Hey again everyone! Sorry for the delay, I'll explain below what happened.
The morning air was gentle, it silently swept through the streets of Gotham; picking up an occasional piece of trash and having it dance in mid-air and gently set it back down when the wind was done with it.
Batman looked down as the Falcone crime family marched through the streets, Alberto took the lead of his men, his eyes patrolled the streets, across the street, Black Mask took the lead; he couldn't tell if this was West Side Story or a gang fight, maybe they were talking things out peacefully.
He had twisted the buckle of his belt and let his body become blended as the door on his roof burst open, several SWAT snipers took position along the rooftops, Batman knew this was going to end badly, he knew what he had to do, only problem, there were five of them, he could take out two at a time, then the fifth one could take him out. He just decided to wait and see what happened.
One possible scenario could be they worked something out, which was the more hopeful one for him, this way he didn't have to get his hands too dirty. Second scenario would be they just started shooting, which would get Damian's hands really dirty. Third one that came to mind would be the GCPD would try to take out Black Mask and Alberto and send the streets of the Narrows into total war and the death toll could escalate into the hundreds.
"I'm giving you one chance to surrender Black Mask, return what it is mine and no one will need to die." Roman growled
"If you think I'm going to hand this city back to you, then you are crazier then you look. I'd much rather leave it to Batman then you." Black Mask snarled
Batman continued to watch, then he saw it, the guns began to rise from both sides, he knew it was going to be bad.
He didn't know who fired the shot, but as he glanced down, he spotted Rhino, one of Black Mask's member of the False Facers go down with a bullet to the head. Black Mask began to back up along with his men who split up and ran into the streets, Alberto gave chase with his men running after them, splitting up and going into the streets.
Batman approached the GCPD officers, it was time to end this, and he approached the first two snipers and slammed their heads together. As the other three looked, he deactivated his cloaking, his eyes making contact to the snipers as they prepared to fire.
He was on them quick, knocking the sniper away from two of them, laying a series of quick strike punches into their chests and then slamming a fist into their heads, knocking two down and leaving one left.
Batman approached him, who was quickly backing away, he grabbed the sniper by the throat and his radio went off.
"All units, all units, Black Mask and Falcone's men are on the move, get ready to kill. Black Mask is heading for the monorail; Falcone is heading for the shipping yard.
Damian growled and slammed his head into the snipers, knocking him out on contact. He immediately reached for the radio, allowed the cowl's radio to tune into the frequency and smiled as he tuned into another station.
"Blake, I've got the GCPD's radio tuned into the cowl, I'll be able to listen in. I found them both, I just…"
"You don't know who you want to go after?"
"My whole reason for getting Sionis was to get Victoria away from him, but if Falcone is taken down…I'll stop another crime boss."
"Let the GCPD stop Falcone, you need to stop the man we've trying to figure out for months and now we have a chance to save Tori and stop Roman and now your chickening out. Your father would never…"
Damian changed the channel, he couldn't stand when Blake undermined him, his eyes scanned the battle field, bullets began to fly from three sides, and he knew if he wanted to get to Black Mask, he'd need the gangs to stay alive.
His eyes went wide as he pulled out a set of binoculars from his belt and spotted him, Black Mask was walking toward a set of metal steps, he was heading for the train along with Deathstroke and a few members of his crime organization; it was time, but first things first, he had to clear a path
He leapt off the building, his cape was used as a glider as he soared in the air, from above, he could see the gangs firing bullets at their foes, then he saw the GCPD ready to take on both gangs, he knew they had to be defeated.
Batman dropped to the ground, his form stuck out in the middle of the SWAT cops, their eyes went wide.
"Its Batman! Get him!"
He immediately went on the offensive, taking a pellet from his belt and tossed it in the middle of the crowd, smoke surrounded the area and the cops started coughing hard, Batman immediately retaliated while he had time, slamming some of their heads together, and others he tossed to the ground and slammed either his fist or boot into their stomachs.
As he looked with the smoke cleared, only James Gordon remained, he lowered his rifle "Akins put a hit on you."
