A/N: Hi, sorry about the delay again. Had a bunch of tests and exams the last week and then I lost half of the chapter so I had to rewrite it [bangs head on desk]
Anyway, Bane has unleashed his opening strike and now begins the rule of terror on the people of Gotham. What will happen to our heroes?
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Please review!
Chapter 13: Liberation
The explosions had ripped the heart out of the city, covering the entirety of City Island in a thin layer of dust and ash. From the outer command post, Tucker and Gordon were stunned into silence, the opening into which nearly a quarter of the 40,000 GPD officers had entered was now blocked by a nearly twenty-foot thick pile of concrete and metal. This was truly a disaster.
"Amaro? Rollins?" said Gordon over the receiver. "Is anyone there over?"
Their car shattered but still upright, Nick shook himself out of his daze. Looking over at his girlfriend, he shook her. "Amanda? You ok?"
His touch caused the southerner's eyes to abruptly open. "Huh? Oh right, I'm fine Nick."
"Thank God." Grabbing the radio (he could hear his captain's voice call out), he brought it to his lips. "Cap, it's Amaro."
"Nick, Jesus. Tucker's freaking out and I can't blame him. Every cop in the city trapped down in those tunnels."
"Not every cop," he replied before hearing Amanda exit the vehicle with her sidearm drawn. "Where are you going?"
"I'm getting another vehicle. If I know these guys, they're going after the commissioner next."
Nodding, Nick exited with a shotgun. "Ok, but stay behind me. This may get rough." He regretted the words immediately, anticipating the dark scowl she sent him. "Forget the last, but just be careful."
Amanda chuckled, slapping him on the shoulder. "Good boy."
Just as they thought, two of Bane's men entered the hospital with G-36 assault rifles at the ready, sent on orders from Penguin himself. The former mob boss wanted Stabler brought to him alive as did Bane, albeit for different reasons. Firing a quick burst in the air, the mercs passed the panicked hospital staff toward Stabler's floor.
Nick and Amanda, weapons at the ready, entered about two minutes after the mercs. Hurrying upstairs to the commissioner's floor, they broke into a run when they heard gunshots echo through the hallways. The sharp stucco of automatic fire was blended with the bark of a police issue handgun. Arriving at the door, Nick kicked it open while Amanda brought up the rear.
Inside, the two detectives found the sprawled out bodies of the mercs lying on the floor, blood seeping out of their chests. They were about to sweep the room when each felt a gun barrel on their necks. "Clear your corners rookie," said Elliot with a slight smirk on his face, his injured body still radiating sheer strength and power. Lowering his gun from Nick's neck, he turned to his son who did the same with Amanda. "Looks like your old man still has it in him."
Dickie grinned. "So you're admitting you're old dad?"
"Oh my God," scolded Maureen from the corner of the hospital room (Elliot and her brother made her hide there once the explosions began. "The city is in mortal peril and you two are making jokes?"
"What sis?" Dickie asked. "We're Stablers." With that, Father and son started to laugh. "So guys, what's the plan?"
Eager to get out of here, Nick led the three Stablers out of the room with Amanda covering their rear. "Gordon has a safe house set up. We'll take you there for tonight."
"Good, cause Bane and Penguin are going to leave no stone unturned looking after us." Everyone nodded.
TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR
Broadcasted on television screens across the world, the crowd in the stadium erupted in screams and panicked cries as dozens of rifle wielding mercs entered the stands, leveling their weapons menacingly at them. The stability of the past eight years had evaporated, returning the citizens of Gotham to the primeval terror of the Joker's rampage and the dark days.
Olivia couldn't blame the people for this. Wishing with all her might to escape, with three of Bane's men leveling guns at her she knew it was futile. A tear escaped her eye. All she worked for, all Bruce, Elliot, and the others worked for was destroyed, eradicated by the triumvirate of evil proceeding ahead of her.
Bane was in the lead, his general anonymity eclipsed by the intimidating aura he exuded. The bulging muscles, the firm stride, but most of all the mask, all of it made the crowd tremble in fear.
Porter, to the left of his master, stood erect and expressionless. Many in the crowd knew him from the mob trials seven years before, and his presence next to the Masked Man surely sent chills down their spines.
