outside of the huge building was a bright enough white it showed clearly in the night and out from the front protruded a triangular shape. She had to assume Connor would come in around the back, but she would need to make her entrance and have Lipov distracted before he could make any move. There were barriers erected all along the outside warning that it was a hardhat only zone, which Cassandra slipped past. At least one light was visibly on within the megachurch, which was what she approached. Through the front entrance was a large, open space along with a number of half-constructed walls meant to form side rooms. What all of the space was supposed to be for Cassandra couldn't imagine. She moved quickly toward the single light in the center chamber.
She supposed the room was meant to be the worship space itself, but even that was dubious to her understanding. The central space was a massive room that inclined downward in a circle, like a movie theater, with a raised stage at the center. Dozens of collapsible orange scaffoldings were set up all around the room and planks of wood were leaned up against the walls. It stank of gasoline and sawdust and somewhere overhead, in the area high above that was too dark to see, there was a faint, moan-like sound. At the center of the stage, standing near a series of levers and illuminated by the single light overhead, stood Lipov. And to his right, bound and beaten, was David Cain.
Angel shuddered at the sounds overhead, but concluded she had to placate Lipov if she wanted any answers. As she approached, stepped to the side and slapped Cain on the back.
"At long last," Lipov said. "Our guest of honor has arrived. Call out a big 'Hello!' to your little angel, David."
In more of a grunt than words, Cain said, "Go to hell."
"You first." Lipov flashed his best faux-genteel smile toward Angel. "I've waited your entire life for this, Cassandra. I hope you've made peace with your loved ones, because you'll never see them again."
"One question." Angel marched down the aisles, between the scaffoldings, toward the center stage. "One thing before it begins."
Lipov cocked an eyebrow and chuckled. "I'll permit it. What?"
"If you win, what then?"
The old warrior clasped his hands together and massaged his knuckles. "What then?"
"Years trying to kill us. And then what?"
Lipov shrugged and paced a little. "I've asked myself that a lot, you know. You obviously have powerful allies I'd prefer not to deal with. Maybe if I delivered your heads to the League of Assassins, Ra's al Ghul would forgive me for my past transgressions. Or maybe he'd kill me too. To be honest, I don't really care what happens next. This moment is all that matters."
"And Rafal?"
Lipov frowned. "Who?"
"The boy."
That brought the smile back to his face. "No, call him by his true name. Call him what he is." When Angel didn't respond for a few seconds, Lipov went on. "He'll get his reward. I'll free him from this miserable world and end his wretched existence. It's all that would ever appeal to a monster like him."
"You're wrong," Angel said. "I wasn't a monster. Neither is he."
"Monster is too gentle a word." Lipov extended one arm toward the darkness on his right. "He is a demon who was put where the child once laid. He is a weapon sharpened to a fine point and a singular purpose." He paused to serve his own bravado. "He is an Odmience."
Out from the shadows a figure stumbled and fell to the ground. It took Angel a few seconds to recognize him as Cameron Gram. Just behind him, cloaked in shadow until he stepped under the floodlights, the Odmience followed. He and Angel locked glares.
"The last member of our little company is here." Lipov smirked toward Gram as he pushed to his feet.
Gram glared toward the Odmience before shifting his focus to Lipov. "All right, I've had enough of this already! What in the world is going on here—"
Lipov pulled a handgun out from his coat and silenced Gram as he cocked it. "No need to be so hostile, Minister Gram. I'm only seeking guidance." Lipov paused as if he expected Gram, with his eyes wide and hands over his head, to reply. When he didn't, he resumed. "You'll have to forgive me, I was born in communist Russia, you see. He who saves was not a figure in my life until very recently."
"And you're saying while pulling a gun on me?!"
Whenever Angel could chance a look toward Lipov and Gram, she did. But the Odmience was just waiting for some distraction to show. The moment she was open, he would attack. If she wasn't ready, he was going to kill her for sure this time.
"I just wanted to confirm what I heard you say was true," Lipov said. "That the kingdom of God is only waiting for those who have given themselves to Christ. Only Christians should be welcomed, in this world or the next. Is that accurate?"
Gram continued to fume at his situation, but in his exacerbation answered, "Yes."
Lipov, with the weapon still raised, stepped over to the first of the levers on his platform. "Good to know. You stick to what you believe, I appreciate that in a man." He took hold of the lever and yanked it back.
First came a creak. Then perhaps five sounds like a snikt. And every muffled moan from above grew louder and formed into a shrill line of screams. Angel looked upward as Lipov flipped a switch and briefly blinded her with a new string of floodlights overhead. When her eyes adjusted, they went wide with horror.
Dozens, maybe forty people in total, struggled for balance on the enormous lighting rig high above center stage. With their hands bound behind their backs and gags over their mouths, everyone stood as still as they could manage, because nooses were tied around all of their necks. The lever Lipov pulled opened five of the hatches they stood upon. High above the center of the church, five unfortunate souls kidnapped from the Mosque hung.
"No!" Angel ran toward the stage in a sprint.
Gram squinted at the captives in the rafter and his jaw went slack with horror.
Handgun in one hand, remote in the other, Lipov stepped over to the next lever and commanded, "Zabij ją!"
Angel had given up her place in the stance. The Odmience drew his blade, leaped from his spot and swung at her. She was fast enough to draw her own and the two locked blades for a moment before they seperated and each took a last moment to consider the other.
"I think it's really my finest work, don't you, little angel?" Lipov laughed as he ran a hand over the lever he'd pulled, stroked it in a caress and looked toward the others. "It's my gift to you. A chance to see the toxicity within your precious faith. First your belief, then your body, I want to see it all pounded to dust!"
Angel looked back and forth between the captives on the lighting rig and the Odmience. She desperately wanted to save everyone Lipov had captured, but there was no way her opponent would permit it. She had to go through him first. She raised her sword and the two ran at one another again.
One way or another, the battle between Cain and Lipov was about to end.
