Chapter 7: Secrets Revealed

Bennett and his team were starting to leave their hotel room to try and track down Blackwell when, as soon as his agents opened the door, they found themselves being thrown back against a wall while the rest were disarmed. Bennett backed up as Batman decloaked and advanced toward him menacingly.

"He's dead because of you," Batman gritted.

Bennett just continued to back up.

Batman stopped short of attacking him, knowing that Bennett probably had some way of disarming him. "You're gonna tell me what they stole and you're gonna do it now."

"Is that a fact?" Bennett asked.

"Yeah, it is."

"Attacking government agents over the death of a criminal? Won't look good in the papers."

"If that was your concern, you wouldn't have used Tai Ji in the first place."

Bennett didn't respond to that. It was too true. "What are you gonna do? Torture me for information? How's that gonna make me freeing Tai Ji to find Blackwell any better?"

Batman smirked. "It's not." He hit the recorder button on his wrist. "But the conversations and videos I've been taking of our meetings probably won't make Washington too happy."

Bennett's eyes went wide. "What?"

"Sorry. Did you think because people call me a superhero I play by the rules? If I did, I'd be working for you."

Bennett's jaw started to twitch in anger.

"Oh, gimme a break, Bennett. I don't trust you anymore than I can take Superman in an arm wrestling contest. Besides, I've learned to have leverage when it comes to you. So… what's it gonna be? You gonna tell me what they stole? Or is the press gonna be real happy that they have evidence of questionable government activity given to them by Batman?" He smiled. "That'll really send it over the top. Maybe I can get some good press, for once."

"You're bluffing!"

"Am I? I'll give you a tip: you know Senator Jordan Hill, right? Gotham native and son of former mayor, Hamilton Hill. Well, his grandson was kidnapped about six, maybe seven months ago. I tracked the kidnappers to Central City and rescued him. Senator Hill was already a supporter of mine before then but he was really grateful to me after that. He told me, if I ever need anything, I only had to ask." Batman folded his arms. "I know it might make him a little uneasy but, once I tell him you used a man who was already answering for a crime and got him killed, oh… I know he'll get over any reservations really fast."

"You're the one that took Tai Ji with you to find the Walkers in the first place!"

"WHY YOU!" Batman took a step in anger but stopped. He got control of himself. He heaved a few times and stepped back. "And you brought him here. If his blood is on my hands, it's on yours, too. But how did I even have him as an option? Because you brought him here. And everyone will know it." The hero paused, using his stare to drive home his point. "So, Bennett… how do wanna play this? Are you gonna talk to me or do I talk to the good Senator?"

Bennett hated to do it… but Batman had him in a corner. He had no choice. "Fine. Fine, I'll tell you!"

Batman nodded… while using his folded arms to discreetly hit his record button again.

Bennett sighed. "They stole a weapon called the Sonic Shockwave."

"The what now?"

"It was a high powered, weaponized sonic generator. Powerful enough to knock out an enemy bunker if necessary."

Batman stood for several seconds in astonished amazement at Bennett's stupidity. "You let… Shriek… get his hands… on a sound… weapon?!"

Bennett looked away. "…he built it for us…"

The Dark Knight paused and stared at the agent like he was completely insane. "Come again?"

"It was years ago. Before he went… insane. We needed a weapon strong enough to not cause any fallout but still get the job done. We turned to Shreeve because of his research and he did exactly what we asked. We needed it as a powerful alternate to nuclear weapons or any kind of chemical weapons for that matter. It's all the muss and none of the fuss."

Batman had to resist punching Bennett over and over again. "This was all just to clean up a mess you made… wasn't it? That's why you used Tai Ji."

Bennett nodded.

"Oh, wow!" Batman walked in a frustrated circle. "That's great!" He stopped then scoffed. "So, that's why he needed Blackwell. To steal the stupid thing." He looked back at Bennett, "How did he even know where to find it?"

