Author's note: As of now, this is my last chapter of Arkham City's defender. I might also do a one-shot sometime this week. And maybe perhaps, start my other Story, Stormbolt: Man of Thunder. I've also introduced Hector Mendez, the new OC Golden Dragon: Mystic Kung Fu Master. Anyway, enjoy and review this last chapter of Arkham City's Defender.
Disclaimer: bTW, I do not own Shadow, Breeze and Sarina Gibson. Shadowknight1121 owns Shadow and Breeze. Tonycakes owns Sarina Gibson
Chapter 5: Protocol 10
Four attack choppers started firing down on buildings, killing everything in their path whether inmates or not. Amongst the chaos, Ethan was ice surfing through Arkham city launching hail at one of the helicopters. But down below, TYGER snipers were attempting to kill anyone and anything their way as Ethan shot out a megawatt bolt that sent the snipers flying back on the roof. Machine guns opened fire on Stormbolt as he formed an ice shield, sheltering him from the spraying machine gun fire while he flew above the attacking chopper as he sent off a electric bolt toward the tail and rotor. The chopper was sent falling down into the water, leaving another being frozen by an ice beam as it crashed toward a roof with the TYGER guards unconscious. Then suddenly, a bright light circled around Ethan as he hovered in the air.
"Stormbolt, you're under arrest!" said the operator of the last TYGER chopper as Ethan knew to well on who the voice belong to. "You're interfering in TYGER business
"I beg to differ, Branden." Ethan flew Branden's chopper, launching ice and lightning at the chopper while the chopper avoided the attacks. "And I wouldn't call this business. Destroying what remains of Arkham city. Criminals and innocent people alike, I bet you do everything Hugo Strange tells you to do?"
Brande fired missiles at Ethan while he manuevered around them. "Strange doesn't care who lives and dies in this hellhole. Arkham city's begging to burn!" one of the missiles hit Ethan from behind while he formed a shield around himself, sending him crashing down underwater. "And this time, nothing isn't to be stand in our way! Not you! Not Batman! And especially not that Batman wannabe!" Branden declared in a direct tone, firing at Ethan while he was still knocked unconscious underwater.
Branden smirked deviously as he put down the so called man of thunder, preparing to deal with Batman and Shadow. Then suddenly, something was holding the tail of his chopper as Branden forcibly tried to move his helicopter. Out of nowhere a giant serpent made of water locked its jaw at Branden's chopper, its fangs of frost freezing the systems as Branden pulled out his pistol and started shooting. The water serpent turned out to be a dragon as its claws tossed the chopper toward a nearby rooftop, with Branden's body being sent flying outside. The water dragon snarled viciously at Branden as he glared angrily at what appeared out of the dragon, revealing to be Stormbolt already in a fighting stance. His hands filled with frost and lightning as he hovered in the air.
"First off, you honestly think you could beat Batman of all people?" Ethan taunted. "Shadow? Not so much either. And me? I doubt it."
Branden pulled out a small gun, only that it wasn't a magnum. "We'll see about that, punk." he growled, shooting himself in the head with a dart gun
"Well that was..." Ethan paused as he saw Branden's entire body began to change, with his eyes widened under his goggles. Branden's biceps and muscles started to surge in growth along with his lower body. Spikes appeared out of his elbows and back, his entire skin turning green along with his eyes. His jaw elongated with two fangs appearing on the bottom part of his mouth, with his clothes tearing leaving his urban camo pants torn in the process and his combat boots. The hulking Branden roared, spewing spit at Ethan's face after his transformation. "Oh, shit." he swore, dodging the blow from Branden
Stormbolt flicked his communicator back on. "Ethan, where the hell are you?"
"Oracle, I'm caught in the middle of something."
"What?"
"Hold on. I'll show you." he stated, flicking on the camera to show Oracle an enraged Branden roaring.
"Oh my god!" she gasped under the communicator. "Is that Branden?"
Stormbolt blasted pieces of hail at the monster Branden. "It is. And now, I'm trying to stay alive! I'll put a scan on Branden. See what you can find."
"I'm on it." Oracle said while Ethan shot a megawatt bolt at the transformed Branden monster, only for it grab Ethan into a choking grip
Stormbolt was struggling from Branden's deadly grip. "Let... go...!"
