Where we fit
Metropolis – Later
The knock on the door caused Clark to sit up. It was late and he wasn't expecting anyone. For once he used his X-ray vision and a smile came to his face. Slipping on a pair of jeans and a shirt and headed towards the front door. He opened and his smile got bigger.
"Hi, this is a pleasant surprise,' he said. "I thought you were heading home after your shift?'
"I changed my plans,' Dinah said and then kissed him. He returned it, savoring the taste of her lips against his.
"I'm glad. Come on in."
Dinah moved passed him into the apartment and slipped off her coat as he closed the door. She had changed into civilian clothes, jeans and a black top, but it did nothing to diminish just how spectacular she looked. Clark stood by the door just looking at her for a moment, admiring her.
She happened to glance into the kitchen and saw two empty cups on the table. Dinah sniffed the air as she dropped her coat and then turned towards him.
"I guess I'm not the only visitor you had tonight, am I?"
"No, Hippolyta stopped by earlier,' he replied.
"I see."
The smile had slipped from her lips and he noticed immediately.
"It wasn't like you're thinking,' he offered.
"Wasn't it?" Dinah asked.
"No, it wasn't."
"Okay, then maybe you'd better explain to me what it was,' Dinah replied. "I'm only interested in being in a two person relationship, Clark."
"So am I, Dinah, with you,' Clark said.
"And Hippolyta?"
"I think she just needed someone to talk to,' he informed her. "I think she needed a friend."
"A friend?"
They sat down on the couch as Clark tried to figure out what to say.
"Look, I know this is all kind of crazy,' he began. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around it all, but yes, I think she just needed a friend."
"Clark, you slept with her pretty recently,' Dinah replied. "That kind of raises red flags, don't you think?"
"It's not like that, I promise you,' he replied. "You saw her on the station earlier and how difficult it was for her to fit in. I think for whatever reason I'm the closest thing she has to a friend out here."
"So it's just friendship? Seriously?'
"Look, I know how it looks, I do,' he replied. "It all makes no sense to me either, but I feel like I'm in it now."
"In what, exactly?" She asked.
"Dinah, you and I might not believe in omens or prophesies, but the Amazons and Hippolyta do,' he explained. "She believes that the person wearing the armor is going to die. She did all this to save Diana. Now she's out in this world waiting for the prophecy to happen."
"That's crazy, Clark,' Dinah replied.
"Maybe, but she gave up everything because she believes it,' he offered. "I might not share that belief, but I have to acknowledge the sacrifice behind it."
"So what now?" She asked.
"I don't know,' he admitted. "I feel like I've already betrayed Diana's trust as her friend and now Hippolyta has given me hers. I'm not good at this, but the only thing I can think to do is try and prevent this prophecy from happening."
"Can you do that?' She asked.
"I don't know, but what choice do I have?" He replied. "Can you honestly say you wouldn't in the same situation?"
"No, but the League should know about it, Clark,' Dinah pointed out. "This affects all of us."
"I've already broken Hippolyta's trust by telling you, but I didn't want to lie to you,' he said. "If the League knows, they'll want to do something. Diana would find out as well and you know she won't stand for this. I don't know what to do, really. I feel like I should honor Hippolyta's sacrifice and try and be her friend so I can be there if something happens."
"Diana has a right to know, Clark."
"And if this is all just some dream and not a prophecy, then I've betray two people."
"So what are you going to do?" Dinah asked.
"I guess I'm going to try and prevent anyone from dying,' he offered. "I'm also going to try and be a friend to Hippolyta if I can."
"So where does that leave us?" She asked.
"I know where I want it to leave us, but like you said we're equals in this,' he replied. "Whatever the reason, you're in my life now and I want you to stay in it, I desperately do, but I can't just turn away from what I feel deep down is right."
"So it's up to me in other words?' She asked.
"I know things are crazy right now, but my feelings aren't Dinah. If it's too crazy for you, I'll understand,' he said. "I'm falling for you, but I can't turn my back on someone in need, even if they only need a friend."
"I don't know, Clark,' Dinah admitted. "I'm going to have to think about this."
"I understand."
The High Desert
Out here the moon and stars looked so close yet never further away. Nowhere is what lies between the last place and the next town. The loneliness is just waiting for you to pass by. It's not that loneliness isn't other places; just that it doesn't hide out here. Ted Grant already knew that loneliness and so did his traveling companion, Greg Saunders. Being heroes, Wildcat and Vigilante didn't exempt them. It many ways it brought it home even harder.
