A/N: aawww shucks, you got me blushin, nichammock. thanks for the kind review and being a fan :D. FallenAngelx3: for now... muahaha :D. Lenorathetrekkie: i always find a story to be more interesting when all characters are incorporated. thanks for the kind review! On with the show!
Batman hides the Joker he knocked out earlier behind the display case and pulls off his shoe for later use. He carefully peers out to study the room before making his move. Above the group of Jokerz is his only escape: the air vent that leads to the roof. The good thing is the Jokerz seem to be a little dazed as they search for Batman, the bad thing is there is a whole lot of them, too many for Batman to take on his own. So pulling the shoe off of his victim, he inconspicuously throws it to the other side of the room grabbing the Jokerz attentions.
Taking advantage of their diverted eyes, Batman sprints to the vent and, using a Joker's back as leverage, leaps into the air bursting through the duct. Before the Jokerz realize what just happened, Batman quickly finds his way through the duct system making it to the roof in minutes. Kicking the grill cover out, he emerges onto the roof and takes a look around wondering how he even got to the art museum in the first place. He walks to one edge of the roof top and peaks over to find Jokerz and T's surrounding the area making him frown with confusion.
'Since when did they start working together?' Before anyone can spot him, he quietly leaps to the adjacent rooftop's building before suddenly being tackled to the ground. Kicking off his assailant, he leaps to his feet and assumes a fighter's stance as he waits for his attacker to rise.
"I'm not that easy to get rid of," Blight says as he turns around. He holds up a hand forming a radiation ball and throws it in Batman's direction.
Batgirl takes out a batarang hurling it in Spellbinder's way but he dodges it with ease. "Something's off," Batgirl says into her comlink as she fires a bola trying to snag Spellbinder, but like the first time, he jumps out of the way.
Watching the battle through the vidlink, Bruce frowns when he watches Spellbinder move with ease and grace. "Try hitting him," Bruce suggests. "It shouldn't be hard."
Taking the advice, Batgirl rushes towards him and throws her fist forward; but Spellbinder catches it with one hand and, with the other, punches her once in the gut then again in the face knocking her back. Surprised, Batgirl grabs her lip to discover it's been split open. Spitting out the blood, she straightens up and glares at her offender.
"Shouldn't be hard, huh?" She mocks. "Geeky, gangly Ira Billings wasn't supposed to be able to do that."
"Try again," Bruce replies putting a finger on his chin in thought; so she does.
Batman managed to make contact with the health hazard, but he wants to do that as little as possible. So when he sees Blight charge at him again, he side steps and watches Blight pass him by. However, Blight quickly adapts to the move and tries kicking Batman as he spins to face him. Batman blocks the foot and flips back before the same leg can hit his ribs.
He ducks under a fire ball speeding at his head before Blight closes the distance between them. He blocks the two punches aimed for his head and gut, and when he finds an opening, he elbows Blight in the face following it with a one-two punch. Flipping back to a hand stand, he uses both legs to deliver a powerful kick into Blight's chest sending him flying back.
The blow to her chest leaves her lying on the ground winded. "This isn't working," she pants as she slowly gets up.
"Try harder," Bruce replies ignoring her protest.
"No; obviously Spellbinder is either high on slappers or it's not him at all."
"Try harder, Douglas," Bruce repeats getting irritated. He's not about to watch Spellbinder walk because Jazz keeps holding back. He's seen her fight better than this, and if she doesn't start stepping up her performance, Terry might end up in real trouble.
Letting out a sigh, Batgirl prepares for another attack. When she rushes at him, she catches him off guard by dropping to slide feet first into Spellbinder's legs tripping him. Batgirl skids to a stop, flips over and manages to leap onto Spellbinder's back pinning him down. She grabs his wrist pulling it behind his back, but before she can secure the other one, Spellbinder uses it to flip himself over pushing Batgirl off.
She lands next to a stray five-foot long metal pipe. Picking it up as she stands, she hurls it like a spear at Spellbinder, but is unpleasantly surprised when he skillfully catches it in mid-air. She curses under her breath before she tries again. Batgirl closes the distance between them and, when he swings the pipe at her, she goes down on one knee ducking under it. Leaving his left side open, she finally manages to deliver a punch to his side before bending back to dodge a second swing. When she straightens up, she elbows him in the stomach and delivers an uppercut punch as she stands quickly followed by a back hand to his temple.
The last hit he received to his head causes everything to go blurry for a second. Batman takes a step back putting a hand to his head as he looks up at Blight, except it isn't Blight. Instead, he finds himself staring at a dark image with a fuzzy red mark in the middle whereas the surrounding background has cleared. Blinking a few times though, seems to bring Blight's image back as well as his guard.
"Mr. Wayne!" Max exclaims when Terry's body suddenly twitches. Turning, he looks at her wondering what set her off. "Terry just moved!"
He turns back to the monitor. "Do that again," Bruce orders Jazz.
"Do what?"
"Hit him in the temple."
"Why?"
"Just do it."
Clenching her fists, she takes in a few deep breaths and charges again. Before she makes contact though, she catches Spellbinder off guard by throwing a flash-bomb onto his chest that goes off on impact. Taking advantage of the confusion, she leaps into the air and kicks his temple with her heel making him back away a few steps.
"He twitched again!" Max calls out.
"Twitched? What are you talking about?" Batgirl asks stepping forward to deliver a punch before Spellbinder can recollect his senses.
Switching his gaze between the monitor and Terry, Bruce figures out what's happening. The tranquilizer, Spellbinder's sudden and familiar fighting skills, and Terry's inexplicable collapses, they make sense now.
"That's Terry," Bruce explains looking at Spellbinder's image, but the comment stops Batgirl's fist in mid-air.
"What?" She gasps before a fist connects with her jaw knocking her back. "What the hell are you talking about?" She asks again rubbing the side her face.
"Terry is controlling Spellbinder. Aim for his mask; it seems to be what's keeping Terry unconscious."
"No, hang on, let me get this straight," she replies getting to her feet. "I'm fighting Batman?"
"Technically."
"Then we have a problem."
"Why?"
"I can't fight Batman."
"You know his moves."
"Yeah, and I can't even keep him down during practice. What chance do I have when he thinks I'm the bad guy?"
"The only one," Bruce replies. "I know what's happening, but I can't do anything until Terry wakes up. If Spellbinder gets away, Terry's mind leaves with him."
Finding herself stuck in a very unfavorable position, Jazz tries not to panic. Terry is a superior opponent, and she would have to use a lot of skill and force to win. How much force is her main worry, though; use too much and she can end up killing him, too little and Spellbinder will get away. This isn't her ideal challenge. Drawing a deep, controlled breath to calm her nerves, she takes her stance and prepares for another attack.
- to be continued - reviews welcome -