Thank you all for the follows, favorites, and reviews! I'm glad you are all enjoying my writing. Here's another for you! *Thor voice* ANOTHER!
Just letting you all know, I'm probably going to mess up the time frame in this compared to how it is in the movie. I apologize but we'll just pretend its accurate :)
Disclaimer: Don't own Bane or any TDKR content, Kali Blake is mine.
Kali followed Talia down a labyrinth of tunnels as they went deeper into the underground of Gotham City. Talia had first taken Kali on a tour of the city, revealing just how poisoned and decaying the city truly was. Now, Kali was about to meet the League of Shadows, and become one of them. Talia told her that she would be trained here, and in the meantime she was to find recruits to help with the many million tasks needed to accomplish their goal. It was Kali's goal now too.
Talia informed Kali that Bane would not be in Gotham for quite some time, as he was working on details far from home.
"Focus on your training. You'll need it. The time is coming when the fight is all that will be left."
Kali suddenly heard a rumble ahead, and wondered if it were some freak earthquake, but it stopped, and no tremors could be felt. Low murmuring voices gained volume as they seemed to reach the lowest level of the sewers and service tunnels. Then, they were at a crudely made doorway that opened into a vast chamber. Rushing water drowned out much of the sound, but everywhere Kali could see men working, drilling at the walls.
"Above us is a warehouse full of the Bat's weapons. We will use his weapons against him." Talia said simply, leading Kali into a lower level of the cavern.
Three men jumped to their feet as they approached, all standing tall and stiff and at attention.
"Kali, these will be your trainers. They will teach you strength, skill, power, and the ability to destroy any enemy put before you. You will do as they say. Follow their orders, and serve me well." Talia said, placing a hand on Kali's shoulder.
Kali nodded, ready for this. She was ready to stop being weak, to stop being a victim. The fire raged on.
6 months later
Bane grunted as the plane landed roughly in a field not far from Gotham City. He had in tow his small group of men, and the Russian nuclear physicist, Pavel, his mission having gone successful. He had loved the entire part of playing a helpless captive, and he had nearly laughed at the faces the men had made when he had described his plane, to use one plane to get to another. It had been a highly risky plan, one that involved a lot of skill.
It was nearing sundown. Once night fell, they would go under the city, where Talia's men had been hard at work planting bombs and digging under the warehouse that held the Batman's toys. Talia also told Bane she had a surprise for him. He wondered what on Earth it could be.
As he exited the plane and approached the car waiting for them, Barsad got out. There was an expression on his face, something between hesitance, grief, and apprehension. Dread maybe?
"Brother, why so distraught? Has something gone wrong?" Bane asked.
Barsad shook his head. "No, everything is going as expected. I have some bad news for you."
The last time they had spoken, Bane's mouth had suddenly had a mind of its own, and he had asked Barsad to discretely check on Kali, to make sure she was alright. She had been an excruciatingly constant, present thought for the past 6 months.
"What is it?" He asked.
Barsad placed a hand heavily on Bane's shoulder. "She was not there. She has not been there for quite some time. It looks as though there was an attack of some kind. The glass door was shattered, and it looks like it was roughly cleaned up, but there were blood stains... I fear someone went after her. I have not found a trace of her, and I exhausted all my resources." He looked scared of telling Bane this news, scared of his reaction.
Bane remained completely still, his eyes fixed on the top button of Barsad's shirt. He let out the slightest of sighs, and stepped back from under Barsad's hand.
"That is unfortunate." Bane murmured, turning back to the plane to make sure the doctor and his men were coming, along with the equipment they had obtained.
Without another word they got into the car and drove silently into the city. And though Bane seemed impassive on the news he had received, Barsad had witnessed it. The slightest tremor under his hand, the flash of sorrow in Bane's eyes. Maybe there was some tiny human part inside the animal?
Bane hauled the doctor along the tunnels, impatient to get to the cavern, their established home base, and meet with Talia. The old man spent half the time rambling on in Russian. Bane really needed to learn that language. Ahead, the rumbling murmur of many voices greeted him. He stepped into the cavern, and was pleased with the progress.
He brought the doctor down to the lower levels, where he found an office like area along with a row of holding cells and rooms. Bane waited only a moment before Talia emerged from one of the rooms, a wide smile on her face. She embraced him for only a second before motioning for him to lead the doctor to one of the holding cells. A few men occupied the others, more than likely recruits who, once learning the final goal of their tasks, had changed their mind. They needed breaking in, and if not, they were probably executed.