"I've waited a long time for this!" Branden snarled gripping Stormbolt to a deadly hug, only to receive impale on his back as he tossed Ethan aside
The bearer of the sword turned out to be a man wearing a white and black outfit, with a red hood and cloak. It was the same man Ethan encountered when he was searching for Black Mask, the one he spotted standing on top of a church he passed on his patrol. Beside him, was Hector wielding both of his katanas as both him and the hooded man known as Azarel of St. Dumas society got into fighting stances. Azarel teleported and unleashed a quick kick at Branden while Hector charged in, digging his blades inside his gut. Branden retaliated by releasing a ground pounding blow only for Hector to be able to dodge the impact, leaving his swords on the hulking brute's torso as Azarel performed a leg sweep that sent the brute falling on his back. Hector leaped up to perform an eagle claw attack from above, only for the brute-like Branden to swat him away flying back as Azarel lashed his sword over the brute's body. The brute in return body slammed Azarel to the floor as Ethan bashed a ice mace and hammer toward Branden's head, staggering him for a moment.
"Stormbolt."
"I'm here, Oracle. You found out what he's injected with?"
"Unfortunately, yes. He's injected himself with TITAN infused by the portions of the Lazarus pit."
Ethan dodged a coming blow by the Branden brute, freezing his feet in place while Hector and Azarel continued landing blows at the hulking monster. "Lazarus pit? You mean this is Ra's Al Ghul's demon pit."
"I'm afraid it is."
Stormbolt rammed a ice mace across Branden's face, along the way struck the gut and groin in the process. "So how the hell do we stop him?" Ethan avoided Branden's monster hand approaching him while Azarel dug his sword into Branden's heart
"I don't think you can due to his healing factor. Luckily, it's not permeant" Oracle stated while her face appeared on Stormbolt's hud lenses as he flash kicked Branden's chin. "If you can electrify his healing ability, you should be able to end the effects of TITAN along with the enhancement from the Lazarus pit."
"Thanks for the tip, babe." he thanked Oracle
"Ethan." she sighed
Stormbolt launched a lightning bolt toward Branden's torso and head. "I know, I know. Don't call you babe."
"No, not that. I want to say good luck." Oracle said as the image disappeared on the hud lenses of Ethan's goggles, while Hector unleashed a fierce fist that glowed in red energy
"Thanks." Stormbolt conjured up the all the water to form together into a tsunami as he launched it at Branden, avioding both Hector and Azarel as the tidal wave began washing the Branden brute away in the process
The brute was spinning around into the trapped tidal wave, with Azarel's sword still intact as Stormbolt struck the blade using thunder and lightning at his command. The inflicting damage began to weaken the brute greatly, leaving it to gurgle screaming in the water. Losing his energy, Stormbolt spreading the tidal wave out as the flames of destroyed building of Arkham city began to wash away. Brendan, no longer the hulking brute was dead with Azarel's sword still pierced inside his heart as the saint of Dumas pulled the blade off Brendan's dead body. Ethan fell to the ground on his knees, drained from the fight as Hector pulled him out.
"It's over?" Ethan asked glancing at his friend
"It's over." Hector answered as all three heroes savor the moment
Later on that night...
Ethan couldn't believe what he heard, the Joker was dead. He didn't know what to make of it. At that moment on, he wondered if Batman or Shadow had put Joker out of his misery. But he doubt the dark knight would kill Joker, maybe Shadow but not the cape crusader. He flew over to his safehouse, landing on the rooftop as he went inside closing the door along the way. Ethan was now in his safehouse, throwing his jacket and goggles on the couch as he laid with pinching the bridge of his nose. He sighed completely worn out from the fight with the TITAN induced Branden. He then heard his window close as he got into a fighting stance, only to see it was Catwoman who came inside his hideout as he lowered his guard.
Catwoman placed her hands on her hips. "Still jumpy?"
"Just startled, that's all." Ethan sat back on his couch. "What are you doing, Selina? I'm surprise you didn't head back to your place?"
"About that..." Selina trailed off, making her way toward Ethan as she sat beside him. "Harv blew up my apartment."
Ethan chuckled. "I'd take it you paid him a visit after what he did?" he asked seeing the cuts on her cat suit
"I did. Always with the halves." Selina crossed her legs, staring at Ethan with a smirk on her face. "And like I was saying, I was wondering if I could stay at your place?"
"You can stay. I feel I still owe you."
Selina placed her fingers on his chest. "Remember when I met at your place in Gotham? You suggested my favor on being a fling or friends-with-benefits?"
"Yeah, I remember." Ethan said blushing. "Well, bathroom's on the left and bedroom's on the right. I'll let you have the bedroom while I sleep on the couch." he stated as he prepared to leave, only for Selina to gently grab his wrist
"Do you still do that healing thingy of yours?" she asked caressing his cheek, with Ethan giving a nod as a answer while she made her way to the bathroom. "I think I'll take a shower. Oh, and Ethan..." Selina glanced at Ethan with a seductive smirk on her face. "Feel free to jump in with me. But don't wait too long now." she concluded as she blew out a kiss while Selina went in the bathroom
"Do I go in with her or is it just a trap?" Ethan asked himself. "Oh screw it, I'm going in!" he exclaimed rushing toward the bathroom with Selina
Next day...
