The Black Market Auction was here at last. Batman, Batwoman, Robin, and Lark all learned about it a week ago; Batman and Robin took out and put a stop to the shipments coming into Gotham days ago, and now all that was left was to put an end to The Auctions themselves. The details were shrouded save that only those who wielded power and influence in Gotham City knew about it and were allowed to attend. Fortunately, Batman and Batwoman had both placed trackers on two of the Crime Bosses attending; Rupert Throne and Black Mask.
The four of them followed the Crime Bosses, from different directions so as not to draw attention to themselves, down into the Bowery. The location was supposedly an old section of abandoned subway tunnels. It was as good a place as any to hide a secret weapons auction. Though something told them all that there would be more than just weapons for auction.
The four of them arrived at the entrance to the subway tunnels, staying hidden on a rooftop across the street. They merely watched and waited, shrouded by the dark of night. The sky was blanketed in blackness, dotted with stars and accompanied by a full moon. The night air was cool, comfortable, and the sounds of cars and people rushing too and fro, sounded in the distance. It would have been a nice night, if not for this dubious "auction" going on underneath the streets of Gotham City.
The entrance was guarded, but to the untrained eye, said guards appeared to be nothing more than homeless people, loitering around the entrance to the subway. There was a man and a women, dressed in rags, but undoubtedly wore Kevlar underneath. They'd spotted the muzzle of a gun as well, though they did a good job of keeping their true nature hidden from passers-by.
"Let's go, Lark," Batwoman said to him, grabbing her grappling gun. Lark gave a curt nod in reply. The two of them glanced toward Batman and Robin, who were also preparing to move, before the swung down to the ground below.
The "guards" had no idea what hit them; Batwoman and Lark dived at them from the darkness, delivering a quick and furious combination of attacks to take them out, in tandem, before they could so much as lift a finger. The two of them turned to Batman and Robin as they joined them on the ground below. The two exchanged a look, then the four of them silently slipped down the stairs and into the subway below them.
Silent as a shadow, they snuck down into the subway tunnels, which were dimly lit by old lights that still hung from the roof. There were signs that homeless people had once been here, but no longer; they were likely either forced, or bribed out of the tunnel to make way for the auction. It was smart, because the homeless were usually invisible, and thus were privy to information that some people wouldn't want to be known.
The initial train station just down the stairs was empty; not a soul around. They continued forward. Batwoman and Batman looked down at the trackers they'd planted on Rupert Thorne and Black Mask. They stopped their teenage partners and exchanged looks.
"Any idea where they could've gone? The trackers say we're right on top of them," Batwoman asked. Batman's eyes narrowed as he looked around the room. He tapped the side of his cowl and switched the lenses out to scan for electric currents.
'They're beneath is, but the question is, how to get down there," Batman murmured, changing back to night vision.
"Secret tunnel!" Lark suddenly chimed in. Batman, Batwoman, and Robin all turned their attention onto him. Lark looked around at each of them and realized they were waiting for an explanation. "Oh, right!" Lark muttered in realization. He cleared his throat and wandered around the tunnel with the other three following behind him. "We homeless kids often had to hide from the GCPD, or the thugs that ran their gangs down in here in the Bowery," Lark started, stopping in front of a rusty old door. He tugged at it, but it was rusted shut. "Not that one," he muttered to himself, continuing on.
"Okay, so you're saying-" Robin started., Lark interrupted, glancing back over his shoulder at the older boy.
"We would look for all sorts of places to hide; old tunnels, hidden doorways, secret paths, stuff like that. There's a lot of hidden doors and secret tunnels down in The Bowery. Some of the others kids and I, we found them and used them to hide or escape. A lot of them come from the prohibition era, when alcohol in all forms, was illegal."
"So these tunnels lead to-" Batman started. Lark spun around and flashed a toothy grin, popping a finger gun at Batman,
"You got it; speakeasies," the teen replied, stopping in front of another door. "But down here, in the subway tunnels, there are bunkers. Bomb shelters and the like that the rich folk had built back in the day. You know, the ones that weren't blood sucking, greedy, corrupt-"
"Lark," Batwoman cut in.
