DAMIAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT

Satan's Spawn Part II

The same nightmare awakens me. It's the same dream every night. I sit up in my bed as the cold sweat runs down my back. I feel the place on my chest where the 'Joker' stabbed me. All patched up. I heal up fast, that was part of the deal I made with the devil. Some might call it cheating.

He may have my soul now, but I have immortality. Father and Grayson had their ways and this is mine. This city is slowly crumbling and I am the only one who can support her from falling into the abyss.

I rise from my bed and grab a towel as I leave my sleeping quarters. Alfred is asleep on my chair as I enter the control room. I check in on Brother_I, my own personal weaponised satellite and L.u.c.i.u.s, my artificial intelligence computer system.

As the day slowing falls into darkness, I begin to prepare myself for night ahead.

Meanwhile…

Lair of Gotham City Crime Boss Professor Pyg

Lazlo Valentin AKA Professor Pyg sits on his throne of broken mannequin limbs as two of his Dollotrons forcefully hold the arms of Elsa Quinzel.

"…So let Pyg get this straight. You're mother was a former Arkham psychiatrist?"

"Yes"

"So how did she end up with one of the resident nut jobs?"

"I dunno? I guess he has a way with words?"

"It would appear so. So the time has come for Pyg has to ask himself 'What to do with you now?' See if you really are the Joker's spawn and I give you a new face, I don't think that would turn out good for Pyg. But then you could be lying and just wasting my time and Pyg doesn't like those to waste his time"

"But you said you believed me?"

"The proof is in the pudding! And right now you owe Pyg some cake!"

Later…

I stand atop the crumbling remains of Wayne Towers; I evaluate my next move as the heavens open above, delivering thick lashes of rain against my body.

I can use the Dollotrons to lead me to the location of Pyg. The Dollotrons are regularly dispatched to the Narrows in search of new human cattle. They kidnap the poorest & the homeless that the Narrows has to offer. Those picked are then taken to the Pyg to be enlisted into his ever growing army. The Narrows is my next destination.

The young man sits against the side of the abandoned bus shelter. He covers himself in scrap pieces of cardboard to protect himself from the cold and the rain. He spots from the darkness, four lone figures approaching him. He hopes they aren't cops. He raises his empty tin.

"Spare a penny" He splutters out through his toothless mouth.

The four figures appear from out the darkness. The Dollotrons are here to collect another recruit. Just as the first Dollotron leans down to grab the homeless man, a well aimed bat-a-rang hurtles into his wrist. The severed arteries spray a mist of blood into the air. .

Dollotrons, four of them; hardly a fair fight. I leap at the fist one and tear the mask and the top layer of skin off his face. He screams in agony as I plunge my gauntlet into his friends face. I need to leave one standing.

The homeless man makes his escape before he can see me drive my boot into the temple of the third Dollotron, it's nose and ears begin to spew out putrid blood as he drops to the floor.

The last man standing charges at me, I evade his punch, if you could call it that, and hoist him into the air by his disgusting throat. The saliva from his face hole that he calls a mouth drips onto my hand.

"Drop him now! Or we drop you!"

I turn my head around. Barbara Gordon and five SWAT are all aiming their weapons on me. Stupid.

"Let him go!"

I drop the Dollotron and it escapes into the shadows. It leaves with one of my tracking devices attached to its back. Oldest trick in the book. Finally Gordon speaks up.

"I knew I couldn't trust you. We found the body this morning"

"That Bastard deserved it and you know it" I growl back at her.

"It isn't our job to say who deserves to live and die. You've crossed the line so I'm taking you in. I'm sure my brother has a spare cell at Arkham for you"

I've heard that one before. The SWAT comes closer, one more step and things won't turn out good for them.

"I don't trust you Gordon but you're not my enemy. Pyg is on the loose and I can stop him before your men finish scratching their asses"

"The Pyg can wait for now. Your-"

Time for some air support.

"Brother_Eye online"

"What?"

Eye_Online.

"EMP and disorientation strike. Lock on targets"

Before they can react I throw my nano optical targeting devices.

The EMP and concussion strike rains down from the skies onto the Commissioner and her SWAT team. Their guns systems are rendered inactivate and their senses are impaired just long enough for Batman to make his escape.

Later…

Back at the lair of Professor Pyg.

Elsa Quinzel lays strapped to Pyg's marble altar. She screams and cries in terror. The Professor stands over her holding a scalpel.

"So you claim to have come from the loins of the clown! Therefore it wouldn't be right for me to give you a new face but I can give you something your father would be proud of!"

"PLEASE! NO STOP!"

"Stay cheeeeese!"

A Dollotron holds Elsa's head back as Pyg puts the scalpel inside her mouth. He slices her soft cheeks, the blood runs down her face and onto the altar. Once done Pyg stands back and basks at the grin that he has just carved into the young girls face.

"And they say a simple smile at someone can brighten up their day! And you've certainly brightened up mine!"

The door is violently kicked in; splinters of wood are sprayed across the room. The tracking device worked and now hell has come to pay.

I stand in the doorway and in seconds I analyze the room. I count 5 Dollotrons, Pyg and a…girl…Bastard. The sick Bastard has cut that poor girls face up. I see Pyg scream orders to his men. His Dollotrons charge at me.

"Pyg doesn't remember inviting you!"

Pyg talks but I don't listen. I deal with the Dollotrons with ease. I count, 5 broke legs, a shattered spine and 3 broken arms. 5 unconscious Dollotrons. After seeing me dispatch his men with ease, he charges at me with a handsaw. I snap his wrist and power him onto the floor by the throat.

"You're going back to Arkham! But not before I break some of your bones Pyg! I'll try not to enjoy this too much!" I scream in his face.

He doesn't speak. He doesn't need to; I see the terror spread across his eyes. I look up at the girl and I know what I'm doing is right.

I pull back his blood stained apron and grasp one of his ribs from the outside. I look into his eyes as I snap it. The scream alone is worth it.

"I didn't hesitate killing the Joker so just be lucky I'm letting you live"

I leave Pyg shaking on the floor so I can untie the girl. I then slice the rope with a bat-a-rang and help her to sit upright. I wipe a solo tear from her eye. She'll need help. I open up the com-link device located inside my cowl.

"L.u.c.i.u.s call for an ambulance. Location: The Narrows, 122nd Street, Richmond apartment building, room 43"

"Certainly sir. Anything else?"

"No that's all"

"Very good sir"

I leave the room dragging the filthy body of Lazlo Valentin by his collar. Poor girl, I hope she gets home to her parents okay.

To Be Continued In 'Satan's Spawn' Part III