"I figured." Batman approached "I need your help, Black Mask is heading for the monorail, and I'll get him. You need to get the GCPD away from me."
"I'll see what I can do." Gordon nodded removing his helmet "When this is over, can we talk?"
Batman nodded and pressed a key on his belt, a motor went off in the background and the RAPTOR parked next to him, Batman jumped in and drove off, with the front of the car coming over his head.
Michael Akins fired another shot from his pistol, accurately tearing into the skull of one of Falcone's men, he was held up at city hall with his elite guard; Brendan Foley stood at his right, firing warning rounds from his rifle.
"Sir, have any ideas?"
"Find Falcone, if he's down, this'll be easier." Michael reloaded his pistol and fired
Alberto Falcone rose from cover behind an SUV and fired a few rounds toward both Akins and Foley, but the bullets didn't hit their target. He pressed his fingers to his ear.
"Take the shot!" He commanded
The sun took on the glass of a scope as a bullet soared through the air and hit Brendan through the chest; Akins' grew with fear as the sniper began to aim at him.
Deadshot smiled "This is where it ends…Commissioner."
"Floyd Lawton…you have failed this city."
Deadshot turned to Green Arrow standing behind him, he immediately went on the offensive and drew two arrows, firing at Deadshot, he quickly dodged and fired from his wrist turrets, which caused Oliver to step out of the way, he knew this had to end, he lost too many friends to Deadshot and now after twenty years, it finally ended.
Five arrows were drawn and fired, Oliver could only smile as Floyd took three to the chest and fell to the ground, Oliver walked over to Deadshot and ripped his shirt open, tattooed to his body were the names of his victims, two of them stood out Andy Diggle and John Diggle.
It had been twenty years since Diggle died, his best friend and partner finally had a chance to take Deadshot, cornered and ready to pull the trigger, Oliver had helped as best as he could, but then Deadshot got the jump on them, sliced Oliver's leg open and sent a round into John's chest, killing him.
He looked down at the streets to gunfire being sent out between combatants as Michael Akins was taking on Alberto.
"Die…just like your father." Akins fired every round his pistol could send
The bullets slammed into Alberto's stomach and one went right in the middle of his forehead, sending his body down and dust flew around where his body made impact.
He tapped the radio on his suit "All officers, Falcone is down, proceed on Black Mask, do not let him get away."
"All officers, Falcone is down, proceed on Black Mask, do not let him get away."
Batman sighed as he drove the RAPTOR into a back ally way "Oracle, did you hear that?"
"I sure did, seems like Akins is finishing up business, they're rounding up Falcone's mercenaries and everyone is moving to the False Facers, Roman is still heading for the train."
"I'm here."
The RAPTOR rotated and started to stop with a skid, the canopy opened and Batman jumped out, running up the stairs heading toward the monorail.
His emotions and energy were running with adrenaline, he didn't know what to expect when he got up there but he knew he had to get Victoria out of Black Mask's hands.
A fist made impact with Batman's chest causing his body to slightly fall backwards, as he looked up, Deathstroke was standing between him and the door, with Black Mask nodding without another word as the door closed.
"You really are a sucker for punishment huh?" Deathstroke smiled under his mask
"No, this time, we end it." Batman growled
Both men assumed a fighting stance, Deathstroke went on the offensive and struck first, but Batman grabbed his fist and twisted Deathstroke's arm, causing a sight groan of pain to escape his lips as the caped crusader slammed a boot into Deathstroke's boot.
Anger began to build, he needed to get to Victoria and now Deathstroke was the only thing getting in the way, he needed to end this.
As Deathstroke recovered, Damian went on the offensive, slamming a fist into Deathstroke's head, he grabbed him and slammed it into the metal of the monorail's entrance, as he staggered, Damian slammed a boot into his chest and sent him to the ground.
"Where is Black Mask going!?" Batman slammed his boot into Deathstroke's chest
"I'll never tell you Batman…" Deathstroke coughed as he felt blood stain his lip
"Well then, your useless to me." He growled and slammed a fist into his skull, rendering him unconscious
He was running out of time, Batman drew his grapple gun and leapt off of the monorail, as he glided through the air, he let himself go and fired his grapple gun and watched as it went into the window and attached to something, he felt his body being pulled into the window and entered the subway.
