They had left before the cops had stormed the place, SWAT leading the charge. As blue and red lights lit up the street below, a gurney was rolled out of the building with the costumed Hugo Strange strapped to it. He was being rushed to an ambulance and would be taken to the nearest hospital for treatment. Oracle was given the heads up about it and would track down where he would be kept.

All in all it was a victory for the Network. It had been a tough one, what with Strange bulking up with some serum and then the arrival of the Phantasm, but all that mattered was that they had come out on top.

"So what do we do now?" Manhunter spoke up. There was more to that question than met the eye, but almost everyone grasped that implication.

"We need to find where Phantom of the Opera went and stop him before he starts killing people again," Huntress was the one to answer. "The last thing we need is one more killer out on the streets."

"Quick question for the new guys here, but who is this Phantasm guy? It's obvious the vets here know him so what can we expect?" Green Arrow asked.

"Other than what you saw, this guy is hard to capture. When he's not doing vanishing acts, he's killing mobsters and other people," Huntress answered. "He likes fighting on the defensive, doesn't really go on the offensive from what I remember. Well, except for tonight so we can't assume that he'll always try to play it safe. The one thing to always remember is that he has some fear toxin in that smoke and he loves covering himself with it so it's one of those don't get too close kind of deals."

"That sounds real complicated," Manhunter remarked.

"Yeah, why not just pound his ass and be done with it?" Red Hood agreed, punching a fist into the palm of his other hand. It was a bit humorous to see him wince, then tenderly pull his fist away from his palm.

"He showed different abilities this time," Katana stated. "Before he didn't use long-range attacks. He's now a threat at both ranges. There may be others he hasn't shown yet. Until we know for certain what he can do, we need to be careful."

That...was one of the longest things she had ever said and judging by the looks she was getting, most people agreed with that sentiment.

"What about Bane?" Red Hood asked. "We can't ignore him for this new guy. What are we going to do with him?"

"Nothing right now. We're still trying to handle people who can increase their strength. You heard what that Phantasm guy said back there. Strange used Venom, the same stuff Bane uses, as the basis for his stuff. That Monster Man drug," Nightwing decided. "We still need to find where his caches are so we can start starving him."

"More of that bullshit?" the younger vigilante drown.

"It's that bullshit that will keep us alive," Huntress retorted. "Besides, there's something else we need to think about."

"And what's that?" Nightwing questioned, frowning.

"You all saw what happened. The bastard was claiming to be Batman's successor," Huntress pointed out, gesturing with a hand in the direction of the museum. "And he's not the only one. Remember that Ghul guy? The one that said that Gotham was under his protection? And then there's us. There's a lot of people trying to fill Batman's shoes and not all of them are in it because they have noble intentions."

"You know, for a moment, I thought that Phantasm was him, when he was coming out of that smoke. You think he might be a contender too?" Green Arrow mused aloud.

"Another thing we needed, right," the purple-clad vigilante grumbled.

"So are you saying there's like a battle for the cowl?" Manhunter summed up.

"And while Bane's doing his damnedest to take over," Nightwing added as the implications became clear to him.

It was only natural that someone would try to pick up where Batman left off, right? Almost everyone here was inspired in one way or another by the man. It stood to reason that there were others, some of whom were as deluded as Strange. Christ, this was a lot to think about.

The night was young, though, and they still had work to do. Even if they were all tired, Bane was still out there along with so many other people that they needed to stop. The never-ending fight would only continue from here.

Staring at the gurney that held Hugo Strange, Commissioner Gordon's face hardened at the sight. He said nothing, not taking his eyes off the injured man even when the doors to the ambulance blocked him from his gaze.

As officers cordoned off the building and squad cars led the procession that protected Strange's ambulance, the Commissioner turned away and left quietly, not letting anyone know that he was leaving.

Anyone who saw him and asked for what he wanted were ignored. Even Sarah was, and she could only watch as he left the scene.

It wouldn't be long for those in the department to begin gossip-mongering.

