Chapter 26: Burning Vengeance: Part 1

Authors Note: Hey everyone I love the feedback thank you for the reviews and I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Also Assassins Creed 3 is awesome completely awesome. This chapter is a little back story on Blaze's tragic past so next chapter will be all action. Enjoy.

Happy Halloween!

Disclaimer: I do not own Batman.

Jayden laid on a medical table as Ally sat beside him. Thanks to Batman her and Jayden were now back to normal. Everyone was happy that they had their friends back to normal, but Blaze was still furious. Damian had crossed the line. He swore to Jayden and Ally and on his parents graves he would kill him.

That's when it hit him. His parents, lord knew he missed them with every fiber of his being. He still remembered the day that Damian stole them from him.

(Flashback)

Little Blaze was currently walking down the halls holding his mother's, Dr. Martha Zephyr's hand. She was taking him to her office to get ready to leave for the day and celebrate her son's birthday with her husband Daniel Zephyr. They had finally made it to her office and set Blaze on her desk while she packed up her files in her briefcase.

"When's Daddy gonna get here?" Blaze said as his little legs swayed backed and forth on the edge of the desk. Martha smiled as she started tickling her son's tummy causing him to giggle uncontrollably.

"Soon my little Phoenix," She cooed. "We're all gonna go out for ice cream then we'll take you home and we'll have pizza and cake then you can open your presents and,"

Just then her door burst opened to reveal her husband who was usually calm and neat, but now his brown hair was in bangs covering his eyes which were wide and had a look of fear.

"We have to leave now." He said as calm as he could as he picked up his son.

"Dan, what's the matter?" Martha asked as she started to panic.

"We made a break through with the Meta-Human project." He explained. "The power for a human to use elements can work, but we've just been going at it the wrong way. Instead of manually trying to create the power we instead need to rewrite human DNA before splicing it completely."

"Rewrite, you mean turn a human's DNA into the actual formula we've been trying to make?" She asked.

"Yes, but I made a mistake, a grave mistake." He said as he held Blaze tight to his chest. Martha saw this action causing her eyes to widen in horror.

"You didn't." She gasped.

"I did." Dan admitted. "Using Blaze's blood I was able to create a formula that can temporarily allow someone to use and manipulate fire, but Cole doesn't want temporarily he wants permanent and the only way to make the affects permanent…is to completely rewrite their genetic code."

Martha would have slapped him if Blaze wasn't so close to him.

"How could you?" She whispered.

"For the greater good Doctor." A new voice said.

Both Martha and Dan's eyes widened as they turned to see their boss Damian Cole standing in the middle of the hall. He and two of his security guards who were dressed in body armor blocked their path as his face broke out in a greedy smile.

"You stay the hell away from our son!" Martha yelled.

"Martha, Martha, Martha…" Cole mused. "Your son has the potential to become something great. Hell he could put us all on the map in a way we've never dreamed. With just a few years of experimenting and a few years of training he could be the world's next super hero." He said as he took a drag from his cigar. "Please, don't jeopardize the world its peace and freedom just from some overprotective nature."

"World peace my ass Cole," Dan snarled. "All you care about is lining your pockets and I will not have you turn my son into some war machine just so you can put a little more money in your pocket!" At this Cole started to laugh uncontrollably as Dan's eyes hardened on Cole. "What's so damn funny?"

"That you think you even have a choice." He said as he pulled out a hand gun.

A loud bang hurt Blaze's ears as he felt something warm splash on his head. He looked up to see blood spurting out of his father's head as he and his father fell back. The two landed on the ground hard as Blaze heard his mother let out a horrible shriek. Blaze looked behind him to see his mother crying as she rushed over to him, when Damian fired another round ending his mother as well.

The young boy looked between his mother and father as he tried to figure out what had just happened. He reached his hands over to his mother and gave her a few shakes trying to wake her up.

Nothing.

He gave up on her and tried the same thing with his father. His little hands pressed down on his chest as he shook him frantically.

