Chapter 7: Here To Stay

Authors Note: Okay people, here is the chapter I have been waiting for. The first team battle of the Shadow Knights. This is where I show the co-operation of the team and the abilities and weaknesses of the Warriors. I hope I write the characters right and I hope you all enjoy. Also, I've gotten PM's from Danielwilks and Spartan S-999 about some villain OC's and girlfriend OC's I am all for it go ahead. Whatever will drag the story out and help people get a better understanding of their characters.

Disclaimer: I do not own Batman just my oc's and none more.

Shadow and his team made it outside of the steel mill and observed the security set up of the place. He looked through his scope lens and saw a few guards patrolling the gates and three more on the roof. There were also two spot lights installed on the front corners of the roof that constantly scanned the area. Shadow took a breath and turned to his team.

"Okay, I scoped the place out." Shadow explained. "There are three guards standing guard in front of the main doors and three more on the roof. Red I need you to take out the three on the roof and Hitgirl I need you to take down the ground and Ronin the second those lights move away from the middle I want you to sprint towards the wall and climb up and give us a layout of the inside. Can you do that?"

Red and Hitgirl nodded as they screwed the silencers on their rifles. Ronin nodded as he pulled out his scalers. Red and Hitgirl took position on the edge of the cliff as Ronin readied himself to run. They waited for the lights to reach the middle and the second the middle of the path was darkened they made their move. Ronin took off towards the middle as the two snipers picked off the guards. The second their bodies hit the ground Ronin was already at the wall stabbing his scalers into it. He made it to the top under a minute and made his way over to one of the spotlights.

He examined the spotlights and noticed that there was a small camera attached to the sides. He placed a small chip on the side of each camera and pulled out a small blinker. He pointed it out to his team and clicked the light three times he waited a second before Shadow blinked back and motioned for his team to follow.

"Red, Hitgirl I need you two to be our eyes and ears. If you see someone move in take them out. I'll radio for you if we need your help got it?" He asked.

"Got it boss." Red said as Hitgirl cringed at taking orders. Shadow knew she wanted to go with Reaper but she also knew she had a job to do. She nodded her head and aimed through her scope as the team moved out.

They had made it to the doors and hid the bodies in the dark as Reaper radioed to Ronin.

"Hey, we made it did you put those chips on the cameras?" He asked.

"Yeah, you're sure that they worked?" Ronin asked.

"The person on the other side of the monitors is just watching stock footage." Reaper gloated.

"Okay, when I was down there I saw that you needed a key card and a password for the door." Ronin explained.

"Yeah we got the card but what about the password?" Gauntlet groaned.

"Leave it to me." Breeze said as she pressed a button on her glasses.

She saw four glowing finger prints on the four, one, and zero. She grinned as she swiped the card down the slot and pressed the four once, the one once and the zero twice. The lights turned green and the door opened as everyone looked at her in shock.

"What, Two-Face is predictable. He's good and evil and the numbers excluding the one extra zero spells genesis 4:10 Caine and Abel good and evil. He's way too predictable." She gloated.

"See why I love her?" Shadow asked. "Okay, Ronin you're our eyes on the inside. So move quick and quietly got it?"

"Got it." Ronin said as he crawled into a nearby vent.

"Okay, let's move in guys." Shadow ordered.

The team moved in quietly as the hid behind crates and other large objects. As they moved in the team started to notice that the guards weren't ordinary thugs for hire they actually looked like trained mercs. They weren't even wearing Two-Face's signature half n half suits and they knew that Dent was real strict when it came to those.

"Dent would never let anyone apart of his gang wear street clothes." Dusk asked.

"Most people don't wear bullet proof vest and black sneaking suits in the streets Dusk." Breeze said.

"Fuck the clothes, look at those guns." Gauntlet asked.

"They look government issued." Reaper said.

Thanatos had a special pair of goggles that let him examine the guns and gave him a full description of the guns. They had a variety of assault rifles, shotguns, sniper rifles and explosives.

"These guns are not garden variety among the traditional gangs or mobsters." Thanatos explained. "Striker, M4A1, P90 and Barrett .50cal. You can't get these guns anywhere in the back alleys merchants of Gotham. Hell even if Dent did get these off the black market he couldn't get this many without having the UN on his ass."

"Not to mention moving all the guns. Someone would have noticed a disfigured man moving crates of deadly fire power from planes, trains and through the streets of Gotham. There's no way no one wouldn't have noticed." Phoenix pointed out.

"Hmm, nice deductive work kid." Breeze said as she rubbed the kids head.

"Yeah, but here's the thing I'm scanning the serial numbers on the guns and they weren't stolen they were bought and paid for." Thanatos grunted.

"What the hell is going on here?" Breeze asked.

"I fear this goes deeper and darker than even Dent or Big Bad Harv dare to go." Reaper said cryptically as everyone felt a small shiver go through their bodies. "This place has a great evil surrounding it."