Life is a series of stages that everyone passes through. Sometimes it's hard for even the best of us to know when one is over. Like the Harleys they rode, newer and faster models of heroes were arriving all the time. In an age of alien invasions and demi-gods, was there still a place for an ex-boxer and a former singing cowboy?
It's a delicate balance knowing when one stage of our life is over. It's easy to know that there is a cut off age for wearing tie-dye tee shirts but we resist giving up all the things of our youth. We fear we will become those A-sexual fellow citizens we see at the mall. They are usually someone's mom or dad and you can't imagine them ever having sex. They're pod people, dressed in unflattering Bermuda shorts and chunky golf shirts that cover blockish, doughy bodies.
Now we all don't have this in our future to be sure, but the longer we live the more youth seems a distant memory. Ted and Greg felt they were on that precipice, where a decision had to be made. We're they just relics of a simpler time? Did being a hero have an expiration date? Others seemed to think so. The missions for the League were fewer. The suggestion of being a mentor had been made on more than one occasion. While they were both willing to help their younger teammates in anyway they could, that wasn't who they were yet, or at least they didn't think so.
Was it time for them to step aside for those younger?
The answer wasn't going to come from someone else. When it all gets down to the core, it's a solitary decision that they could only make for themselves. Perhaps it was just another stage they were in, a stage of transition. Whatever it was, they knew it wasn't going to be made on the Watchtower. Being there just added to the isolation and loneliness. They needed to get away and think.
They had taken themselves off active duty and transported down. The Harleys had been waiting in St. Louis and they just started traveling west. They weren't the sorts of men that share their feelings. They were solitary men, loners by nature. They were also kindred spirits, so it made the ride a little easier. It held the loneliness off just a little bit.
They'd been wandering for almost two months now and were no closer to the answer they sought. That's how they ended up here in the desert. This was a place a man could easily get lost or maybe find himself. So as the cold wind blew, their headlights flashed on a sign that said Marionette, 30 miles. It was just somewhere, the next destination before they continued on.
Washington
Hippolyta felt the air explode out of her lungs as she smashed into the side of the building. It jarred her spine so hard that momentarily numbness went through her arms and legs. She could taste the blood on her lips as she struggled to stand. A mocking laugh filled the air.
"So you're the new model, huh? Pathetic, Hippolyta, truly pathetic,' Cheetah said mockingly. "Your daughter was at least a challenge, but you? Hardly. I guess I have to take what I can get, don't I? Killing Wonder Woman is the goal and even if it's a pathetic substitute it will have to do."
Hippolyta managed to get back to her feet and wiped the blood from her lips. This was all going wrong and she knew she was losing. Her first foray into battle had been with the Justice League so others were there to assist her. This was solo, just her against a vicious killer. Hippolyta had heard some things about Cheetah and knew she was an enemy of Diana's but had never seen her in person. Her surprise attack had caught Hippolyta off guard. The ferocity and sheer venom of the other woman's attitude towards her was shocking.
Hippolyta wondered if this was it? Was this the moment the omens and prophecies had foretold, was this the moment of her death? The thought of her demise had been her constant companion since she set out on this course. It had almost been a nebulous thing, but right now it became very real to her. The prophecy said that whoever wore the armor would die and there seemed to be no escaping it. It was still a sacrifice Hippolyta was willing to make to protect her daughter, but another feeling had emerged.
No.
It was one word, but it encapsulated all her personal feelings and emotions. She would make the sacrifice, but she wouldn't do it sacrificially. She wouldn't go willingly to the slaughter. Life, even after all these years, was still precious to Hippolyta. The Fates may have determined she would die, but she wasn't going to make it easy for them. She would fight till her last breath, whether that was now or in the near future. She wanted to live.
"You wish to kill Wonder Woman, well, I'm standing right here, Cheetah,' Hippolyta spat out at her foe. "Wishing and doing are two different things."
With a growl, Cheetah lunged at her. Hippolyta waited until the last moment and then sidestepped the woman and used her momentum to ram her against the brick wall. Cheetah screamed as she bounced off and landed hard on the concrete. Hippolyta knew she wasn't as strong as Diana and hadn't been blessed by the Gods with her remarkable gifts, but she was a fighter, she was an Amazon. Her strengths were different and it was time she used them.