"Right. Sorry," Lark replied with a nervous chuckle, pulling open the rusty door. "Anyway, I've only been down here twice, ever, but I remember there's an entrance to an old bunker somewhere down this hallway." Lark gestured down the hallway. Batman, Batwoman and Robin all exchanged looks. The two bats came up on either side of Lark. Batwoman smiled, patting his right shoulder.
"Good job, Lark."
"Yes, impressive work," Batman chimed in. Lark flashed a prideful grin and made his way down the hallway, with the two Bats, and Robin, behind him.
"I know. Being a street rat has some advantages. Like knowing shit most people don't." He heard Robin chuckle behind him, but Batwoman and Batman were…less amused. So he continued forward, silently, until he came to another, rusty old steel door. He reached for the handle and slowly pulled it open.
"This is the bunker?" Batman asked. Lark nodded.
"Yeah. Nobody comes down here anymore, not even the GCPD, so it makes for a good place to hide," he replied in a quiet tone, passing through the door and descending down the stone stairs. "You know, there's even an urban legend, of an underground city beneath Gotham called Wonder City," Lark commented with a smile on his face. He glanced back over his shoulder, eyes falling specifically on Robin, before turning them forward again.
As they descended down the stairs, they could hear voice echoing in the distance; they were getting closer. As they continued down the stair case, they saw four guards on the ground floor, armed with fully automatic weapons. They'd have to take those guys out, as quietly as possible no less, in order to get through.
Lark and Robin dropped a handful of mini smoke grenades, then the four of them dived down as soon as they started billowing smoke, and took down the four guards, tying them up and setting them in a corner.
Beyond the door, was the auction, and so the four of them snuck through, then parted ways to get different angles on the scum bags in attendance. From what they could see, it was a small gathering but included the likes of Rupert Thorn, Black Mask, Mario Falcone, The Penguin, and others.
There was a man on a raise platform who none of them recognized. The man in question was rather short, standing at just under five feet tall from a quick glance. He wore a black suit with a black tie and had dark brown hair with green eyes. One eye blind eye with a scar that stretched from the top of his eyebrow, down across his eye, and stopping just above his upper lip.
"Let's start this auction with this fine showcase here!" the man called, waving his hand out. Three thugs began wheeling a cage with a dozen or so children, that looked starving, malnourished and sacred, to the front of the room.
Lark's jaw worked and his fists tightened. Rage seared through his veins, but Batwoman steadied him.
"Lark," she whispered. He glanced over at her and she shook her head. "Calm yourself. We need you in control. I know how you feel, but-" Lark took a deep breath and nodded.
"I'm…okay," he murmured, taking another breath. When next he glanced over at Batwoman, she flashed a prideful smile. They all turned their attention back to the auction, some of the less…well known and powerful Crime Lords were betting on the children.
"Lark, tactical analysis," Batwoman murmured to him. Both Batman and Robin glanced over at Lark, interested in what he had to say. Lark pulled out a pair of binoculars to better see in the distance.
"Guards all around the room. I count a dozen. They're carrying fully automatic weapons. They're not your standard Gotham trash. They appear to be mercenaries. Judging from their gear, I'd gauge their skills levels at around mid-tier," Lark began. Robin and Batman exchanged looks, then turned to the room to get a feel for the layout and the obstacles. "Taking them all at once will be impossible. They're scattered to far apart, placed at strategic locations to be able to fire at unwanted guests from every angle," Lark continued. He turned, looking first toward Batwoman, then Batman and Robin. Before he could speak, however, the heard a man's voice shout out above all of the rest.
"Fifteen million dollars for all of the children, cage and all," came a man's voice from out of the crowd. The Crime Lords stepped aside and allowed the man to pass through the crowd, up to the raised platform. Batwoman, Batman, Robin and Lark all turned their attention onto the man.
The man in question was garbed in jet black armor, trimmed red, with a black utility belt around his waist. His arms were clad in black gauntlets, the finger tips of which turned into claws. He wore knee high black combat boots with glowing red lines on them. His face was obscured with a black hood, and a white, fanged skull mask. Batwoman, Batman, Lark, and Robin all exchanged looks in curiosity at this assassin. Everything about him screamed "assassin". But who was he, and what was he here for?
