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"Sir," Kristi proceeded with caution, the Knight's mood had already soured so there was no guessing what could make it worst at that point. "I've lost contact with one of the squads inside the courtyard."
"That's to be expected. They probably weren't very useful to begin with," The knight replied as they made their way back into the main courtyard of the factory.
"And..."
"And what?" he snapped, nerves causing the man to become irritable and impatient.
"Batman was able to open the main gate. The Batmobile has mades its way inside the first wall."
Just as she finished speaking a new voice come through the radio. "Rattler forces engaged in the loading bay. Two Diamond backs in support."
"I'm watching," The commander replied.
"He's going to take out the tank no problem! They're idiots to engage," Kristi shouted as the Knight landed the helicopter.
"Be quiet for a minute, Jenner," he growled, dropping the sexist nickname for once. The Knight unbuckled himself from the seat and made his way out of the aircraft.
"He punched through the armour, just as you said," The radio voice spoke again.
Kristi rolled her eyes. "I'd be careful what you say through this communication link. Chances are Batman is listening to everything. Especially if he was already able to connect to your private transmission with Scarecrow."
The Knight's head turned to her briefly. "He's searching for hostages. Keep non essential radio chatter to a minimum. He'll be listening."
Cutting off the radio for a second, he grabbed Kristi's arm dragging her out into the courtyard. "Happy now, princess?"
Yanking her arm out of his grasp, she huffed and began muttering to herself. "You can stop calling me that anytime now."
The knight brought his hand back up to his helmet turning his communicator back on. "You are listening, aren't you Batman? Then listen to this.
"To all embedded units in Gotham. Operation savior has begun. Each one of you has a role. Each one of you knows your role. So move out into this damn city and lock it down. I want our hands wrapped tight around Gotham's throat within the hour."
The Knight turned his attention back onto the smaller woman. "You're up sweetheart. Show me what you can do."
"Sweetheart?" Kristi whispered to herself. "I'm starting to question whether or not I preferred it when you just referred to me a girl."
"Stop messing around. I want you on a vantage point facing the building just off the island. We have one of the hostages held up in there."
"Sniper? Really. You're actually letting me off on my own?"
"You'll still be within ACE Chemicals. If anything happens to you or near you I'll be able to get there in time. But I trust you have enough training and common sense that you won't be completely inept."
The young woman glared at the commander. Despite knowing she was capable of taking care of herself, the Knight still enjoyed undermining her every chance he got. Whether intentional or not, he still seemed to have a very misogynistic mindset. Because Kristi worked for him, he believed he was responsible for anything that might happen to her.
"Even if I wasn't put through a years worth of training, I grew up on the streets of Gotham. I know my way around a fight. I grew up fighting."
The Knight wanted to respond to the girl's words, curious about her past but they were running low on time. If they made it through this night, he was sure there would be plenty of time to get to know the girl. But for now Kristi needed to get into position and he needed to get a group together to take out the Batman. "Get going."
-:-
Kristi got into position, setting up her rifle and quickly adjusting the scope to see the building across from her more clearly. Her nerves were starting to get the best of her. Up until that moment nothing had seemed real to her. She hadn't used her gun for anything other then target practice or as an expensive accessory. Now the Knight had her staking out the Batman and if given the order, she wasn't sure if she'd be able to pull the trigger. She didn't have a problem with Batman, in fact she idolized him, respected him. Long ago he had saved her along with Robin and she'd never forget that. But that being said she had also grown to respect and care for the Knight, despite not knowing his face or name.
Kristi was lost in her thoughts until she saw movement from the corner of her eye. Peering into the scope she got a good look at what was currently happening.
"Sir, Batman is on the move," Kristi spoke into her comm. "The Batmobile is approaching the building."
"Wait for my order. Keep me posted," the robotic voice replied.
She watched as the vehicle worked its way around the tight space to a weak point in the building.
"Batman has taken out a wall and is taking down the men inside. Do you want me to –
"Stand down. Do not shoot unless I say."
"Yes Sir." she watched as Batman knocked out her fellow soldiers and make his way into chamber containing the hostage. He better hope it's not hooked up to Scarecrow's fear toxin. She was never sure anymore. Especially since they were inside of a chemical factory.
Suddenly there was a large helicopter above the building and militia were propelling down through the roof of the building. Kristi gasped. The Knight was among the men as well. "Idiot."
The knight started laughing, he had left his comms on and therefore she could still hear what was going on inside.
"Keep your guns trained on him. If he even looks like he's planning to leave that room, open fire." The Knight pointed to the Bat behind the glass. "Oh, and avoid the bat symbol. That's a... a little trick. That's were his armour is the strongest. Aim for the weak spots at the shoulders first, then coordinate fire at the points where the plates meet."
The hostage must have said something because there was a pause before the Arkham Knight spoke again. "Did you say something?"
Kristi's sight was limited so she could only see the backs of the soldiers and a small portion of the Batman.
"Leave him out of this," Batman's voice was loud enough it carried over the transmission.
"Always defending the weak and the helpless. That's what what I like about you. Predictable. That's why we are going to win. We know your move before you do. We know how you think."
