The next day, exactly two hours past dawn, Finch, Robin, and Batman were all dressed in their bulky winter suits bound for the League of Assassins headquarters. Marti was piloting, while her father was forced to sleep in the back of their craft. He had put up a fight over this, but Marti threatened to sedate him if he didn't sleep. She was still pissed at him for ruining thanksgiving dinner the previous night.
"How much longer?" Tim questioned as he took the copilots seat.
"Heh… Three hours." She said putting the craft in autopilot, then leaning back in her chair.
"I'd sleep… But I can't relax with all the brooding in the back." He said pointing with his thumb over his shoulder.
She shook her head at this, and looked forward at the controls.
"Oh don't you start too…"
"Why always the League of Assassins. Eh… That creepy Ra's al Ghul, and his daughter."
"I always thought she was kinda hot."
Marti gave him a death stare.
"Or not… Wait?... Are you jealous of her?"
"I'm not jealous… She just always gives me evil looks."
"Maybe because she wanted to have your daddy's baby?"
Marti backhanded Tim in the chest with this.
"Hah… Tell me I'm wrong! How much do you want to bet?"
A fleet of long range military helicopters shot by them, shaking their craft.
"What the fuck?!"
"There lined up on our same path!" Marti called out as she scanned the ships.
"Should we wake up the old man?"
"Move." Bruce said from the doorway.
They both hopped out of their seats with this.
Bruce pursued this fleet for a good hour and a half, keeping out of their range. Eventually they reached their target. The League of Assassins stronghold. It was nestled in snow covered mountains, and hidden by clouds. Keeping back they watched as the helicopters released a barrage on the towers, and remaining standing structures.
"What happened here?" Marti questioned, holding the back of her father's chair.
Two of the six helicopters were taken down by catapults, and the the remaining four finished dropping their enemy troops, and were starting to depart.
Bruce flew their craft in, and landed on what once was the top observation deck. A small troop of Assassins was carving away one of the seven troops that just landed.
"Keep close, and stay sharp. They have a kill or be killed mentality here."
Finch and Robin looked at each other with this. "Just stun, or incapacitate. We need to find Ra's and Talia to figure out what is going on."
They dashed down the side steps, and into the heat of the battle on the main training ground. Soldiers from both sides were falling left and right, falling limp to the ground, or crumpling into the fetal position from the agony of a bullet or saber wound. It took some time before the league figured out that they were on their side.
Bullets and arrows whizzed past Marti, just barely missing her as she took down a group of soldiers. One by one, she knocked them out. As she turned to finish the last one off, she felt someone quickly grasp her shoulders from behind, then their hands slide down her back. Spinning round she found an enemy soldier on the ground, with a stab wound through the heart.
"You have to be more thorough." Said a young boy, who ran past her with sword in hand.
This battle waged for some time. Eventually the league prevailed, but at great cost. Batman stood, supporting Talia at the top level, looking down at all the dead. She had been injured pretty bad, and could not walk. Most of the compound was either on fire or already reduced to ashes.
"Talia what has happened here?"
"A once trusted member declared war with us."
"Where is your father?"
"He is dead."
Bruce cocked his head at this.
"I know it is hard to believe.. But it is true.. I'll show you the body if you don't believe me. It has been like this for three weeks now. We haven't even had a chance to bury him."
"You cannot stay here anymore. Is there somewhere I can take you?"
"There's a outpost down the mountain in the farmlands. Some of our women and children were sent there."
"Grab what you can. My team will help assemble the others."
"Team?"
"Mother!" Called a young boy coming up the stairs.
Robin and Finch closely followed.
The Boy halted once he spotted the man holding his mother up.
Bruce looked over to Talia with confusion.
"Damian, greet your father properly."
Finch cocked her head at this.
The boy stepped forward, as he did this Bruce was able to get a better look at him. With the exception of the boys green eyes. He looked just like him when he was that age.
"Hello father. From your expression I take it mother never told you about me."
"We should have made that bet!" Tim whispered to Marti.
"Wait a second… You're what?!" Marti questioned, ignoring Tim, and walked in closer toward them.
Talia looked confused by this other female presence.
"Talia, do you remember my daughter."
Talia took a moment, trying to remember her name.
"It's Martha." Marti said, as she stood next to her supposed brother.
There was a long awkward moment of silence among the group. Except for the occasional groan or cry of a dying soldier in the background, no one dared say a word.
Bruce eventually broke the silence, and cleared his throat. "Is there a place close by we can get shelter? We cannot make it far through through this snowstorm."
"Yes, we have been living in the old cave vaults. Its cold, but it's better than being out here."
"Finch and Robin, get the medical equipment from the craft. We need to help the injured first. Then we will talk."