The trickle of water from up above provides the only sound besides the crackling of pebbles on the floor as the men walk deeper into darkness. With only the faint lights of the torch light in Thomas' hand to lead them, the cave appears to go on for ever. None of the men trailing Thomas dare to touch the walls for support, afraid to disturb any of the sleeping leather-winged creatures.
"Why are we down here Thomas, I have always hated your dreadful attraction. Are these things even alive after all this time?" caws Cobblepot. Thomas ignores the stubby man as his eyes grow acquainted with the darkness.
"We all received the same note with the same question. It's answer, brings us here. To the lair where I once fell." Thomas remarks. The sound of clapping hands erupt through the cave, its source still a mystery. Cobblepot becomes the most frightened as he falls down trying to retreat.
'"Very good gentlemen. Very, very good bringing yourselves together like this." the mysterious voice looms. The path leads to an open area of the cave where, from out of the shadows, a slender man with a cane appears before the quartet of Gotham's power. His white mask, with only two holes that reveal a pair of green eyes, causes Thomas' grip on his torch to tighten.
"Who are you, and how did you make it into my cave?" commands Thomas. The figure laughs, and his laughter is soon joined by the gravelly laugh of another still in the darkness.
"For years you men have been patiently waiting to be a part of us. All of your sacrifices have led you to this moment. All of your loss." The words bring flashes across Thomas' mind - flashes of Martha and Bruce.
"Has the court finally found us fit for acceptance?" asks a timid Hill who tepidly brushes by Thomas to approach the mystery man. With a stomp of his cane, the slender man proclaims 'ENOUGH', halting his advance.
"The Court sends word that your sacrifices have been noticed. You are but one step closer to being a part of something better. We just have one more task for you to complete to prove your worth to -."
"More?" shouts Dent, his anger raging through his words. "You want more from us? What else is there to give? Thomas gave his wife and son. My children are nothing but memories to me. And Cobblepot, Hill, both are almost broke with all they have spent on this. And you dare say we have to give more?" Thomas stands between Dent and the caned man. The heavy footsteps from beyond the shadows become more pronounced with each step forward.
"Mr. Dent, you do not have to do anything you don't wish to do. Joining the Court, proving your role and place with us is all a choice you have to make. If you don't want anymore of this, then I believe this final task will be easy for your friends."
Thomas tugs at Dent's arm, reigning him in. With his eyes fixed on the white masked man, the hulking figure in the darkness starts to become more visible.
"We are not friends." Thomas scowls. "What more are you asking of us?" The comment catches all of the men off guard, most notably Dent. Unknown to the quartet, the masked man lets loose a wide smile.
"It seems Mr. Wayne that we only have room for three of you within the Court. It can be any three, however what we cannot have is someone walking around with knowledge of the Court that each of you possess."
The words only need a moment to sink in before Cobblepot puts his hand into his pocket. The small knife buried deep among other trash eludes him for only a moment. Hill, with his persistent confused look, just stares at Thomas, hoping for some type of reaction.
"You want us to turn on each other. After all of this, after all we've given!" Dent screams. Thomas, no longer feeling a desire to intervene, does not interfere.
"Calm yourself Mr. Dent. This, as with everything, is still just a choice. One each of you must make." The slender man approaches Dent, confident in his step towards the fuming man. Standing over the masked figure, Dent looks down at him without moving.
"But do choose swiftly, the Court does not enjoy indecision." The figure leans in to where only he and Dent can hear the next few words. "Unlike your boy Harvey huh. Ever since that accident he can't 'make-up' who he is anymore!"
Without a moments pause, Dent swings at the man, his mask cracking at the impact. As the masked man falls to the ground, the lumbering figure appears from behind the shadows. Within seconds Dent finds his neck in the grasp of the shadowed man. The other three men stand frozen, watching Dent struggle to breath as his feet frantically search of the ground.
"BANE, enough! The fool has lashed out like the child he is. Now let him suffer the fate of his actions." Bane releases his grip but remains towering over Dent as he recoils on the rocky surface sucking in as much air as possible.
The Mystery man adjusts the cracked white mask on his face as he regains his posture.
"Mr. Dent, we thought you of all people would appreciate the necessity of following proper order. No matter." He releases a furious series of kicks to the fallen Dent as Bane moves into position between the three men and their grounded acquaintance.
"You men once had until week's end to respond to the Court. But his actions have ended that. By midnight tonight either three of you will deliver to me your answer, or you all die." Through the cracked mask, Thomas can see part of the smile that once went hidden.
Bane stares down at Dent, his muscles tensing through the tight shirt on his back.
"Nygma, are we done here?" A simple nod is all that is needed to prompt Bane to pull a few marbles from his waist. Instantly the cave is filled with a gas that both chokes and weakens the uninitiated.
The smoke eventually clears as Thomas makes his way over to Dent to check on his status. A terrified Cobblepot has already retreated back through the cave. Hill begrudingly helps Thomas carry Dent back towards the house even as Dent fights them to leave him alone.
Outside, Thomas is met by a frantic Cobblepot pacing through the field kicking at the grass with each step. He orders his men to pick him up immediately and Thomas knows the hot head is already preparing to fight.
"Cobblepot, hang up the phone and calm down. We need to talk through this." orders Thomas.
"Talk Wayne? You can stay here and talk until the sun goes down. Your words will change nothing. We need to take action now." The small man notices Hill slowly exiting the cave entrance.
"I say we give them Hill. I have someone that can finish this within the hour."
"No!" Christopher manages to bellow as his body continues to recover from the assault. "We do nothing, yet."
Hill approaches the tense group, having heard Christopher's decision on their next steps. Thomas and Christopher exchange a brief look that ends with a slight nod from the panting Dent.
"All of that was a show of force, but also just another one of the Court's ridiculous tests. Think of it, they need each one of us. We each bring them another arm of power they apparently need. Law, Order, Wealth, and Health. We've always known why they targeted us Cobblepot." Christopher's words dance within the Autumn breeze as each man reflects slightly on what was said.
In the distance, a black sedan screeches to a halt with two men hopping out with quick strides towards Tucker. Cobblepot walks past Christopher in silence towards his men, motioning to them to keep their arms at bay.
"Fine words Christopher, but it is not lost on me that my role in your quartet has diminished. My wealth is almost gone. So you can understand my - uneasiness. Just know, my 'friends', that my wealth is still significant enough to have a hundred more men like these two to stand between me and the lot of you."
Cobblepot turns back to his men as he gets closer to the vehicle, his men shielding him from the group.
"If any of you come for me, it will end badly for you. And if we all wake to see the sun tomorrow, well then - we shall get to enjoy my party." Cobblepot skurries into his vehicle and stares at his associates through darkly tinted windows in fear. As the car kicks up a cloud dust in its wake, the remaining men stand in silence as the day begins to set under a cloudy sky.