Taking advantage of Cheetah's momentary lapse, Hippolyta retrieved her sword and shield. She turned and faced her foe, ready for her attack this time.
"You want to play, girl? Let's play,' Hippolyta hissed. Cheetah saw the sword and began moving around Hippolyta, looking for an opening. The frustration was plain on her face. Hippolyta watched her with a keen eye, knowing that Cheetah probably possessed an advantage in physical strength. Her own strengths were guile and strategy. It wasn't with superior skills she had defeated Diana and Artemis in the tournament, but by out thinking them. Those skills had always served her well in the past, so she brought them into play against this opponent.
"I believe my daughter has mentioned you before, Cheetah,' Hippolyta ventured. "Oh, yes, now I remember, she spoke of beating you many, many times. She hardly considers you a challenge anymore, to be truthful. I believe the word pity was used."
That pressed the right buttons with Cheetah. The thought that Wonder Woman pitied her was too much to take and drove her into a frenzy. She threw cautious and tactics to the wind and made a head on assault against Hippolyta. Each slash of her claws was deflected by Hippolyta's shield and this only frustrated and angered her more. In her attempt to get to Hippolyta, to rip her apart, she left an opening. It was the opening Hippolyta was waiting for. Her sword shot out, impaling Cheetah on the end of it. The look on Cheetah's face as she gazed down at the sword was one of shock and confusion.
The battle had turned that quickly and now was over. As the police and medical crews rushed over to take Cheetah into custody, Hippolyta thought to herself that she would live another day.
Marionette
Wildcat and Vigilante pulled in just as the sun peaked over the horizon. It was a small town, like a thousand others. They stopped in front of the diner and parked their motorcycles. The quiet rushed towards them and for a moment they just sat there taking it in. Vigilante turned to Wildcat and gave him a smile.
"I believe it's your turn to buy breakfast,' Greg said. "I should warn you, I've got a powerful appetite this morning."
"When don't you?' Ted replied, as he got off his bike. "Especially when I'm paying."
"I seem to recall you weren't exactly shy at the last place when I was paying, pardner."
"Just trying to even the scales out a little bit."
"Hell, boy, the way you dug into that basket of biscuits I was afraid that pretty little waitress was going to lose a finger," Greg joked.
"Well, I had to get her attention somehow, didn't I?' Ted fired back. "You were turning on that cowboy charm and all."
"Don't hate the player, son, hate the game.'
Ted chuckled and shook his head as they pushed open the front door of the diner. A small bell announced their arrival.
"What? What do you want?' Someone immediately shouted at them. They gave each other a look.
"Food? This here is a diner, isn't it,' Greg ventured.
"Customers?"
A small man peaked around the corner from the kitchen and looked at them.
"You boys are actually customers?' He asked.
"In the flesh, old-timer,' Ted replied.
The small man nervously stepped out from the kitchen and took a long look at them. He was absently wringing his hand in his apron.
"You boys aren't from around here, are you?"
"Just passing through."
This seemed to ease the man's posture a bit, but he still seemed rather skittish. He glanced out the window and saw the two motorcycles and stopped again.
'Who you with? Which of them are you members? I don't have no quarrel with either side, I keep my nose out of their affairs!"
"That's, um, good to know, but we're sorry to disappoint you, friend, we're not with anyone,' Ted replied.
"You're not?"
"Nope."
"Strangers?'
"Hungry strangers.'
"Well, um, have a seat them,' the small man said. He turned and shouted to towards the kitchen. "Arlene, we got customers!"
Ted and Greg slid into one of the booths, silently wondering what was going on with this place. A few moments passed and then a woman in her mid-thirties stepped out from the back. She looked at the small man and then at Ted and Greg.
"Strangers.' The small man said as if in explanation. "Well, just don't stand there, take them some menus and get their orders. We're still a diner, after all."
The woman nodded and hesitantly picked up two plastic menus and made her way to the table.
"Hey,' she quietly said. Ted noticed her hands were trembling as she handed each of them menus. What was up with this place, anyway, he thought?
"So how you doing, darlin',' Vigilante said, flashing her his best smile.
"Fine,' she replied, blushing a little. 'Can I get you boys something to drink while you look at the menu?"
"Coffee, black,' Wildcat said, as he opened the menu.