"We're not sure. We kept it in a storage facility in Manchester. Some allies there had it stored there, just in case. Since he built it, he may have known how to track it. We never really able figure out exactly how to reverse engineer it. As far as stealing it, once he found it, Blackwell was the quickest and most obvious choice to help him get it."

"This just keeps getting better." Batman walked around in confusion, trying to figure out what his next course of action was. He looked at Bennett. "Have you found it yet? Or Blackwell?"

"No, we're still searching. Shriek bounced the sound wave that he used to crush the building you were in all over the city, making it impossible for us to trace. All we ever find are places he could possibly bounce it off of."

Batman shook his head. "Thank you for being useless." He headed for the door.

"He's probably planning something really big."

"I got that part."

"We have to find him before…"

Batman almost laughed but he just scoffed and looked at the government agent. "No. I have to find him. You should probably leave and go be useless elsewhere." He was about to turn around again but stopped, "Oh! And if you, for a second, think you can go after Senator Hill, just remember I will always have these recordings and a lot of other things against you have no idea I even have. If you even try to take him down… I will, I swear, take you down." Batman activated his cloak again and left the agents to recover… and probably cower.

Despite now knowing what he was looking for, it really didn't help Terry much. He still had no idea where the villains were hiding now and he had no idea where the Sonic Shockwave was. Bruce tried to triangulate where the source of sound was that decimated the Green Building but he hit the same walls Bennett's team did. He let a few scenarios run through the computer while he tried to figure it out, ordering Terry to just stay on patrol for the time being. Terry stayed on the hunt but couldn't find them.

Which left all of their pursuers to wonder: what were they up to next?

A few hours later, Blackwell and his team connected one last cable to the Sonic Shockwave. "Okay!" the thief shouted, getting the attention of his two cohorts. "That's it! She's all ready!"

Shriek and King walked up to the group of thieves.

Shriek looked at it and chuckled. "Good job."

"Quite," King agreed.

"So, what's the next step?" Blackwell asked. "Do you… ransom off the city?"

"Not exactly."

"Oh. So, what? Are you going to hit random banks?"

"Nope," Shriek said.

"Then… what are we doing?"

The villains looked at each other. In a flash, King grabbed Blackwell by the throat and pulled him away while Shriek attacked the thieving crew, blowing them all against the wall with enough force to knock them out. Blackwell looked in horror at the attack then King forced him to the floor.

"What are you… monsters?" Blackwell asked.

King just smiled. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"Let's just say…" Shriek said. "…We've just… lost our ability to care."

"We thank you for your service, Mr. Blackwell. But our business…" He drew his sword. "…has come to an end. As have you."

The next day came with nothing more than they had in the days before. So, Terry just spent the afternoon with his family and girlfriend before heading to Wayne Manor once night had arrived. He went down to the cave and proceeded to get changed into his uniform. After he emerged, he walked over to the computer where his mentor was sitting with Ace resting at his feet.

"Still no sign of them," Bruce said. "They've been quiet this long."

"They're probably about to move," Terry said. "I'm gonna get out on patrol… maybe see if I catch them up to something."

"Okay."

The young man headed for the Batmobile but stopped. He had something to get off his chest and Wayne would be the only one who understood. "I can't stop seeing him."

Bruce turned to look at him. Ace even looked up.

"Tai Ji." Terry shook his head. "Whenever I sleep… I see him. He's just… there. Not talking, not blaming. Just…" He looked back at Bruce. "Is this what it's like for you?"

Bruce was surprised by the question. He stared in silence at Terry. "Sometimes…"

The Dark Knight sighed.

"But you have ways to get through it."

"I know. Just takes a while."

"That it does. Give yourself time."

"Can I ask you one more thing?"

"Sure."

"You remember how you told me Two Face got worse?"

Bruce knew he meant in relation to how King and Shriek had clearly escalated. "Yes."

"How'd you stop him?"