Bane looked around at all the men, most appearing to be street rats and wayward teens. He was impressed by the numbers.
"I see you have had much success." Bane commented.
"I have a surprise for you." Talia burst out, sounding impatient and excited.
Bane raised an eyebrow as she handed him a heavy, thick, paper wrapped block. Carefully, he peeled away the paper to see a plastic box with a solid steel colored brick inside.
"What is this?" Bane asked curiously, slowly turning the box in his hands.
"It's called Venom. It's made of a very rare combination of substances. It has the unique ability to block any nerves that send pain signals, without paralyzing the body, and you can still feel things, just not pain. You only need a slight powder in each of your chambers mixed with water, and it doesn't need to be injected. You can breath in the vapors from it. I even brought tools to adjust your mask." Talia said, smiling.
Bane couldn't help but grin under the mask, pleased by this news. Talia had mentioned some time ago of trying to find a more effective treatment for his pain. This was perfect. Immune to pain... that would come in handy.
There was suddenly a disturbance above, and a group of young boys, most barely in their mid teens, entered the cavern, staring about them in amazement. New recruits, clearly. They filtered through the doorway, seemingly being guided by someone behind them. But no one followed them in as they walked towards a few men that went to greet them.
"I see you've found someone who has skills at finding fresh meat." Bane commented lightly.
Talia laughed slightly, a sarcastic sound that caused him to raise an eyebrow. He did not ask.
Kali walked with ease down the streets of Gotham, a slight smile on her face as she looked around at everything. Besides the few cities she'd visited before she was abducted in India, this was incredible. All the shops and fancy buildings and restaurants. They had no idea how little any of this would mean. Talia said Bane should be back any day now, and soon everything would begin.
Kali didn't know if she actually wanted to see Bane. After all, he had left after they had been together. Used you and threw you away. Worthless little bitch. Her conscious was especially nasty, knowing he was coming back. Part of her missed him deeply, the man who had gone to Hell to save her and bring her home, got her a house, and even looked after her dog. Another part wanted to cut his throat and watch him bleed to death. That part of her kept the fire raging.
She suddenly stopped, looking down an alley, and saw a group of boys sitting beside a dumpster. Ah, here was her calling at the moment. Kali sauntered up to them, placing a sweet smile on her face. Some of the boys and men she approached already knew her before she spoke nowadays. She'd been quite busy plucking the downtrodden from the streets of Gotham.
The boys looked up at her, some with dirty faces, others with filthy clothes. And she knelt down to their level.
"Do you boys need food, a warm bed, work?" She asked, meeting each and every one's gaze.
Some nodded, others didn't respond.
"Do you tire of the ease and luxury those fat rich pigs waste away?" She asked more angrily. They all nodded.
"Then come, come with me. I will bring you to a place where there is plenty food, water, and beds. You will work for these provisions, and be rewarded handsomely with the downfall of the rich rotten filth that pollute this city!"
There was a sudden dry laugh, and an old homeless man wandered out from behind the other side of the dumpster.
"I know you girl. I've seen you walking about, stealing poor souls from the streets. Don't you listen to this Siren boys. She's nothing but a trickster. Once she brings boys like you down under the city, you never come back. They're finding bodies every day, more than the usual, floating in the river. There's nothing but death waiting for you." He croaked.
Kali stood slowly, scowling at the old man. She had had the boys, they were eating from her hands, and now... she saw hesitation. Fear. Kali turned towards him, walking slowly towards him.
"Have you not heard what I said? The same applies to you. Food, beds, warmth. Work. Revenge. Is living up here in the streets really the better option?"
"Just because we're not the best off, gives us no right to murder people because they have money. That makes us no better than a criminal." He spat at Kali's feet.
She scuffed her foot to the side, wiping away the glob of spit that landed on it, and moved closer to the old man. She stared him down for a moment, and with one swift move grasped his head, lifted, and twisted. The satisfying snap filled the alley. The boys let out sounds of fear, and stared at her as she whirled back on them.
"You have a choice, boys. My offer, or his."
The boys rose to their feet, and Kali knew they were hers.
Reviews please!
I was also wondering if some of you might be interested in reading another of my stories, based on the movie Thor/The Avengers, called "Ashes to Ashes". I'm trying to get more readers for it so I can figure out how to improve it. Much appreciated!