'Why don't you make that two, honey,' Vigilante added.
"Okay, I'll be right back wit the coffee and to take your orders,' the woman said with a tentative smile. Greg returned it and watched her walk away.
"Jesus, do you have to hit on every waitress we come across,' Ted growled.
"Just being friendly, pardner, something you should try once and awhile."
"Right.' Ted chuckled. "Just remember what happened at the last place, Greg. We don't need that kind of trouble again."
"How was I supposed to know she was married?' Greg asked. "Besides, she didn't seem to mind, so I figured why should I?"
"Cause her old man had a shotgun, lover boy,' Ted replied.
"Well, hindsight's 20-20."
"Just keep it in your pants for once, please."
"You worry too much, Ted,' Greg offered. "Besides, this here is kind of a strange enough town without me adding to it."
"Yeah, did you see the way that little guy acted when we walked in,' Ted replied. "He's scared of something, so is the waitress."
"I guess they just ain't used to strangers."
The Source Wall
Darkseid again found himself gazing out at the stone faces that stared blankly out from the wall. For a moment his eyes stopped on his father, but they quickly moved on to her. Since the moment he felt her presence again in this world he felt drawn to this place. He only knew of the legends, but she fascinated him. A Goddess among Gods in an age of Gods, that was how she was described. He knew the stone figure in front of him didn't do her justice, but still she looked magnificent all the same.
"Darkseid." The thin wispy voice said to him. He turned to see on of the Guardians hovering before him.
"Ah, so the little blue men make an appearance,' he said. "You're a long way from your lantern, are you?"
"Yes,' the Guardian replied. "But we see many things from our corner of the universe. Such as your visit to the Manhunters."
"I made it no secret,' Darkseid replied.
"The Manhunters are dangerous, Darkseid, we will not allow them to wreck havoc on the Universe again,' the Guardian warned.
"And what of her?" Darkseid turned and pointed to the stone statue. "When she returns, which we know she's already in the process of doing, what will you do with her, little man?"
"We will deal with her in the same manner,' the Guardian said. "But as of yet, we know not what she intends. Her intentions by making this leap through time may not be what we all fear."
"So you will try and negotiate with her, talk to her,' Darkseid replied mockingly. "What little fools you are."
"You don' t know what she wants either, Darkseid."
"That is where you are wrong, little man,' Darkseid said. "She is a Goddess from the Second World and conquest is at her very core. She will not negotiate; she will take what she wants. While you try and talk, she will destroy your precious Lanterns without a second thought, for that is who she is."
"You assume she is like you,' the Guardian countered. "You only know of the stories, Darkseid, fables told by the Three World about their predecessor. We know those stories too and will not be caught off guard, but we also will not be fooled into forgetting the real threats that already exist in this universe. If you and the Manhunters move on Earth, we will look on that as a hostile act."
"You do what you have to, little man and I will do the same,' Darkseid replied. "If I have to destroy Earth to stop her, then I will destroy it. She should have stayed in the past, dead and forgotten. The Fourth World already has its Gods and they will not share."
"And what of your Manhunter allies? What happens afterwards to them?"
"Like the tools they are, they will be put away," Darkseid offered.
"Your father had dreams much like yours, Darkseid,' the Guardian said. "Perhaps you will share his fate."
Darkseid turned and looked at the stone visage of his dead father.
"As I said, little man, the past should stay in the past."
"If you move on Earth, Darkseid, we will consider that a direct act of war,' the Guardian warned.
"Than we understand each other,' Darkseid replied. "Now leave me. Go back to your Lantern and huddle together next to its green light and hope it protects you from her."
Marionette
As Wildcat and Vigilante ate, the diner slowly started to fill up with locals. They had the same nervous look about them as the waitress and cook. They all gave the two strangers a wide berth. After awhile Greg and Ted stopped paying attention and concentrated on their food.
"So I'm just saying, I think I felt a spark between us, that's all,' Greg said to Ted. "Now I know what you're going to say, but I think I know when a lady's interested."
"You're crazy, you know that don't you?' Ted offered.
"Look, I know she's technically still involved with the Lantern, but things ain't all roses between them,' Greg replied. "I knew it was a gamble, but some gambles are worth it."
"You gamble on Mari and you're wrong, Greg and it's not going to be pretty."
"She is a fine looking filly, though, you have to admit that."
"Sure and she'll look beautiful when she or he kills you, too."