Three men were waiting inside, with Black Mask standing at the controls of the train, there was no sign of Victoria.
Batman growled as he went on the offensive, the two men didn't stand a chance as he slammed both of their heads together and knocked them to the ground, the third man drew a crowbar and tried to slam it into Batman's body, but he was no match just as his partners as Batman grabbed it and knocked it out of his hands, slamming it into his stomach and then his head.
As he turned, a bullet soared past him, Black Mask stood facing him, revolver out and smoke coming out of the barrel.
"You have something I want." Batman growled
Black Mask didn't say another word, something that struck Batman as odd, he approached with ferocity and determination as Black Mask fired two more rounds, he knocked the gun out of his hand and grabbed him by the throat, throwing his mask off to reveal a man with several tattoos over his face.
"Oracle," Batman used his free hand and tapped his earpiece "Is this him?"
"No, this is Tattoo, Black Mask's top associate."
"Where is Black Mask!?"
"Sorry, I'm not talking no more than Joe did." Tattoo growled
"Fine." Batman growled as he pressed the emergency break
The monorail came to a screeching halt, Batman tied the rope of his grapple gun to Tattoo's leg and opened the door, letting him dangle.
"You can tell me or you can go to Blackgate in a body bag." Batman threatened
"If your going to intimidate someone, pick a better spot."
"No." Batman let him go
Tattoo flew down, screaming a combination of swears and shrieks but was stopped as Damian grabbed the wire, pulling him back up and held him by the ankle.
"I can keep doing this all day, where is he?"
"Pock…pocket." Tattoo muttered as he caught his breath
Damian reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a CD, he growled and looked at him.
"Thank you." He let Tattoo go.
Tattoo flew, his body moving quickly with curses flying out of his lips, the ground continued to get closer and closer by the inch until he felt himself dangle in mid air, the rope was tied and Batman was gone.
Damian removed his cowl as Barbara slid the disk into a CD port in the Batcomputer, he looked around curiously.
"Where's John?"
"Finding Laurel and Oliver. We're on…"
The screen came to life as Black Mask sat in the center, his trademark mask on his face.
"Hello Damian Wayne, I trust by now you've figured out the man I had on the field was not me. I have never entered the battlefield today, but I guess it has gone in neither of our favors, and I bet your looking for me right now as we speak, but, before I go out, I have one more surprise for you."
Black Mask stepped aside and Damian's eyes went wide with fear
"No!" he cried
He ran to the table, almost like he could climb through the screen, his gloved hands clenched into fists as he saw Victoria laying in a coma in a hospital bed with a life support machine attached to a point on her chest.
"You see Mister Wayne, if you couldn't figure it out by now, Miss Queen has been under my control since her stupid father sent her after me, now I have no problem keeping his identity a secret, but since she has been under the chip used by our dear friend the Mad Hatter, she has revealed such secrets with me. Secrets like your relationship with her, and now I'm giving you a choice. Either you let me leave Gotham with three million dollars and a private jet completely fueled or the life support machine she's on will go out. I'm giving you all the time in the world, but attached to this disk is a set of coordinates, that will be where you can find me. Good day Mister Wayne."
Damian stepped to the side as Barbara spun herself around, he didn't want her to see him cry, see him so hurt, so depressed, so worried.
"Damian, we can save her."
Damian began to take his armor off without another word "I know, but I need to see her first."
Okay, so there are three reasons why this took so long. One, I had work pulling a fast one and assigning me day hours instead of night so it has cut me back during my personal time. Two, it was fourth of July and I was busy over the week with work and family drama to work on anything major. Three, I had writer's block, I'm trying to plan out the rest of this story and I'm having too much fun with Black Mask to end him so quickly, so there's going to be two more chapters with him and then we move onwards!
With fifteen, we'll be introduced to the primary antagonist of the story Victor Fries and his evolution into the cold hearted villain we've all come to know!
Also, expect another Batman book coming out soon featuring my favorite Robin Damian soon!