Lark pulled out a pair of binoculars to get a better look at the assassin. He gasped slightly at the sight of the dagger and the hand gun, and pulled the binoculars away from his face.
"What do you see, Lark?" Batwoman asked. Lark glanced over at Batwoman, then Batman and Robin, then back to the assassin.
"I'm not sure, but I think…his weapon are Apokaliptian," Lark replied. Batwoman took out her own binoculars to get a better look. She looked over the assassin's gear, and indeed, it appeared to be Apokaliptian.
"He's right. But he doesn't look like he's from Intergang. I've never seen anyone dressed like that in Intergang before," Batwoman murmured. Batman's eyes narrowed at this new guy. If he wasn't from Intergang, then who was he?
"I'm sorry, but you were not invited to this Auction! I don't know how you got past security-" the auctioneer called, snapping his fingers. A dozen guards with fully automatic weapons stormed the room and surrounded him. The Crime Lords moved out of the way, some of them seemingly ready to bolt.
"What an awkward situation," the assassin said in a surprisingly calm voice. "Actually, someone else took care of your security for me. I just…finished the job," he replied.
"Another intruder?"
"The Batman!" The Penguin shouted.
"That damn Bat is always screwing things up! Mark my words, it's him!" Rupert Thorne put in.
"Now, I'll be taking those children into my custody, for my bosses," The black garbed man declared. Batwoman, Batman, Robin, and Lark watched the scene unfold from the shadows, waiting for their moment to strike. Unfortunately, they seemed to have missed their window.
From seemingly nowhere, black clad assassins, two dozen of them at least, seemingly congealed from the shadows. Their gear was solid black with hoods, and bone white masks. They attacked the guards, killing many by catching them off guard.
They couldn't wait anymore; Batman, Batwoman, Robin, and Lark all jumped into he room to stop the slaughter.
"Lark, with me!" Batwoman called.
"Robin!" Batman shouted. Their teenage partners joined them as the two Bats raced out toward the assassins. The Crime Bosses took the opportunity to escape in the chaos, but Lark and Robin exchanged a look and silently agreed to be the ones to stop them.
"Batman and Batwoman. How bothersome," said the lead assassin, drawing his dagger and hand gun. He charged Batwoman who was otherwise engaged with the lesser assassins. She turned in time to see the main assassin charge, slashing a dagger at her. She gasped and ducked backwards, narrowly avoiding a strike.
The assassin was fast, well trained. He didn't miss a beat; as soon as his attack missed, he spun, swinging his leg. Batwoman caught at and threw him, but instead of falling like any regular thug, he spun through the air, tossing his dagger up, and catching himself on one hand. He then aimed his gun and fired several shots before pushing himself back onto his feet and catching his dagger.
Batwoman managed to avoid two shots, but took one to the shin. The gun fire concentrated blasts of energy, but fortunately for her, her shinguard protected her from damage. She glanced over at Batman briefly, to see him fighting off the lesser assassins, but even he was being tested. They seemed to be on par with standard League Assassins; whoever these guys were, they we good.
Meanwhile, Robin and Lark were taking on the Crime Lords who were attempting to escape. Lark threw a smoke bomb as far as he could. It exploded in front of them, billowing smoke and sending them into coughing fits. Robin followed up with a bolas, trapping Thorne his stumbled forward, through the smoke, to try and escape. Lark came in behind Robin as Penguin used the blades in the tip of his umbrella as a fan to clear the smoke. He tried to escape, but he didn't get far before Lark landed in front of him.
"Penguin, huh? You seem more like a Dodo to me," Lark taunted. Penguin's lips cursed into a snarl. The short, stout man dressed in a suit and a top hat, pressed a button on his umbrella and the blades protruded again. They started spinning as he swung at Lark.
"You impetuous little punk! I'm the Penguin!" Penguin snapped with a lower-class English accent. Lark jumped back to avoid the spinning blades. As the Penguin came in for a second strike, Lark side stepped, then put out his leg, tripping the pudgy villain up. Penguin yelped as he tripped and fell to the ground, dropping his umbrella. Lark then crushed it under his boot as he reached for it. "Bollocks," Penguin growled, glancing up at a grinning Lark. The teen delivered a well placed kick to Penguin's head, just enough to knock him out cold. He then turned his attention to Robin, who was dealing with Two-Face and a few other Crime Bosses.