"Fortunate favors the brave,' Greg offered.
"Or the stupid."
"I'm just saying I think she may be interested is all."
"You think every woman's interested in you,' Ted said.
"You don't have a romantic bone in your body, do you?"
Ted was just about to protest, when a commotion caught both their attentions. They turned and noticed all the patrons were starting out the window and they looked afraid. Shifting their gaze, Ted and Greg saw three bikers ride up and stop in front of the diner. They were hard, mean looking men and they wore the colors of some motorcycle gang. They walked up the steps and nearly ripped the front door off its hinges as the came inside.
"Well, well, well, it's been too long, hasn't it,' the lead biker said with a grin. "Arlene, Junior, aren't you going to say hello?"
"Hey, Lenny,' the small man nervously said. "We don't want no trouble, guys."
"Why don't you get back in the kitchen, Junior,' Lenny replied. "Fix us something to eat and shut your mouth."
Junior nodded and then scurried back to the kitchen. The bikers laughed at this and slowly made their way down the main aisle. They stopped at a table where three cowboys were sitting. Lenny leaned down to the men.
"You know my momma always said you should leave the table a little hungry,' he whispered to them. "You boys are finished, aren't you?"
The cowboys quickly nodded and got up from the table and nearly ran out of the diner. Lenny and the other two watched them and laughed.
"Table's free,' Lenny said, dropping into one side of the booth. The other two slid into the opposite side. "Come on, Arlene, get a move on, coffee!"
Greg gave Ted a look as he dabbed his piece of toast into his sunny side up eggs. Ted only response was to slowly lower his hand towards the table as if to silently say relax, wait.
Arlene nervously moved over with a pot of coffee to the three bikers table. They watched her with an almost feral grin on their faces.
"You didn't say hello early, Arlene,' Lenny joked.
"He-Hello, Lenny,' she managed to say.
"It's been a couple of weeks, you miss us, Arlene?"
"We don't want any trouble, Lenny,' Arlene replied. "We're just trying to run a business, don't cause any trouble, please."
"You're not being very friendly, Arlene,' Lenny said. "You're making me feel unwanted. You know I get angry when I feel unwanted."
"Please, Lenny,' Arlene whimpered. He reached one hand out and grabbed her. She was so shook up she accidentally spilled some of the coffee on him.
"Damn it, you stupid bitch!" Lenny shouted and then slapped her hard, knocking her to the floor. "You're going to pay for that Arlene!"
'Why don't you leave the lady alone?"
It was Ted that said this. He stood up and Greg followed right behind him. Lenny and the other two bikers looked at them like they didn't believe this was happening.
"Who the hell are you?' Lenny asked.
"I'm the man telling you to leave her alone,' Ted replied.
"Strangers,' one of the other bikers said. Lenny nodded.
"We don't want no trouble, boys,' Greg interjected. "Why don't you just apologize to the lady and we can all get back to our meals."
"You aren't from around here?' Lenny said. "You know who you're dealing with?"
"Some punk that hits women,' Ted replied.
Lenny scowled at them and turned to show the back of his jacket. Across the back stitched in red letters it said Blood Wolves.
"Blood Wolves." Ted read.
"That's right. Now unless you're with the Night Tribe and I seriously doubt that since it's the middle of the day,' Lenny said. This got a laugh from his friends. "Unless you are, you're messing with the wrong people, mister."
Ted didn't move, just stood looking at the three.
"Why don't you move on,' Ted said. "Walk away before someone gets hurt."
"Oh, someone's going to get hurt, mister, I guarantee that,' Lenny replied. In the next moment he stripped off his jacket and then something unexpected happened. He began to change.
"What the hell?' Greg gasped, not believing his eyes as the man began to shift into some sort of animal. A wolf, he finally realized. Ted didn't say anything, just took three quick steps towards Lenny and then hauled off and punched him square in the jaw. It surprised everyone, including Lenny. His half changed body went down like a sack of potatoes. The other two gang members started to get up, but Greg had his pistol out and pointed at them before they could take their jackets off.
"Let's just keep your clothes on there, boys."
"Pick him up and go,' Ted said. Greg kept his pistol on them until they were outside and on their bikes.
"Care to tell me why you hit him?' Greg asked.
"Figured why wait until he finished his change,' Ted replied.
"You're going to get yours,' one of the bikers shouted. "We'll be back!"