Nothing.

"Mommy…Daddy…Don't go." He whispered as tears streamed down his face. "Don't leave me here all alone. It's my birthday you promised we'd get ice cream and pizza and cake."

As he sat there he felt something strike the back of his head. He rolled over on his back and looked up to see Damian Cole laughing his heart out, if he ever had out to start.

"Aw, poor baby." He teased.

"W-Who are you?" Blaze asked tiredly. Damian let out a grunt as he looked down at the boy.

"I'm Damian Cole, why?" He snarled.

"So…I can remember who to look for when I get older." Blaze said.

"Bah, shut up!" He said as he raised his foot and brought it down on Damian's head knocking him out.

For the next five years Cole had experimented, drugged, tortured and trained Blaze making sure he was built for combat. On the year of his tenth birthday he was currently starting to get more powerful as time went on and Cole knew that he would not be able to stop him, but he didn't want to kill him due to all the time and money he spent on him. Blaze remembered that Cole hired someone to hypnotize him but he couldn't remember his face for name.

He remembered lying on a medical table as Cole and the stranger stood over him.

"You're sure he won't get hurt?" Cole snapped. "Because I spent a lot of time making him perfect and he ain't gonna do me any good with a melted brain."

"Please, Mr. Cole you hurt me with your words." The voice said in a calm but malice voice. "When I am done with him he will be under your command only."

"Okay, do what you gotta do then." Cole ordered as the man placed a hand over Blaze's face.

The man paid Cole no mind as he stared into Blaze's eyes. Blaze remembered his eyes being silver, cold and piercing as if he was staring into his very soul. Blaze still shudders at the thought when he's all alone.

"What about the other experiments has he fought against them too?" The man asked.

"Yeah, and he took all of them out no problem." Cole chuckled.

"Any flaws?"

"Well, the whole rewriting thing made the kid weak to mercury." Cole said sheepishly. "I don't know but every time he gets it on him when he lights up he explodes."

"That's unfortunate but we'll have to make due. He's quickly learning all of his potential. Humans have much more power than anyone could possibly imagine."

"Yeah…so you almost done?" Cole asked sheepishly as he felt uneasy with this man.

"That's what I'm talking about sir," The man said with tension in his voice. "He should have fallen under my spell the moment I touched him but he's resisting."

"Resisting, how?" Cole snapped.

"Well, my guess is that his hatred for you is so powerful that he will never obey you or see you as his master." The man stated smugly.

"Well fix it." He ordered.

"Sorry, but I'm out of time." He said.

"What do you, huh?" Cole said as the man had just disappeared. "How the hell?"

"Sir," A security guard shouted as he ran up to Cole. "The Justice League will be here in only a few minutes."

"Dammit," He snapped. "Fuck it I'm out of here!"

Just like that after all those years of pain and torment Cole had just abandoned Blaze without even a second glance. Blaze immediately felt like dying right then and there.

"Over here I found someone!" A voice said.

Blaze looked over and saw a dark figure standing over him as another person stood next to him.

"Who is he Ms. Martian?" The person asked as the green skinned woman placed her hands on his head.

"He's Blaze Zephyr," She explained. "His parents were murdered five years ago and he was presumed dead while Damian Cole ran sick twisted experiments on him. Listen he needs medical treatment now."

"Don't worry I got him." The voice said as he picked him up and held him in his arms.

"Okay, let's go Sparrow."

(Flashback end)

Blaze was broken from his thoughts as he felt someone pushing on his shoulder. He looked up to see Gauntlet looking down at him.

"Hey, he's awake." Gauntlet said.

Blaze's eyes shot open as he looked over at Jayden who was now being cradled by Ally. Blaze smiled warmly as they all gathered around.

"Hey kitten." Jayden mumbled as Ally stroked his cheek.

"Hey grumpy." Ally cooed.

Sarina in the back thought it was strange how those two flirted so much like Batman and Catwoman, but ignored it as Jayden started to sit up.