"Your luck has just run out kid; the coin says you get a bullet to the head," Two-Face growled, firing off several rounds. The other Crime Bosses were taken by surprise when Lark jumped at them from behind. Two-Face turned when he heard them shout, which was distraction enough for Robin to land a punch to his jaw. As Two-Face staggered, Lark followed up with a Back Roundhouse. Two-Face grunted at the strike and was sent crashing into a couple of other Crime Bosses behind them.
To no one's surprise, Black Mask managed to escape. The two teenagers turned when they heard Batwoman shout from across the room. Lark's eyes widened in shock as he witnessed the Lead Assassin carrying Batwoman away.
"We'll find out what these two know, and then dispose of her! Let's go!" the man shouted.
"No!" Lark shouted, racing across the room and drawing a gun. He heard Robin shout out for Batman, but he paid no heed, firing a shot toward the Lead Assassin. He threw down a smoke bomb and vanished. Lark swore explosively. He turned to see the lesser assassins grabbed Batman; the man was conscious but he couldn't seem to move.
"Batman!" Robin shouted. He charged the assassins and Lark joined in. Their path was barred by assassins, at least six of them. "Batman!" Robin shouted again as he fought off the assassins. Lark growled and changed out the cartridge in his gun for stun ammo and fired a few shots at the assassins carrying Batman away. A smoke bomb shrouded their escape, but he heard a shout, and then a thud, indicated he'd tagged at least one of them. When the smoke cleared, they were gone.
"Gah!" Robin shouted, gasping in pain as one of the assassin's daggers pierce his armor on his left side. Lark growled angrily and charged them. Two of them turned to counter him, but he was faster. Lark landed a flying kick to one assassin's head, then grabbed the other's arm as he threw a punch. Lark yanked the man forward, then delivered a knee to his gut, then an elbow to the back of the head. As he spun around, he threw a handful of marbles that the assassins charging Robin tripped on. Robin landed on one's shoulders,wrapping his legs around his neck. Throwing all his weight backwards, he flipped the assassin over backwards and slammed him into the ground, leaving Lark to take out the last one.
The two teens looked around the room, breathing heavily from the exertion of the fight. It had been a long time since either of them had been really challenged like this. But when they recovered some stamina, and reality set in, panic started to rise in the both of them.
"They took Batman!" Robin shouted. Lark growled angrily and kicked at empty air.
"They've got Batwoman too! Fuck!" Lark shouted. "Dammit, I was supposed to be her partner! I was supposed to have her back!"
"I know, me too," Robin muttered. He called in the GCPD and gave them the location to come pick up the Crime Bosses and assassins, then turned to Lark. "We have to go back to the cave. We have to figure out where they went. Where they took Batman and Batwoman," Robin said to Lark. Lark nodded and grabbed his gun.
"I already know. That shot I fired was loaded with a tracker. I realized I wouldn't be able to get to her in time, so I fired a tracker." Robin grinned from ear to ear.
"Great! But we'll still need a plan. Give me one of those trackers," Robin said. Lark nodded and fished through a compartment on his utility belt on his tracker. "Alright, let's get back to the-nngh-" Robin cursed, hand clutching at his side. "Damn. I think…poison…getting hard to…move," Robin murmured. Lark glanced over at the cage with the frightened children, and made his way over to them.
"Lemme take care of this first," he called over his shoulder. He stopped before the cage, the children shrinking back from him in fear. Lark produced a pick lock from his glove, picking the lock and opening the cage.
"Go on, you're safe now," he said, flashing a smile. The children fled from the room, a younger girl giving him a hug. Lark made his way back over to Robin and wrapped an arm around his waist. With Lark's help, he and the younger boy made their way out of the bunker.
"Bat Cave. Right. I have no idea how to get there," Lark said. Robin flashed a smirk.
"We'll take the Batmobile. Autopilot will take us back."
"Great," Lark replied. He heaved a sigh as he helped Robin out of the bunker. "Fuck, this was a disaster," he murmured.
"We can fix it. We have to," Robin replied.