They got a dazed Lenny on his bike and the three rode off.
"You need to go,' Arlene spoke up. "They'll be back with more members. Just go."
Ted and Greg could see the fear in everyone's eyes.
"We're not going anywhere until we know what the hell is going on around here,' Ted said. "What were those boys, werewolves?"
"Yes,' Junior replied.
"Seriously?"
"Them and the Night Tribe run this town,' Junior explained. "Two bikers gangs and rivals."
"This is crazy,' Greg said. 'Where's the law around here?"
"Ain't no law,' Arlene replied. "They are the law and you boys just made enemies of them. You best be leaving as quick as you can."
"So let me see if I have this straight,' Ted asked. "Two biker gangs run this town and we're in the middle of them. I think I saw this movie before."
"And one of the gangs are werewolves,' Greg added. "So where is this other gang, the Night Tribe?"
"They don't come out till after dark,' Junior replied.
"What are they vampires? Greg joked. Stone silence greeted his question.
"Aw, shit."
Gotham
Bruce surveyed the alley, taking in the dead gang members. He already knew who was responsible. It didn't fit her pattern though. While he was in Washington with the League, he had his computer running blood and skin sample he'd found at the site of Crane's murder. He now had a name and a face to go with this assassin. Masami.
When he'd got back to the Batcave he'd read everything he could find on her. It was a chillingly similar story to him. Pieces fell into place, as he read the police report of her parents massacre. No witnesses accept the frightened child. No one was ever prosecuted for the crime, but it was believed the Makuda Yakuza was responsible. They were sending a message and a young girl's life was destroyed.
The young girl, Masami dropped off the face of the Earth after that. There were no records from schools, social services, job history, nothing. Bruce knew instinctively she was training for vengeance. Now she was taking it.
Bruce had studied criminals all his life and knew almost immediately what every criminal's motivation was. In a way he was one of the foremost criminal profilers in the world. There were the sick, twisted ones, like Joker, and their only motivation was to spread chaos and watch the whole world burn. They were the hardest to game plan against, as they seemed to have no rhyme or reason behind what they did.
Then there were those that were motivated by simple greed. They were the easiest and most predictable, along with the sadists and murderers. There was logic behind what they did, even if it was warped and cruel.
Selina fell into another group, but even that didn't fit her perfectly. The thrill seekers, they did what they did for the excitement, to see if they could get away with it. They liked the challenge of taking things that weren't theirs just to see if they could. Bruce grumbled to himself as he remembered that the jade cat was no longer in his safe. Selina had 'liberated' it again. He would have to have a talk with her about that, after he updated his security at the mansion.
As he followed a blood trail to the riverbank, Bruce knew Masami didn't fall into any of those categories. She was a believer on a mission. He knew that mission so well as Batman. She was like a funhouse mirror image of himself. He knew where the line was and so did she, but she didn't care. She wasn't looking for justice. She was looking for vengeance. Her focus was razor thin and as hard as a diamond.
As he looked back at the dead gang members he knew this was just survival for her. They must have thought they smelled weakness and easy prey. They were wrong. They were now just another small piece of Gotham's criminal history that no one would remember in a week.
Her trail ended at the river. Bruce knew it wouldn't be that easy. He knew this because he knew it wouldn't be that easy to stop him. That's what she was, a darker version of him, the Batman. He knew everything about her and even felt a strange kinship with her. He was still going to stop her, though. She'd stepped over the line that separates a civil society from anarchy and that was the world he had always fought against. Might didn't make right and everyone, no matter how sick or evil they were deserved the same equal protections under the law.
That's what this came down to, the law. There are no free societies without a free and unbiased law that applies to everyone. Leaders can make all the democratic pronouncements they want, but if there is no rule of law then there is no freedom and no democracy.
As the sirens drew closer, Bruce stepped into the shadows. He felt a sense of unease about all of this. To stop Masami, he would have to go somewhere he hoped he'd never have to go. He would have to go into himself, passed his morals and beliefs and let his anger go. He would have to embrace the darkness inside him so he could anticipate and stop her. He'd always lived in the grays of the world, the margins in between, but that wouldn't be enough this time. To stop a monster, you have to think like a monster, any good profiler will tell you. To stop a dark mirror image of yourself, you have to let those demons come out. You have to walk in their footsteps and pray you can follow the trail back.