"Yeah well, why don't we go find Harvey and find out what he knows." Shadow said as he activated his cloaking. He snuck over to the guards and took them all out in a matter of seconds. He dismantled their guns as he motioned for his team to move on.

Ronin was currently shifting around in the vents trying to see if he could get any info from the ground below. He moved down further down the vents when he came upon an open vent. He peeked through it to see Two-Face talking on a cell phone next to one of the cybernetic suits. Ronin placed on an earpiece and tried to listen in on the call.

"I don't know the lab was burned down and someone slaughtered my men getting you those damn suits." Harvey said.

"Yes, I hear that a new group of vigilantes are causing you a lot of trouble." A voice modulator said on the other line. Ronin raised an eyebrow under his mask and continued listening on the call.

"They would have never known it was me if you didn't send Clayface to rob that bank." Harvey asked. He then started to grumble as he switched personas. "We don't need money we needed weapons but then you had us waste our men for these suits which none of my men know how to use. On top of that you had Croc place those bombs underneath major buildings all around Gotham and got even more heat on me!"

"Mr. Dent, we gave you the weapons you wanted to ensure you would take over any territory you wished." The voice chuckled. "And in exchange you gave us the suites and the information on these new warriors. Our transaction is complete you and I have nothing else to discuss. What happens to you and your men is off little concern to me…actually it is of no concern to me."

"Argh…You listen to me!"Two-Face roared."I am nobodys fall guy!"

"Actually, you are my fall guy," The voice chuckled. "Didn't you think it was strange that I gave you a lot of unique fire power for little work, or that I had you steal three suits when I left you one, or the fact that I have you blamed for every crime that has happened in Gotham?" The wheels in both Ronin and Two-Faces head were starting to spin as the mysterious voice continued. "I wanted to see if the new heroes would be what I had hoped and they were."

"What about the men you left me, I'll tell them that you are planning on selling them out!" Two-Face yelled.

"My men are prepared to die or get caught for our cause. That's what it take to be a true leader unlike you who hires the nearest drunk to work for him. Now, you had better get ready the mysterious heroes are closing in."

The line went dead as Two-Face threw the phone on the ground and smashed it to pieces. He called in some of his men who looked like trained mercs and ordered them to double security. As Two-Face left the room screaming about killing the guy on the phone Ronin radioed Shadow.

"Shadow, its Ronin do you copy?" He asked.

"Yeah, I'm here did you find anything?" Shadow asked.

"Well I did find one of the suits from the night we first met." Ronin said.

"The exoskeleton suits?" Shadow asked. "Are they all here?"

"No, Dent said that he just has the one. The other two are in the hands of a mysterious handler." Ronin explained.

"What do you mean?" Shadow asked.

"You were right, Dent was never in charge he was working for someone. Clayface, the labs, the suits and the bombs they were all caused by the mystery man. Dent was just a fall guy and judging from the billion dollar suit, the trained mercs and the fire power this guy screwed Dent good."

"Yeah, we just took down some of those guys and they had government issued equipment, but here's the thing. They didn't steal them they bought them." Ronin went wide eyed on the other line as he slowly started moving through the vents.

"What the hell is going on?" He asked.

"I don't know but-"

He was cut off when spot lights started flashing down on the team and they were encountered by multiple mercs. Two-Face stepped out as he was accompanied by the exoskeleton.

"Well, the bastard wasn't lying you are here." Dent said as he rolled his coin along his knuckles.

"Who hired you Dent, you're not smart enough to pull off something like this." Shadow said as his crew took an offensive pose.

"Screw you," His other half yelled. "I was given an opportunity to take over Gotham and I took it. When I'm through with you freaks I'm gonna go after Cobblepot, Joker and the Bat and no one will stop me!"

"That's a great plan." Gauntlet said as his hands started to glow orange. "But first you have to deal with us."

"Oh don't worry neither of you will be leaving here alive!" Two-Face said as he pulled out his .45. "Kill them all!"

His men pointed their weapons at them and opened fired. Before they could hit them Thanatos changed into his suit and pulled out his shield. He stood in front of his team blocking a massive barrage of bullets while his team remained safe. After a few seconds of firing clips started to go empty as the mercs started reaching for their clips.

"Gauntlet!" Shadow yelled as Gauntlet aimed his hands out at the mercs.

"Okay, here goes nothing!" He shouted as his hands started glowing orange. After a few seconds mercs started screaming in pain as they dropped their guns and their hands were smoking. They looked down at their guns to see the handles glowing orange. "Hey I can transfer concentrated heat to people's weapons."

"You learn something new every day!" Reaper said as he ran past him and towards the mercs.