"What happened, where we are," He asked as he started flicking his tongue. "And why do I taste cheap perfume?" Sarina let out a small growl as Reaper walked up to his leader.

"Jayden, you and Ally were kidnapped and mutated into animals by Damian Cole. Batman and the rest of us teamed up to find you and Ally when you broke in and attacked us. We were able to subdue you and reverse the effects of the formula you were given. You're safe now."

"And as for the cheap perfume you licked it all off of Sarina's face." Gauntlet quipped.

"Gross." Jayden said.

"And it's not cheap!" Sarina snapped.

"Whatever, anyways where did you get the cure?" Jayden asked as he got off the table. His friends went to help him but he waved them off as he walked over to Batman.

"We used a similar serum to the one we used to cure Dr. Kirk Langstrom." Batman said.

"Man-Bat, damn I forgot all about him." Jayden said. "Anyways, I have to tell you everything I know about Cole."

Jayden then told everyone about how Damian teamed up with Luthor and Kinsley to create an army of mutant soldiers. Also, that they have a superman clone and a clone of Blaze who could use water and ice attacks. He also knew where their hideout was.

"Kinsley's Pharmaceutical Company," Blaze snarled as he looked at Ally. "I don't get it, if you knew where your father was why didn't you try and kill him?"

"Because I didn't need to," She defended. "I knew where he was and I didn't care. As long as Jenny was safe I don't care what happens to him."

"Jenny, that's her name?" Jayden asked.

"Yeah, my little star." She smiled. "She's around Jason's age, she's into music she mostly plays the piano and she takes martial arts and,"

"Wait, I thought you said you haven't seen her since you split up?" Jayden asked.

"I haven't…I just…."

"You made sure she was never alone." Marcus said.

"I made sure she stayed on the right path." Ally said.

"Speaking of which, why didn't you tell me you had a sister?" Jayden asked.

"I didn't want her involved with our life." She admitted which caused Jayden to look a little hurt. "Don't get me wrong I love my life and I love you it's just…I wanted her to have a normal life not one like all of ours. She can be whatever she wants and not live as an assassin."

"I get you, don't worry I understand." Jayden said as she took his hand.

"She's been kidnapped." Batman said.

"What!" She shrieked as she ran up to him.

"I immediately hacked into Kinsley's Company cameras and saw a clip of him dragging your sister along with him." He explained as he replayed the footage.

The image was Kinsley who had and arm around Jenny's neck and was dragging her into the building. Ally grimaced at the sight of her father treating her sister like this. She immediately ran towards the stairs but was stopped by Catwoman.

"Hold on," She said. "You're still weak from that transformation. You stay here and I'll go and get Jenny."

"Fuck that, I'm gonna round up the Shadow Warriors and take those sick bastards out." Jayden growled.

"No, Selina's right." Batman ordered. "You are still weak from the transformation and you know I can't have you killing them. You and your team will stay here and I'll handle things from here."

"Oh, Okay!" Jayden said sarcastically as he aimed his hands at Batman. He fired two bolts of electricity at him sending him flying across the cave.

Batman let out a painful grunt as he fell to the ground. Robin was enraged at what Jayden did and was about to attack when Dusk ran up behind him and put him in a sleeper hold. Robin tried to break free but Dusk was using his Adonis strength to cut off his air. In a matter of seconds Robin passed out leaving Catwoman and Batgirl standing.

"Dusk, tie them up please." Jayden asked as everyone aimed their weapons at the two.

"Are you guys serious?" Batgirl asked as Dusk tied his special cable around the two. "We save you and you just turn on us?"

"Hey, we have a score to settle and I will be dammed if I'm gonna be stopped by Batman." Jayden snapped. "I'm the one in charge not him I make the decisions not him!"

"Geez, you are acting like such a child." Batgirl sighed.