Eventually, Gordon reached his car and opened the driver's door. Sliding into the seat, he slammed the door closed behind him. He didn't bother starting the car; he just sat there, staring out of windshield. He couldn't say he was watching his officers work the crime scene as his eyes glazed over. His head leaned forward as he closed his eyes.

There was something inside of him, burning, furious. He could feel it urging him to lash out. He couldn't do that, wouldn't do it in front of his officers. He had to maintain his composure, even though he wanted nothing more than to march right up to Strange's prone body and strangle him.

The sight of the Bat costume on him was insulting. It galled him. He knew Strange had a sick fascination with Batman, but to the point of wanting to be him? He hadn't expected the shameful shrink to go that far, but then he wasn't too surprised either.

And that was what upset him most.

Gordon was not delusional. He knew just how precarious this city was, how it relied on Batman like a crutch. Gotham was staggering now, unable to keep itself up. It had refused its medication, opting for the easier path of using one man to hold itself up. Competent police work was what it needed. A court system that wasn't jammed with a fifteen year backlog was what it needed. Corruption needed to not be tolerated, from the flatfoots on the street to the Goddamn Mayor's office. Businesses needed to be more involved; hell, high society needed to be more generous. Reform had been needed, but what had they done?

Batman. They counted on Batman to clean up the streets. They counted on Batman to make sure the corrupted didn't rob victims of justice. In fact, the vigilante had been the one expected to hunt down the corrupted and bring them to their knees before a judge.

But now there was no choice but to go on. There was no fake death here. Gotham needed to do the hard thing and stand for itself.

Unfortunately, Strange was a sign. He was a sign that he wouldn't be the first to put on a cowl and cape and try to replace Batman. It had happened before and it would happen again. Hell, there were already other vigilantes that were following in his example. Nevermind that example was one of breaking the law, taking it away from those who upheld it and applying to all but themselves.

This endless cycle needed to stop.

Gordon opened his eyes, a look of determination on them. Opening the car door, he climbed out of the vehicle and marched over to his men. Sarah spotted him and stopped what she was doing. Others noticed this and came to a halt as well, watching his approach.

"I want APBs out," Gordon ordered, his voice brokering no disagreement. "We are the law in this city and I will not stand for anymore lawbreaking. We know we need to find Bane and stop him. That's not all we need to do. Anyone that takes the law into their own hands, who put on a mask instead of a badge, needs to be taken down. No more vigilantism; no more capes and cowls and masks. Only men and women who have taken the oath can deliver justice."

"Jim, are you saying…" Sarah trailed off, eyes wide.

Gordon immediately gave a sharp nod. "Arrest anyone and everyone you have to. Bane preferably, but if you find any of these other vigilantes, I want them in jail before the night is out. I want names and profiles, people.

"Starting tonight, Gotham is protected by the Law and no one else."

The Industrial Area of Gotham was much like those of other cities. Regardless of their locale, they were magnets for grime and pollution.

Ra's al Ghul despised these places.

If there was ever a place that represented the human condition and its effect on the planet, it was this place. Once a sprawling center of industry, it was now a shell of its former glory, rotting away and leaving its surroundings worse for it. It was a poison that killed its home, an ugly scar on the face of Earth.

He had been drawn to this place at the challenge of his prey. The Demon's Fang had flooded the surrounding area on high alert for a trap. Undoubtedly, Bane wanted a direct confrontation with him, seeing it as the shortest path to eliminate an obstacle. Ra's could not fault the man for such a tactic since it was also an opportunity for him to do the same. The fate of Gotham rested on the outcome of this battle.

Ubu was at his right, eyes narrowed and scanning for the enemy like a good soldier. To the left was Talia and her charge, a sign of his confidence in tonight's expected victory. No danger would come to them this night.

"Master, still no sign of the enemy," Ubu informed him then.

"They are out here," Ra's assured the manservant. He was counting on the designated location of their meeting to be surrounded by Bane's men. No way would any fighting occur inside the warehouse unless it spilled inside. Continuing his pace, he moved down the alleyway he found himself in, leading the column of assassins. There were others along the rooftops to either side of him, behind and up ahead. The main force would not be in any danger.

