Chapter 4: The Enemy of My Enemy

Batman arrived at an alleyway just down the street from the restaurant from where Melanie and Jack worked. But he could already tell he arrived too late. He saw a large hole left in the street and recognized the destruction as being caused by Shriek.

"Slag…" he groaned. He opened his comlink. "He already got 'em."

"And there was an incident at Stryker's Island an hour ago," Bruce informed. "Reports of a violent shake and her cell being ripped apart. Queen was abducted from her cell. The guards saw Shriek take her."

"Slag it!"

Bruce paused for a second as he considered a course of action. He came up with one and he knew it was one he knew Terry wouldn't like; quite frankly, he didn't either but they had no choice. "Desperate times. Call Bennett."

"We can't trust Tai Ji."

"You don't know that. And we don't have choice."

"Why?"

"Tai Ji knows the Blackwells movements better than anyone. King and Shriek have to be somewhere."

"And we can't just look ourselves?"

"You said you wanted help."

"I can't believe you're picking now to listen to me!"

"Call him."

Batman groaned.

Batman went back to Bennett's hotel and found him, his goons, and Tai Ji standing on the roof already.

Batman landed, "Look… I don't like this but I need the help."

"Works for me," Bennett agreed. "We'll send a few agents to accompany…"

"This can only work if I go with Batman, alone," Tai Ji spoke up.

Both the hero and the agent looked at him unsure.

"What are you talking about?" Batman asked.

"We can only approach this with minimal personnel," Tai Ji explained. "Cory Blackwell stayed under the radar so well because he was able to see the authorities coming a mile away. It made him harder to track because his other pursuers were constantly in my way."

Bennett considered this for a second. No matter how much he didn't like it, it made sense. "So…" he said. "…you'll go with Batman?"

The former killer nodded, "And he can bring me right back."

Bennett nodded, "Alright then."

"Uhh… no," Batman said.

"Terry," Bruce warned in his com.

Terry groaned. "Look… fine. Just… how should I watch you?"

Bennett walked up to him, holding a small remote control. "This controls his ankle monitor. Press it and it will shock him into temporary paralysis." He looked at Black Tiger killer then back at Batman, "For how long, I don't know."

Tai Ji smiled.

Batman looked at him, suspiciously. "Yeah… have you tried it?"

Bennett shook his head.

"Not comfortable with this plan…" He took the controller. "But I guess I don't have a choice."

"Not really," Bruce told him.

Terry bit back a reply, instead looking at his temporary compatriots. "Let's get this show on the road."

Tai Ji nodded. Bennett directed his agents unshackle the killer. Once he unchained, Tai Ji rubbed his wrists and stared at the Dark Knight.

"So… what's the plan?"

"We go to where these fools are most likely hiding," Tai Ji answered.

"Which is?"

"Any port near water. Preferably one that is secluded and large enough to hold a freight ship. It was how they always moved things so easily. After all… who suspects a commercial freight ship of being involved of illegal activity?"

Batman figured that Bruce heard that and he started searching each one for any reports of suspicious activity. Meanwhile, Terry already suspected a few they could go check out. He sighed. "Come on…" He motioned to Tai Ji. "Let's get going."

Tai Ji bowed and presented the way forward, "After you."

"Oh, just come on!" He put Tai Ji's arm over his shoulder, expanded his wings and they glided off into the night.

After getting to the Batmobile, they sped off for the pier section of Gotham. Terry was nervous about having Tai Ji in the car but Bruce, again, assured him that he was watching and would act should anything happen.

Tai Ji looked at small quarters of the cockpit, "Not very comfortable. I'll have to assume you don't entertain much in here."

Batman groaned. "Not really, no." Though the number of times Max had been in the Batmobile came to mind.

"It's no wonder you don't like the idea of my help. You have no room to consider it."

"You do know that I only want you to help me find them, right?"

Tai Ji chuckled. "Oh, come, now, Batman. We both know I am more than capable of handling myself in battle."

"I'm not questioning that."

The killer smiled. "So, then… you're questioning me?"

"Why shouldn't I?"

"I understand your reservation. But trust me: I just want to help."

Batman looked at him. "Like you helped Arnold Grace?"

Tai Ji thought back. He smirked, remembering how he killed the monster who murdered his family. "First of all, I told you I respect you, Batman. I honestly want to help you in your mission. Second, what I did to Grace wasn't helping; that was revenge, pure and simple." He paused. "Well… not that pure and simple; you could also call that… an experiment. I was wondering how long he would survive while he was being cut open."

"That wide open?"

"I dissected a frog once. He didn't complain."

"The frog was dead!"

The killer paused for a long time before slowly smirking, "Was it?"

Batman shivered. "Man, you creep me out…"

"Be thankful for that much. Some didn't get to know me long enough to discover how 'creepy' I can be."

"He's got you there," Bruce said in the comlink.

Terry shrugged. "Good point," he said, agreeing with both men.

A blip showed up on the map of the Batmobile console.