The first Batman was silent. The memories of that were… uncomfortable, to say the least.

"Please… just tell me…"

It was then Bruce realized Terry had arrived at the moment of being Batman where it he faced the impossible decisions on a nightly basis. And he needed to be ready for them. Terry wasn't a kid anymore; he is Batman.

The elder hero sighed. "He forced me to either save him or his ex-fiancé, Grace. I tried to save them both… but Dent knew what he was doing." He paused for a while. "He made it impossible to save him. But Harvey wanted to die, Terry. Wanted me to be unable to save him. He wanted that death to always be on my conscience. Which… I guess, in that way, he succeeded. What these two are doing is different… they don't care about you. Not really. They care about one thing: death."

Terry understood. It didn't help his mood though; both of them knew it wouldn't. It left him wondering if something was going to push him to make a choice. Was he going to fight these two to a bitter end? Was that what they wanted?

"Alfred told me something once… something I never forgot…"

Terry snapped back to the present.

"Some men… aren't looking for anything logical… not money, power, wealth… not even revenge… because… sometimes… some people… all they want?" He looked toward his protégé. "Is to see the world burn."

Terry rubbed the back of his head. "I'm going to talk to the Walkers." He paused. "Maybe King said something to them off the cuff. Something that could help us find them."

"Good thinking. But… are you sure you're up to this?"

He shrugged, "Just 'cause I'm unnerved doesn't mean Batman is. We still have to find these guys."

Bruce nodded. Terry got into the Batmobile and left. The elder hero turned his attention back toward the computer and got back to work.

Commissioner Gordon had placed the Walker family a safe house, for now, since King and Shriek were still on the loose. The house was held in complete secret from the general public; child's play for Bruce and Terry had to find. Batman looked through the window and them in the common room of the house. They were guarded by police officer Nathan Brooks; fortunately, Batman had befriended him some time before.

Batman tapped on the window and Brooks looked up. He motioned for Brooks to open the window.

The officer did so. "You know it's my badge if anyone finds out I did this," Brooks said.

"Good thing I'm good at keeping a secret," Batman smirked. He looked at former Royal Flush Gang members. "I think the hallway needs guarding, Nate. For, at least, a few minutes."

Brooks nodded. "Sure thing, Bats." He left the room, going into the hallway.

Batman looked at them all and folded his arms. "I want answers. Now. Where's King?"

"What makes you think we know?" Jack asked, some insolence attached.

"There is a long list of things I am not in the mood for and your attitude is one of them! Tai Ji is dead because of your father and what's worse is that he is probably just the first!"

Melanie shied back. "We don't know anything. He just said that we would die first… then the rest of their enemies."

That wasn't a good sign, even if it did slightly narrow the scope a bit. Batman shook his head, "Tai Ji was no enemy of theirs. He didn't deserve that."

"That was that guy who committed those murders four months ago, right?"

"Yeah."

"Why was helping you?"

Batman paused at the simple question. Then, he realized it had a simple answer. "Because he had a good heart. He just forgot for a while." In that statement, he found some solace so far.

"I just can't believe any of this," Queen said. "I can't believe Rupert would've gone that far…"

Not her best choice of words, more so because Batman couldn't believe she actually said that. He gritted his teeth and looked at her. "REALLY?! After kidnapping and threatening all of you, you can't believe your homicidal maniac of an ex-husband would kill a man who had nothing to do with this? You're a great judge of character, lady!"

"What are you shouting about?" Jack asked. "It's not like that guy was your friend."

Batman snapped. He punched Jack in the jaw so hard the former thief was seeing stars. "HE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A FRIEND TO KNOW THAT HE WAS A LIVING PERSON! A PERSON YOUR FATHER JUST MURDERED!"