That's when he heard it, the sound of machine gun fire. Turning around, Ra's faced the direction he had come from along with his host. An attack from the rear? How typical. His men would repel the attack and go on the—

Suddenly, more gunfire erupted to his left. There were screams as an assassin toppled off the roof of the building next to him, falling to land on top of his men. A moment later, more machine guns went off to the right.

It seemed they had sprung the trap.

"We must press forward," Ubu urged to his master. "We are in too vulnerable a position."

This was true. With a gesture, several of his assassins rushed passed him, even as the Demon's Head turned to face his original direction once more. The men darted out of the mouth of the alleyway and into the street beyond.

Immediately, more gunfire started and the charging men were assaulted with hot lead. Their running came to a halt as their bodies jerked in every direction, their momentum causing them to continue moving forward until they collapsed on the ground.

Ra's frowned. That had been unexpected. Without having to sound a word, more assassins moved around him, but this time positioned themselves close to the mouth of the alleyway. Each one was carrying a machine gun, clutched tightly in their hands. There was no need for words between any of the men as they popped out of the alley and began firing their weapons. They immediately jerked back as return fire occurred, the men waiting for a lull before they again fired their guns, this time moving out into the street and finding cover behind abandoned cars, streetlamps, or mailboxes.

"Status," Ra's demanded as he glanced to Ubu. He didn't bother sparing a look to Talia, who had instinctively clutched the child to her person.

Ubu had a hand to his ear, undoubtedly listening to the reports his men were funneling to them. "The rear attack is at a stalemate. We are currently repelling the attack to the west. The east group is losing ground."

Talia then spun her head around to the rest of the men behind them. More had taken up the space left behind by the men pushing forward. "Reinforce the east team," she ordered, which caused several of the men to immediately begin scaling the wall next to them.

She then looked to Ra's. "These attacks are too close, Father," she spoke. "How were they not detected?"

That was a fair question. They had advanced groups searching the area around them. They should have discovered these hidden groups of mercenaries before they arrived. The only explanation was that the scouts had been spotted and eliminated long before their arrival. If that was indeed the case, then the scouts had received their punishment for failure. They would have to make adjustments, then press forward.

Such was his will.

The sight of gunfire lit up the night with flashes of light. For several blocks in any direction, these flashes burned through the night, forming a crude circle.

Stationed on a water tower far from the action, Bird held a pair of binoculars in front of his eyes as he kneeled on the metal surface, scanning the battlefield. As planned, once the ninjas had arrived—albeit with numbers Bird had been astonished to see—Bane's mercenaries had taken position behind the masked men to the north and waited until the ninja leader had entered the alleyway by Warehouse #32. These ninjas would never make it to #39.

There had been scouts, naturally, all of whom Bird had picked out and alerted his men. The scouts had been dispatched easily and left to rot. That allowed them to surround the main ninja force on the east and west sides. Then, of course, there was the group waiting for the ninjas to run right into them to the south.

The initial attack had taken out many of the ninjas stationed on the rooftops. Their counterattack was currently underway, but that was expected. So far, everything Bane had anticipated was going according to plan.

Bird let go of his binoculars with one so that he could pick up and raise a walkie-talkie to his mouth. "Bane, the guest of honor is here," he quickly reported. He had seen the man in the green cloak at the head of the ninja horde, along with his giant right hand man and a woman. She had a killer body, though her hair disappointingly hid her face from his view. Oddly enough, she had a kid at her side.

Strange place to bring a child.

"Is he in position?" was Bane's response.

"He's currently at the ambush point, right where you wanted him. His men are pushing off our guys to the west and holding us to the north. We're starting to put pressure to the east," Bird answered.

"I asked if he is in position, not what is happening."

"Yeah, he's in position." Or at least as close as they wanted him.

"Then start the next phase."

"With pleasure." Bird then lowered his binoculars to rest at his feet, adjusting the channel on the walkie-talkie. "Beta team, you have a go," he spoke.

"Beta team is a go," came the response.

Changing the channel back to the original one, Bird then placed the radio into his pocket, picking up the binoculars again. "Alright, assholes, lets see how you handle this," he muttered to himself.