"What's that?" Tai Ji asked.

"My contact may have located Blackwell's boat," Batman explained.

"Let us stop in and give our regards, then."

Batman shook his head, "Why do I feel like I'm going to regret this?" Regardless, he hit the thrusters and sped off toward the wharf.

They arrived at the wharf around 3 AM and found a large freight ship sitting in the dock. What left them curious was that they saw nothing out of the ordinary; the where no sign any of Blackwell's crew.

"All we have to go on is that they travel by sea but I don't see anyone," Batman pointed out. "We sure this is the right place?"

"I spent enough time tracking the blackguard, Batman," Tai Ji replied. "I know where the rat likes to hide. This is his ship. And, if he is working with your enemies, then they share a similar base of operations."

Batman stared at him. "Blackguard, huh?"

"I'm well aware of the irony of me giving someone else that title."

"Long as you know."

They started to inspect the ship, carefully walking around it in an effort to find the Walker family. They entered into the hull of the ship and found many equipment crates. There were already some spots where clearly a lot of things had already been taken off of the ship.

Batman looked at some of the crates. "You getting this?" he whispered to Bruce over the com.

"I see it."

"They've already been moving something."

"Probably whatever Bennett isn't telling us. We need to find out what."

"Batman," Tai Ji called out.

Batman looked over at the assassin and walked over to a crate. Tai Ji indicated that they should open it. They proceeded to do so, cautiously. Once they got the wooden lid up, they found what looked like a sound device that didn't produce sound but reflected it, except it seemed to be military grade.

"What the heck?" Batman asked.

"I thought Shriek already had sound generators?" Tai Ji asked.

"He does." He studied them. "So, why…" He looked at accomplice. "You said Blackwell's an expert at moving heavy equipment?"

"Yes."

"Then… maybe he needed to move something bigger. A sonic something, maybe. Which would explain these."

"Sound logic. But what?"

They heard some movement somewhere deeper in the hull.

"We'll figure it out later," Batman said. "Let's go."

They journeyed deeper into the ship until they came to a door that was locked tight. Batman knocked on it. "Melanie?"

"Batman?" she asked.

He looked inside and saw people moving around. He pulled a small explosive from his utility belt and put it on the door. "All of you move back, just in case." He moved Tai Ji away from the door. He detonated the explosive, destroying the lock on the door. They went back and entered the room. The rest of the Walker family was chained to pipes on the room; Batman pulled out a small laser and went to work setting them free.

"Are you okay?" Batman asked Melanie.

"No…" Melanie admitted. After her chains were loose, she threw her arms around Batman's neck. "But thank you."

Batman's eyes went wide but he gently moved her off of him. "No problem." He freed everyone else.

After being freed, Queen got to her feet. "Why are you saving us, Batman?"

"There's a difference between being arrested and being killed over vengeance. That shouldn't happen to you, especially not from King."

Queen stared at him, uncertain. Yet, she squeaked out, "Thank you."

"Took your sweet time, didn't you?" Jack asked.

"I could just leave you here," Batman said.

"Your code of ethics would allow such things?"

"If you get on my nerves, yes."

Tai Ji looked down the corridor. "Is there any possible way we could have this discussion when two crazed murderers aren't coming to kill us all?"

"Good point." He motioned toward the door. "Follow us." They all started down the corridor. "And, by the way, Tai Ji, you calling someone else 'crazed murder' is like me calling Superman arrogant for having his symbol on his chest."

Tai Ji just smiled.

They made it off the ship and were running along the pier when a boat next to them was blown away by a sonic blast.

Batman looked at the damage. "That is really getting old."

They all looked to see King and Shriek approaching.

"I should've known you'd come to save them," King drew his sword.

Tai Ji exhaled. "Your enemies certainly have a flair for the dramatic."

"Again, the irony," Batman replied.

"I was planning on waiting to kill you, Batman," Shriek said. "But if you, the family, and your little buddy here want to die that badly…" He aimed his gauntlets at them. "…fine by me."

"Think it's gonna be that easy?"

"I don't know. Why don't we find out?"

Batman readied a batarang.

Tai Ji entered a fighting stance.

King brought his sword up.

Shriek aimed his gauntlets.

"You three…" Batman said.

The Walker family looked at the Dark Knight.

"When I say run… run."

"Did you ever think the day would come, Batman?" Tai Ji asked. "When we would battle side by side?"

"Actually…" Batman shrugged, "yeah, kinda. Just seems to be the way my life works, especially with Bennett involved."

"I believe we will work well as a team."

"Here's hoping…"

King and Shriek looked ready to move.

Batman narrowed his eyes at them. "Guys…" he said to the Walker family.

They looked at the villains.

"RUN!"

A/N: I know. I stink, right? Be ready for the next chapter, though. We are about to get real.

Next Chapter: Honor

Batman and Tai Ji take on Shriek and King in a fight to save the Walkers. But, someone will not walk away from this alive.

You can't miss this.