At the Gotham City cementry, Ethan Louis walked in wearing a black suit and tie with a banquet of flowers in his hand. Following him was his friend Hector Mendez, wearing the exact same thing only black sunglasses covering his eyes. They came at a stop to a certain tombstone as he looked down at the name of the grave and what it said: Here lies Penelope Young. Loving daughter and friend. Hector stared down at the grave as he glanced at Ethan, placing the flowers down on Young's grave. Hector ensured his friend that he would be waiting in the car, giving Ethan time alone in the grave of Penelope Young as Ethan crouched down on the ground staring at Young's tombstone.
"Well it finally happened, Penny. The Joker's dead. Turns out Joker died from TITAN inside his blood. Looks like the bastard got what was coming to him. I can't help but feel guilty, which is scary." Ethan gritted his teeth as he punch the palm of his hand. "I don't understand why! Why the hell am I feeling guilty about Joker's death?! The bastard kills innocents, the things he's done and the friends he's corrupted! But..." he trailed off, wiping off a tear in his eye. "I think I understand why Batman never killed him. Because he believed it would be too damn easy and because of two reasons. One: if Batman ever killed Joker, the clown would win. And two: everything would be too damn easy as he might kill other criminals. That's why Batman does what he does. I think that's why every superhero does it. This will be the last time I come here, Penelope." Ethan let out a sigh as he put on his aviators, now standing on the ground resting his hand on Young's tombstone. "I can't stay here. I'm leaving Gotham with a friend of mine. So this is where I say goodbye. I already said goodbye last night. Now I'm saying goodbye to you. And thank you, for giving me these powers."
"Saying goodbye?" said a voice as from behind Ethan as he saw a dark haired man a year or two older than him. Ethan also say a red haired woman the same age as him and a blonde haired teenage girl. "You alright, Stormbolt?"
Ethan pulled his avaitors down as he stared at the three people. "Shadow? Breeze?" he glanced at the blonde haired teenager. "Who are you?"
"This is Sarina Gibson." Shadow introduced as she shook Ethan's hand. "You came here to say goodbye?"
"Yeah. I'm leaving Gotham." Ethan stated. "Me and a friend of mine are thinking of heading to either Coast or Central city. I've already said goodbyes to everyone, except you guys that is. After Joker's death, I decided I didn't want to stay here anymore."
"I'm started to get that feeling too." Sarina said, depressed
"You alright?" Ethan asked in a worried tone
Sarina nodded her head. "I think I need to take a walk."
"Why do I get the feeling there's more to Sarina than meets the eye?" Ethan inquirred as Shadow and Breeze looked back at each other, then at Ethan
"Sarina Gibson is Batgirl, barbara's sucessor." Shadow stated. "She's also the daughter of Harley Quinn and the later Joker himself." Sarina came back just in time to hear Shadow reveal the truth
Ethan's eyes suddenly went wide after the revelation of Sarina Gibson's origins while she wiped the tears from her eyes. "What?" Ethan stared at Sarina. "You're the Joker's daughter? I thought you were Bane's kid."
Sarina chuckled at the comment Ethan made, which surprised both of Shadow and Breeze as they glanced at the man of thunder. "You got her to laugh." Breeze said a bit shocked
Ethan quirked his eyebrow at Shadow and Breeze's startle. "Is that a shock?"
"It is if you got her to laugh like that." Shadow replied smugly. "Anyway if you're ever in Gotham, look us up."
"I might do that, Shadow." Ethan said extending his hand
Shadow shook his hand in return. "Call me Jayden. This is Ally."
"Nice to meet you." Ally said noticing something on Ethan's cheek. "Is that lipstick mark on your cheek?"
Ethan touched his hand, only to see a small print of red lipstick on his cheek as Ally pulled out a small mirror. "Lipstic- oh."
"Wait a minute." Ally gazing closely at the lipstick print on Ethan's cheek. "I've seen that lipstick imprint before. Did you- she slept with her, did you?"
"I should go." Ethan concluded running while Ally chased him as Jayden and Sarina, along with Hector started laughing. "Start the car! Start the car!" he told Hector as he was still laughing at Ethan being chased
"I can't believe he slept with Catwoman." Sarina said dumbfounded
"Me neither. That lucky bastard." Jayden smirked until came back and heard him. "Ally, I can- ow! Ow!" now Jayden started to run as Ally now chased him while Sarina started laughing again
"I definetely got to show the others this!" she exclaimed, pulling out the phone on her camera as she recorded Ally chasing Jayden.