Samir ducked behind the air conditioning unit, bullets striking the square unit rapidly. Sparks burst from each contact between metal and lead. Samir didn't bother peeking out from behind his cover.

The attack had come out of nowhere. Many of his comrades had been mowed down during the initial attack, leaving him and a handful of other assassins ducking for cover. Their attempts at counterattacking had fared as well as one would think—meaning not at all. Reinforcements had come to assist them, but so far their numbers were steadily decreasing.

Handgun in one hand, Samir waited for a lull in the gunfire, breathing out of his mouth over and over. His lips were pursed in an attempt to slow his breaths down, but all he was really doing was maintaining the same rate.

Then the lull came. Immediately, Samir shot his gun hand out, pointing it in the direction of the enemy. He squeezed the trigger once, twice, his shots firing. Then he jerked his hand back just in time for a barrage of more bullets to rip into the side of the a/c unit, an explosion of sparks cascading out in all directions.

Samir cursed under his breath, the word itself getting lost in the racket the gunfire made. He had no doubt he didn't hit a single target mostly because he hadn't bothered to poke his head out from behind his cover. He had fired blindly, hoping to hit someone and knowing fully well there was no promise without looking. He was effectively pinned down.

Looking towards one of his comrades, Samir unfortunately watched as the man was gunned down, blood exploding into a red mist out of his back. His body collapsed to the ground a moment later.

Damn it! They were dying from a thousand cuts! They didn't have nearly enough men for this sort of defense, much less an offensive. Unfortunately, the Great Demon's Head did not accept failure. Either they succeeded, or died with honor while failing.

He needed to find another cover, perhaps regroup closer to the main force so that they could push back against this assault.

There was a sound, dull, but it could be faintly heard in spite of the constant drone of gunfire. It made Samir pause, focusing on his hearing to make sure he knew what this sound was. It was very familiar and close by considering the primary racket being made. Twisting and turning his head from side to side, searching for the source.

That's when he saw it. It moved through the air like a black wraith, the beating of its propellers a steady drone that grew louder as it drew near. A sinking feeling filled Samir's gut.

That was a helicopter and he was fairly certain it wasn't the Master's. So if it did not belong to his master, then it logically belonged to either the enemy, or a third party.

This was going to get very ugly.

Ra's was displeased. He was still in the same alley, still hearing the sound of enemy gunfire, not the least abated. It was keeping him in a stalemate as intended by Bane's trap. While he had known this is what was planned, he had counted on his forces being able to undermine such tactics.

It appeared he was wrong and he did not like being wrong.

And though his world was limited to the brick walls on either side of him, the mouth of the alleyway revealed a little more. For example, he could hear the sound of rotor blades spinning, which was confirmed by the first sighting of a black helicopter. Watching, he saw the aircraft fly overhead before it began to turn to the right, beginning to hover.

That was when it unleashed unholy hell, its misappropriately named minigun blasting high velocity rounds into his forces. The men did not stand a chance as they were mowed down by the machine gun fire. Bullets ripped through flesh and kevlar, blood exploding in all directions as bodies became corpses, plopping down on the blood-painted ground.

"Master!" Ubu cried out. "We are at a disadvantage! We must leave this area!"

Even as the helicopter stopped firing and flew off, no doubt circling around for another shot at his assassins, Ra's considered this new development. He had not been informed of the enemy's possession of an aircraft—a costly mistake. Bane clearly had the higher ground since the helicopter could only be his. As galling as it was, it was best to withdraw than be eliminated.

"Sound the retreat," he calmly ordered, though his steely face betrayed the infuriation he felt in spite of his controlled tone. The Demon's Head did not experience defeat willingly.

Immediately, Ubu was calling out the order over their radio frequency, spending only a few seconds on that before he turned his attention to what was more important matters. "Master, we must see you to safety first."

And as it so happened, one of the men from their southern front approached. "Sir, we have secured the south," an assassin reported. "The enemy is withdrawing."