"Oh am I?" Jayden asked as Reaper brought him a case filled with his gear. "Batman works alone kid, he doesn't want our help or yours either. Didn't you hear what he said, he said 'I'll handle things' not we. Face it kid, you may think you're his girl but deep down your just a human shield. Accept that now and you won't be hurt down the line like I was."

"That's not true he doesn't use us a shields or bait or any kind of tool you've mentioned." She defended. "We are partners, he just cares about us that's all. He doesn't even let me out on my own."

As soon as Sarina said that Jayden gave her an amused looked before he clasped his mask on and put on his glasses.

"We're just pawns kid, we lure out the criminals and take the beating and he swoops in and takes them out. Just like now, I gave him the info and he turned his back on us."

"H-He didn't want you to kill them," Sarina defended. "He knew that you would let Blaze kill Cole. He's just a kid."

"Yeah I am a kid," Blaze growled. "I was a kid who saw his parents get gunned down. I was a kid who went through god awful experiments and I am a kid who will avenge his parent's death!"

"You heard the kid, let's go people!" Shadow said as Ally dressed in her Breeze outfit. They were about to leave when Shadow stopped and grabbed Blaze. "Hey Gauntlet did you take my bike here?"

"Yeah, why?" He asked.

"You can borrow it for a little while longer me and Blaze are gonna ride together. We need to talk." Shadow said.

"Okay…but what about a ride?" Blaze asked as he put on his Phoenix mask.

"Right here!" Shadow chuckled causing Batgirl to panic.

"No, no, no Jayden Batman is mad enough at you as it is." She warned. "This is just over kill!"

"Don't care!" Jayden grinned.

(Gotham Streets)

The Batmobile sped down the streets of Gotham as the jets flared bright at the back. Shadow let out high pitched shouts while Phoenix held on for dear life. He was freaking out and would have shouted at Shadow but he couldn't even turn his head due to how fast they were driving.

"Jayden, for god's sake slow down!" Phoenix shouted.

"Hell no, I told myself I would drive this thing to hell and that's what I'm gonna do!" Shadow shouted. "I always wanted to drive this since I was a kid!"

"Didn't we have to talk?" Phoenix asked.

"Oh yeah," He said as he slowed the Batmobile. "I need to know, do you remember me?"

"Yeah, you and that Martian girl saved me." Phoenix said as he felt the pressure life from his face. "Is that why you were so quick to recruit me?"

"Yeah, why didn't you stay at the orphanage?" Shadow asked.

"I tried Jayden I really did." Phoenix said in a shaky voice. "But I just couldn't shake the memories. I escaped the labs but I never left. I mean all I could think of was Cole and how much I wanted him dead."

Jayden knew where he was coming from. Not a day goes by in his life where he doesn't think of his father who was gunned down, or his aunt Barbra who was crippled and Jason who was murdered by the same man. Then Batman who still tried to control Jayden, Batman failed him but he wouldn't fail Blaze. Shadow stopped the car and looked his young friend in his eyes.

"Blaze, trust me on this I will help you get Damian, but I need to know." Jayden said sternly. "Will you kill Damian Cole?"

Blaze thought of it and he needed to know deep down if he was ready. He needed to know if he could kill the man who murdered his parents, tortured him and ruined his life. Then there were his friends who were no less than three hours ago mutant animals.

But Blaze had never actually killed a man before even if Cole was as evil as he was, could he kill a man with his own hands.

That's when he remembered what Jayden taught him about being a Shadow Warrior. It wasn't about revenge or any other sick gain. It was to make sure that no other child would suffer like he did and also to make sure Cole's evil never continued like it was now. Blaze took a deep breath as he looked at his mentor.

"Tonight, Damian Cole will die by my hands." Phoenix said. "But I will not just do it for revenge or for pleasure. I will do it for the child who wants to spend his birthday free with his parents and not ruined by the pigs like Cole."

Shadow smiled under his mask and nodded at Phoenix as he started up the car.

"For your parents." Shadow said.

"For my parents." Phoenix confirmed.