He activated the stun mode on his scythe and started cutting away at the mercs. He was careful to avoid any major arteries as electricity surged through their bodies knocking them out cold. When another merc pulled out a handgun and pointed it at Reaper, Reaper pointed the end of his scythe at him and fired a stun prod at him. It clenched to his chest sending volts of electricity through his body causing him to scream in pain before falling down.

Gauntlet and Phoenix used their hand to hand combat to subdue a few of them before the two charged up their power and fired a couple of combustion rounds at a group. They hit the base of their feet sending them flying across the room. Dusk and Breeze used their staff and tonfa's to knock out any thug that came their way. Shadow fired off a bolt of electricity into another merc as he punched another in the face. He then pulled out his sword and cut down anyone that came his way as he saw Thanatos fighting the newer suit.

The two were currently locking fist as the fighting between Shadow's team and Dent's men continued. The merc broke away from the hold by lifting his foot up and landing a thrust kick to Thanatos's abdomen. He was sent skidding on his feet creating sparks from the friction of his feet as he whipped out his laser rifle from his back and fired a round into the mercs chest. He was sent crashing into the walls but wasn't down for long as a long cable flew out and attached itself to his gun. A surge of electricity flew through the cable and caused Thanatos to let go of the gun. The merc whipped his arm back threw the gun across the room.

"My suit is more advanced than yours in every way." The merc gloated as the cable retracted back into his wrist. "It's much stronger, faster and deadlier than yours."

When he finished a small clip slid out from his shoulder loaded with ten small missiles. In an instant they flew out in different patterns and hit Thanatos in different spots on his body. He slumped to the ground as the merc slowly stomped towards him as a small mini gun slid up on his left shoulder. The barrels started spinning but before he fired something hit him in the head and sent him flying. Thanatos looked over to see Gauntlet pointing his special magnum at him. He pulled back the hammer and fired another round at the merc. The merc quickly rolled out of the way and fired his cable at him. It clenched his ankle as it sent electricity through his body. Gauntlet screamed in pain as Thanatos pulled out his broadsword from his waist and cut the line. He then charged at the merc who was already firing his mini gun and missiles at him but Thanatos didn't stop.

With one powerful swing he brought his sword down and sliced through his armor. He then spun around and landed a cut across his stomach and finished with a powerful thrust through his stomach. The merc let out a gasp as blood splattered on the inside of his helmet. He looked up at Thanatos and saw his gold eye through an open crack on his helmet.

"Your suit may be more advanced, but you are inexperienced." Thanatos snorted as he pulled his blade from his stomach. The merc slumped onto the ground as pieces of his armor clattered on the floor.

Thanatos the slumped to the ground as Gauntlet fell next to him. His ankle was twisted from that cable as Shadow rushed over to him.

"You guys okay?" He asked.

"Yeah, my ankles just a little sore from that cable." Gauntlet grunted as Phoenix rushed over to him.

"Okay, I'm going to go after Two-Face," He said as he turned to his team. "Breeze, I want you to get these guys out of here Reaper your with me. Dusk I want you to protect her."

"You got it." He said as Breeze helped Thanatos and Phoenix helped Gauntlet up.

"Red are come in," Shadow said on his earpiece.

Silence.

"Red…Hitgirl?" He asked as the line remained silent.

Meanwhile on the outside Red Crosshairs and Hitgirl were currently hiding behind a crate of scrap metal dodging a lone gunmen's bullets. Red knew that the shooter was none other than Deadshot who was currently seeking revenge.

"Listen I have an idea," He said to his partner. "I will draw his fire while you get a beat and take him out."

"You sure?" She asked. "Not that I suck but you have those cool eyes you could probably spot him and pick him with little to no effort."

"True, but I can dodge the bullets. That way no one else gets hurt." He said as he nodded at her. She nodded back as she readied her gun.

Red rushed out from behind the crate and fired his dessert eagle at Deadshot. Hitgirl had a beat on him when all of a sudden floodlights flashed on and blinded both Hitgirl and Red. Red got the worse of it while his powers were still activated. His eyes burned as Deadshot pointed his gun at him.

Hitgirl still had a beat and took a shot at him. She couldn't see but heard him scream in pain from the rooftop as she rushed over to Red. He was clutching his eyes in pain as she helped him up.

"Are you okay, did he hit you?" She asked.

"No, you see while my powers are activated my eyes become extremely sensitive to bright lights." He grunted. "I'll be down for twenty minutes. What about the marksman?"

"He'll be down for twenty days." She chuckled.

On the inside Ronin had just finished knocking down his fifth thug. He heard the doors open to see Shadow and Reaper rush in. They both walked up to him and examined the area.

"Are you okay?" Reaper asked.

"Yes, I got the drop on them and took them out with ease." Ronin said.

"Where's Dent?" Shadow asked.

"Up here." A voice said as they looked up to see Dent on a cat walk.

"Enough of this crap Dent who hired you. You're not smart enough to pull a job off like this!" Shadow yelled.