Excellent. Though it was counter-intuitive to move forward when retreating, the presence of the attacking helicopter dictated his next move. He needed to seek shelter, be it one of these warehouses, or in the sewers for safe transit. Such options were not present in this location. "Cover us," Ra's ordered as he strode towards the mouth of the alley.

Emerging onto the street, Ra's scanned the area, seeing no sight of the helicopter or Bane's men. At a steady, yet quick pace, he walked across the pavement, Talia and her child behind him and to his left. Many of his men darted out in front of him, forming a security line. None were firing their weapons, though they kept their full attention on the surrounding buildings.

Ra's couldn't help but narrow his eyes. There should have been a stronger attack from this side. The north front had cut them off from the direction they had come from and the east and west fronts had pincered them in. Why was the south front so flimsily guarded?

Reaching the other side of the street, Ra's and his party entered the new alley, though came to a stop soon after. "Master, I will see to the retreat of our forces," Ubu informed him, raising an arm up so that it could cross over his chest, positioning his fist above his heart.

"As you wish," Ra's replied, stopping only to glance at the manservant over his shoulder. "We will rendezvous back at the tower."

"Yes, Master."

Turning away, Ra's continued down the alley, though he did not get too far. Suddenly, at the other end of the alleyway, the helicopter appeared, its profile towards him and his men. It hovered there, tilting downward just before it fired its minigun. The first shots hit at the end of the alley and as the aircraft tilted in the other direction, the shots began working their way towards the Demon. Smoke and dust shot up into the air as each bullets broke the ground, each shot closer than the last.

"Father!" Talia cried out.

Ra's turned his head to his left, spying a a set of double doors that were locked by a metal chain and padlock, the chain wrapped through the door handles. Flinging open his green cloak, Ra's drew out his sword, the sharp edge scraping against the inside of the scabbard. Once freed, he arced the blade up above his head then swung it down, his sword slicing through the chain. Immediately, the chain went slack, which Talia promptly reached out and grabbed, pulling it through. She threw the metal restraint to the ground and quickly flung open one of the doors, all but shoving the child through them. Once she passed through, Ra's followed right after her.

Unfortunately for the rest of his men, the gunfire from the helicopter reached them, the men crying out as they were gunned down. A cloud of smoke raced by like a curtain, blocking out the sight of the alley. Allowing the door to close behind them, they were now safely out of harm's way, hidden from sight of the helicopter.

The room they currently stood in was an abandoned storage facility. It was empty, revealing wooden floors and wooden support beams at even intervals in the middle of the room, beginning a short distance away from Ra's and forming a line all the way to the opposite side. There were cobwebs in every corner, draped along the walls like curtains, wrapping around the support beams like a second skin, and hanging from rafters.

The very sight of it disgusted Ra's.

"What are we to do, Father?" Talia asked him then, stirring him out of his thoughts. "We are pinned here."

"We press forward," he answered her succinctly. "Currently we are out of sight of the enemy. We shall search for a way out of this, even if we have to use every single building from here to Amusement Mile as cover."

"Very well." Talia moved, keeping a hand on the child's shoulders. The two led the way towards the other end of the warehouse, Ra's following them from behind. He slid his sword back into its sheath, allowing his cloak to envelop his body.

That was when he heard it. It was not subtle, but loud. Something large landed on the floor somewhere behind him, a loud THUD echoing throughout the room.

Immediately, Ra's twisted his head around, turning so that he stood at his profile. Between him and the entrance was a large, masked man, one the Demon recognized as Bane. He was raising to his full, rather impressive height. The wooden floor was broken, sharp pieces of the floorboards jutting up around his feet. Ra's had to admire his entrance.

However, there was a dark, loathsome thought that festered within the ancient man's mind. Once it had made itself known, he could not help but see its truth. He had been manipulated, led to this spot like a horse to water and he had been none the wiser. This brute had trapped him, then gave him the only route out so that they would meet here.

Clearly there was a brilliant mind contained within this walking muscle man.

"You are the leader of the opposition," Bane spoke, his voice rumbling from deep within his chest. "This is the first time we meet and I intend for it to be the last."