A/N: I will finish this story... I swear

"Are you hurt?" Batman whispered, as he sat up and pulled himself off of Claire and the heap in which they had landed.

Claire slowly sat up, and looked at him with dark haunted eyes, "I-I think I'm okay..." She said. "Are you?" She gestured to his arm. Even in the dim light she could see the tear in the suit.

"It's nothing..." Batman growled, "We need to end this." He didn't want to admit not allowed or even to himself, that he knew he didn't have much left in him. His ribs hurt, his right arm was now damaged and bleeding, if he didn't end it soon, he would end up dead. "Where's Stalker?"

"Right here Batman, are you both alright?"

"We're fine," Batman got to his feet, but Claire made no effort to move.

"We only have one chance to take her down, I'm going to cloak your movements, but it will only be temporary. Think you can take her down?"

Batman nodded, "Do it. Stalker, stay with Claire, I'll handle this." He didn't wait for them to protest before he took off.

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Victoria walked over to the blood splattered on the floor and waved her hand over it. She was certain it was the Batman's. She felt her heart quicken for a moment when she realized the blood on the floor wasn't his- it was her daughters. Suddenly, the air around her began to thicken. She took a few hesistant steps in the inch of water that had already accumulated on the ground. She recognized this fog, it was a favorite tactic of Claire's. It cloaked her movements and the movements of other's. She readied herself for the attack.

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Victoria was little more than a shadow in the fog, but it was enough for Batman. He went for her but Victoria decided to go on the defensive rather than waiting for the attack and began to fire bullets randomly. Batman was forced to pull back. One more shot. Then a click. The gun was empty. He went for again. This time, his foot made a connection with something more solid. Victoria dropped like a rock.

"Batman!" Stalker cried anxiously. Batman whirled and flew back up to where he had left Claire and Stalker. Claire had fainted, her hand slipping away from her taut stomach to reveal blood. Her blood.

"Oh no..." Batman whispered as he gathered her up in his arms. "We have to get her out of her here."

"Claire!" A voice screamed from behind them, Batman whirled and stared in shock and awe. Victoria had risen from the ground, literally risen- she was floating in mid- air. Her hair streamed around her like a golden halo of fire. Her eyes had turned black.

"Dear lord..." Stalker whispered, "The Blackness has been unleashed."

"The what?" Batman didn't have time to find out more. They were still hidden behind several pipes, but not for long. There was a blinding flash of white light. There was barely time to react as Batman dropped to floor, his body protectively over Claire's. Then a huge chunk of metal hit him broadside and tossed him against the wall. He fought to stay concious as he slid down the wall. His visor went fuzzy. "Claire..." He fired his jet boots vaguely in the direction of Claire's body. His vision cleared as he managed to get back to her high perch. Her body was untouched. Somehow protected. "Claire..." He felt for a pulse, faint, weak, slow. He gathered her into his arms. "Are you happy now?" He yelled. "She's going to die- Are you happy now?"

"No!" The Blackness shrieked. "It was supposed to be you! It was supposed to be you!" Another blinding flash of white light, this time Batman didn't wait. He simply gathered Claire in his arms and jetted skyward, hoping and praying.

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Up on the street, people quickly scrambled out of the way as the ground beneath their feet began to shake. Suddenly, the pavement exploded in white light. When it cleared, the few who had been tossed to the ground slowly stood up. No one was injured. Slowly eyes turned to stare. Batman was amongst them. Sitting near the edge of the torn street. A young woman lay in his arms. Her green eyes slowly opened.

"Thank you... Terry... You were my first... and only friend..." She whispered.

"You knew?"

"I'm a Hunter. A hunter always knows. Don't worry... Your secret's safe with me..." And then her eyes closed, and her body slumped. Sirens approached the scene, but Batman didn't move. As the police in uniforms swarmed towards him, he slowly got to his feet. The young woman still in his arms. No one dared move closer to him. No one spoke a word. He limped towards an ambulance that had appeared. The two EMT's stood frozen as Batman lowered her body onto the stretcher.

"W-What happened?"

"She was shot..." He said, and then before anyone could stop him, he shot off into the air.

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"Bruce... We have a dead girl here and Batman just fled the scene." Barbara whispered into the phone.

"Do they think it was him?" Bruce's voice was hoarse.

"First code of the Batman, he doesn't use guns. He's not under any suspicion. And we found another body down there. Another woman. She was holding a gun."

"Okay..." Bruce sighed. His gaze turned toward the hatch. Would Terry come back to him? Suddenly the cave entrance slid open. Ace jumped to his feet barking excitedly, and Bruce got to his, and walked towards the plane as it slowly descended. The plane's hatch opened. Terry was inside, slumped against the seats, eyes closed, but alive.