"Knight! You need to calm down. You work yourself up, and you won't be thinking clearly," Kristi hissed over the radio. The man was beginning to distract himself from the task at hand.
"You know what I'm thinking right now?" asked the Bat.
Her warning was clearly falling on deaf ears because the Knight began to chuckle again.
"Of course. You're thinking 'Who the hell is this guy?' "
"No, I'm just trying to decide which one of you I'm going to take out first."
"Just so we're on the same page here. I fully. Fully. Intend to kill you. But first we're going to make you suffer." snapped the Knight, getting flustered over Batman's remark.
The man began walking towards the broken wall, now talking on the private link. "We have the target. Just say the word and I'll end this now. Gotham will be ours."
"Perhaps you should rethink this," Kristi voiced her concern over their link knowing he'd still be able to hear her. She was beginning to have second thoughts about the situation.
"Princess, you don't understand. There are no second chances with this guy." The Knight replied before switching back over to the private link.
Just then the Batmobile began moving on its own, forming into a cannon.
"Uhm, Sir? You need to get out of there... like... right now. Batman has control of the –
Before she could finish get her warning out, the canon went off hitting one of the soldiers to the Knight's left. The Knight was able to grapple away from the scene but the rest were stuck dealing with the bat.
Kristi shot up from her plank position, gun in hand and began running, hoping to make her way to the fight in time. To hell with waiting for orders, she was in charge of those men as well and she should be helping.
"Jenner," the Knight's robotic voice barked into her ear. "You're not at your post. Where the hell are you?"
Ignoring her commander, she switched off her comm and continued running towards her destination. By now she could hear the gun fire had stopped. Once she reached the opening of the building, Batman was already questioning the hostage.
"We're screwed Batman," the beaten man said rubbing his wrists before noticing her approaching figure. "If you want to know more ask her. She's obviously working for them."
Batman slowly glanced at the woman before getting into a fighting position.
Placing her gun on the ground and throwing her hands up in a mock surrender, the girl began to speak, "Whoa now, I have no intention of fighting you. I don't have a death wish. I just need to talk to you."
Batman eyed the young woman before addressing the hostage once again. "Go wait in the Batmobile. This will only take a moment."
The woman was dressed in the militia's typical uniform. Red, black, and white camouflage cargo pants with black combat boots and a red jacket underneath a bullet proof vest. On her face she wore a black mask that covered from her chin to her nose. A red military hat covered the top of her head as well, with brown hair falling over one shoulder in a french braid. She was quite small compared to the other militia soldiers.
"Just who are you?" Batman questioned once he made sure the mad was safely inside the vehicle.
Slowly, Kristi reached up and pulled the mask under her chin.
It was subtle but Batman's eye's widened in shock. "Kristi Jenner."
Then it was her turn to be shocked. "You know who I am."
"You were reported missing for some time. Left the city without quitting you job at Wayne Enterprises or telling anyone where you were going. This whole time you've been with a criminal organization. Were you forced?"
The girl shook her head. "This whole situation started by mistake. A misunderstanding on my part."
"And you couldn't get out?"
"It wasn't an option. Once I found out what was going on it was too late. The only way out was dying and I fancy myself to be alive. To leave was to be killed.
"Listen. I don't know what happened between you and the Knight, and by the look of things you're not sure either. It's not like I agree with what's going on here. Gotham is as much my home as it is yours and I want to see you put an end to this."
"Do you know who the Knight is?"
Again, Kristi found herself shaking her head. "No. I don't even know what he looks like. No one does."
"What's stopping me from taking you to the GCPD?"
"Because you wish to believe what I'm saying is true. That I'm a good person who has been placed in a bad situation. You need me. I can give you information. Besides, you lay a hand on me or even this about arresting me and the Knight will kill you no matter how long Scarecrow wishes to prolong it."
Batman was silent, thinking over what she had said.
"You should try to stay out of this. It's too dangerous for you to get involved."
"I think it's a little late for that," she whispered as she watched Batman climb into his vehicle. "Aren't you going to arrest me then?"
Batman let out a grunt as he revved the engine. "I'm trusting you to do what is right Miss Jenner. Do not make me regret my decision."
With one last rev of the engine, the Batmobile was out of sight.
Kristi waited a couple of minutes, taking her time pulling her mask back up to cover her face and pick up her rifle from the ground, before turning her radio back on.
"... Jenner... Jenner Do you copy? I repeat. Do you copy? God dammit, Princess if you got taken in the Bat I'm going to fucking kill you."
"Awe, so you do care," sassed the woman, finding the Knight's concern amusing.
"Where the fuck were you? I went to your vantage point and you were gone."
"Once Batman decided to crash the party I left. I was no use, seeing as somebody didn't want me to get involved or shoot. Not mentioning any names..."
"You were the last resort. What the hell were you thinking? If the Bat found you, you'd be hauled off to the slammer and then how the hell am I supposed to protect you from all the crazies?"
"Excuse me?" she exclaimed. Was she really hearing him right? Did the Knight just admit to caring about her well being?
"You're my responsibility and like you said, I made a promise. Now get your ass back to the courtyard. I'm sending you out on an errand."
"Ever after all that you're still going to send me out by myself?"
"Don't get smart with me, woman."
With that the transmission went dead.
-:-
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