"Screw you, I'm the one in charge now and you little bustards are dead!" He yelled.

"We've taken out all of your men," Reaper said in a monotone voice. "And any help you would have hired are locked up in Arkham. You have no one else." Dent chuckled darkly as he walked back into the darkness.

"That's where you're wrong."

The three were taken back by that as they tried to figure out what he had meant. They then felt a small tremor through the floor as they looked behind them and heard something growling.

"Solomon Grundy," A voice growled.

"Born on a Monday," He stepped forward. "Christened on Tuesday, married on Wednesday!" He roared as he towered over them.

"Took ill on Thursday." Ronin said.

"Grew worse on Friday." Reaper said.

"Died on Saturday." Shadow said.

"Buried on Sunday." Grundy finished.

Shadow drew his sword, Reaper readied his scythe and Ronin held out his scalers.

"This is the end of Solomon Grundy." They said in simultaneously.

Grundy roared as he picked up an I-beam and swung it at the heroes. They all broke away and made a move on Grundy. Ronin dashed towards him as Grundy swung his beam down on him. He just missed him as he slid between his legs and sliced his ankles with his scalers. He got to his feet behind him hoping to see Grundy fallen but instead all his did was managed to piss him off.

"His nerves are rotten it'll take more than that to take him down." Shadow said.

Reaper jumped in and smacked his scythe across his head a few times as Shadow charged up his Adonis power and charged his strength up. He tackled Grundy in his stomach and knocked him down onto the ground. He climbed up on his chest and started punching him in his pale face.

Grundy let out a roar as he swatted Shadow away with a powerful back hand. He crashed into a wall as Reaper moved in. He charged his scythe up and ran the blade into the back of Grundy's shoulder. He let out a roar of pain as Ronin started firing his stun shurikens. Shadow staggered to his feet as he pointed his hands at Grundy and fired his lighting powers at him. Grundy was hurting bad as he slumped to his knees. Shadow did the same as Reaper pulled out his scythe and stabbed it into his heart.

Grundy let out a gasp and a small grumble before falling to the ground.

"Ugh, how the hell did he find Solomon Grundy?" Shadow asked.

"I don't know or care, let's just find Dent." Ronin said.

Harvey was running to a helicopter when something struck his leg. He fell to the ground as he turned to see Shadow pointing his gun at him.

"Woo, nowhere to run Dent." Shadow said.

"Enough of the crap Dent," Ronin snapped. "Who was the man you were talking to on the phone?"

"Screw you!" He shouted.

"Let's settle this a different way." Reaper said as he took Shadow's gun and Dents coin. "Heads you tell us what we want to know. Tails I blow both of your brains out."

He flipped the coin and everyone watched as it went up into the air. It shined from the fires as it twirled in the air. Reaper caught it and slapped it on the back of his hand as the coin read heads.

"Heads, now talk." Reaper said.

Dent was hesitant but then started to talk.

"I don't know this guy sent me a crate of guns and guys sent to my warehouse." He explained. "He said as payment that I had to cause a ruckus around town and get those suits your friend uses. he never contacted me personally and he always used a voice thing on the phone."

"What about us, he wanted info on us?" Ronin asked.

"I don't know I didn't even know about you guys until a few nights ago." He said. "He said he had eyes on you and when I asked he told me. That's all I know I swear!"

Shadow stepped forward and took his gun back aiming it at Dent.

"Listen, tonight was a warning and we don't tell twice. So here's what's gonna happen. You're gonna stop robbing and killing people. I don't care what you do I just want it to quiet down around here. This is our city and we want it to remain peaceful at night and if you so much as step out of line I swear on my mother's grave we'll be back and we'll kill you."

"Okay." Dent said.

"Now say it back." Shadow ordered.

"You want me to stop killing, you want your peace and you'll kill me if I step out of line." He said.

"And who are we?" Shadow asked.

"I don't know." He said.

"That's right, you don't know. Let that little mystery keep you up at night." Shadow said as he motioned for his team to follow. "Let's go guys."

The team started to walk away as Shadow lit a lighter and threw it on the ground. The flame started to for a pattern on the ground as they walked off into the night.

Commissioner Jim Gordon was currently arresting anyone who wasn't dead as he looked down at the symbol on the ground. He felt a familiar presence as he turned to see Batman towering over him.

"What happened here Jim?" He asked.

"Some illegal weapons that Dent had holed up here." Gordon explained. "We also found scraps of one of those suits you mentioned earlier."

"Just one?" He asked.

"Yeah, and it's in pieces." Gorgon grumbled. "Who could have done something like this? Oh and there's this symbol on the ground looks Japanese."

"It is." Batman confirmed.

"What does it mean?" He asked. Batman grimaced as he knew exactly who did this.

"It's Japanese for Shadow Warriors."