Batman took a few breaths and backed up. He looked at the Queen and Melanie. They looked afraid. He just exhaled. He didn't need this. He didn't want this. He walked over to Jack and offered him a hand up. He guided Jack to the sofa, helping him sit down. "It's not about him being my friend or not. A life is a life. I don't care if your father would've stabbed Shriek in the chest. Killing is still killing. And I don't like it." He headed towards the window.

"I'm sorry, Batman," Melanie said.

He stopped. "Yeah…" He looked at her. "Thanks."

"What are you gonna do?"

"Find them both and bring them down…" He hopped on the window but paused. He turned back and looked at them. "The right way."

Nate burst in the room. "Batman!"

Batman stopped before taking off. He forgot all about the officer. "Oh, Nate, sorry."

"Central said officers just found Cory Blackwell!"

Batman's eyes went wide. "When? Where?"

"Just a minute ago. In Midtown. But… he's dead."

Batman exhaled and looked away. "How?"

"His throat was cut."

The whole room seized up at that news.

"The Commissioner's heading there now."

Batman nodded, "Thanks." He took off from the window, heading toward Midtown.

Batman arrived in Midtown and examined the scene. Cory Blackwell was left in an alley against a few dumpsters. Batman saw Gordon, gazing the scene in disgust. He landed next to her as they both looked at the body.

"Those twisted…" Gordon began.

"Yeah," Batman nodded.

"The rest of his gang has been turning up all over Gotham. None of them looking any better than him."

"No loose ends."

"I suppose. Any news?"

"Nothing yet." He looked at Blackwell's body. "Even less now."

She paused. "I'm sorry about Tai Ji."

"Me, too."

Gordon kept staring at the body. "You'll find them."

"Thanks."

"We can handle this." She spoke quieter, "And if I learn anything…"

"Thanks, Commissioner. I appreciate it."

"No problem."

He backed up and took off for the sky. Once he got back to the Batmobile, he just sat down and paused. He took off his mask and rubbed his eyes.

What a mess this was. Tai Ji was dead and now Blackwell and his gang. What in the world was going on? King and Shriek have a sound death machine, a slew of bodies were turning up, and the Gotham Knights still didn't have any answers. Terry leaned over, covering his mouth with his hands as he tried to come up with a game plan.

A phone alert went off. Max.

"Yeah?" he answered.

"Terry? Are you busy?"

"Unfortunately, no." He paused. "Blackwell's dead."

"I heard." She paused. "Can you come by?"

He shook his head, "I don't…"

"It's alright, Terry," Bruce interrupted. "Give me an hour. I think I can nearly pinpoint the position of the Shockwave. Gather your strength. You're going to need it."

Terry really didn't feel up to arguing with anyone at this point. So, he nodded, "Okay." He sighed. "Be right there, Max."

Everything was in place. Everything was ready. The villains looked at each other and nodded. Shriek hit a few buttons on the computer and loaded the program to hack in to networks all over Gotham City.

Bruce kept plugging away at the computer, trying to find the Sonic Shockwave. All the while, all aspects of this case were constantly running through his head. The death of Tai Ji was radical even by Shriek's standards and far cry from King's, which told Wayne that they were not in this for simple revenge. So, what was the endgame?

His thought process shifted to the destruction of the Green Building. There was a resonation that started in several areas, which is what made the source all the harder to locate, nearly impossible almost, but the focal point was the building. A bit more power and that whole portion of the city would've been reduced to rubble in a matter of minutes.

Bruce narrowed his eyes at the city map on the main screen.

A bit more power.

With a lot more, they could easily topple…

His eyes went wide. He saw the whole plan in front of him. It was so easy and so terrifying. But there it was. And, since Blackwell was already dead, that meant they were ready to initiate their plan.

"They're insane…" Bruce surmised.

He hit his speed dial for Terry. But just before the number completed, he saw that television and net signals across the city were hacked.

A/N: If you thought this was an "Uh-Oh" moment. Just you wait.

Next Chapter: "Gotham Will Die"

At long last, King and Shriek announce what their plans on our for the city.