However, the confirmation that their dread was well placed was the squat figure to the right of Bane, Oswald C. "Penguin" Cobblepot. Every citizen of Gotham could recognize the wide leer, the hooked nose, the glinting monocle, and the puffing cigarette. For a year it had been the symbol of terror in the city, and the cause of it was now back in Gotham. Anyone associated with Penguin and who had successfully captured Chief Benson of the GPD had to be bad news.
"People of Gotham!" thundered Bane, holding a microphone to his lips. "Today is the day you will be freed from your oppression!" Porter raised his staff high above his head while Penguin simply grinned malevolently. Olivia wanted to hurl; this same language had been used to justify Mao's murders, Stalin's gulags, and the general lawlessness of the Occupy Wall Street thugs. Leave it to Bane to use it for his own ends.
Pointing to a group of his men lugging the reactor core onto the endzone (the last bit not caved into the massive hole the explosives created in the field), Bane's voice boomed through the stadium bowl. "Behold, this is the instrument of your liberation."
At Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado, the headquarters for NORAD, the Air Force Major General in charge of the base watched as his staff analyzed the situation using both the live TV footage and readings from a KH-11 satellite orbiting above Gotham. "Sir, the device is showing a massive radiation spike. Whatever it is, it's nuclear."
"My God," the General breathed.
Back at the stadium, Porter ordered two guards to bring Dr. Pavel to him. Forcing him on his knees, the former FBI Agent nodded to his master who stepped in front of him. "Identify yourself to the world."
"My name is Dr. Leonid Pavel, nuclear physicist Moscow State University."
At NORAD, a CIA analyst was called in. "Dr. Pavel was reported dead on an agency plane out of Kazakhstan along with FBI Special Agent Dean Porter, but with the agents appearance, I think that's Pavel sir."
Gesturing to the device, Bane looked out at the crowd. "And could you please identify what we have in our arsenal."
"It is a fully primed neutron bomb with a blast radius of six miles."
"And who is capable of disarming said bomb?"
"Only me." Pavel's voice was weary, almost sounding like he was giving up on life and wising for death.
Bane picked up on that. "Thank you good doctor." He patted Pavel on the head before grasping and snapping his neck in one fluid motion. The crowd screamed.
"This bomb is ours!" Bane roared over the microphone. "This bomb is mobile! This bomb has a triggerman ready to detonate it at a moment's notice. His identity however, is a mystery." Olivia watched with rapt attention. 'What are you planning Bane? What is your angle?'
"Now, you may be thinking that with all this death and destruction, with the appearance of one of your hated enemies," he gestured to Penguin, who tipped his hat at the crowd, "That we come with an evil purpose in mind. But we do not come as conquerors, but as liberators! We are here to free you from the yoke of tyranny that Chief Benson here and her friends and allies have kept you under! We are here to return this city from those oppressors to the people, its rightful owners.
"To anyone on the outside who wishes to interfere, or to anyone inside the city attempting to flee, at the first sign this anonymous Gothamite, this unsung hero will trigger the bomb. Now, martial law is in effect. Return to your homes, hug your families close, for tomorrow you will reclaim what is rightfully yours." He threw the microphone right next to Pavel's body.
Walking toward the exit, Bane's eyes met Olivia's. "You are going to kill them anyway, aren't you?"
A twinkle appeared in Bane's eye, almost like he was smirking under the mask. "You are a sharp one my dear Olivia, but before one does so there must be a lesson first, and these fools will show it to the world. And that world includes your precious husband." He chuckled dryly at the flash of pain in Olivia's eyes.
"Pull the F-22s outside the city limits," ordered the general at NORAD. "Begin high level reconnaissance flights with the Global Hawk drones, and get the President on the line."
TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR
As a flight of four F-22 Raptors rocketed over the North River, the men of the 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division crossed the only bridge left standing into City Island. Decked out in full battle rattle, complete with M1A2 Abrams tanks and M3 Bradley cavalry fighting vehicles, they came across a small group of Bane's men, Dean Porter at the head with a megaphone.
"None of your tanks can stop us from detonating the device. Send an emissary to discuss terms."
A US Army Captain dismounted his Abrams and walked to the middle of the bridge, Porter doing so as well, alone and unarmed. "So, you think you've got this all figured out don't you cocksucker?" the Captain asked cockily.
Porter smirked. "Why yes, as a matter of fact we have."
"Really?" the Captain laughed. "You really think you have enough men to keep three million people from leaving the island?"
"No, but you do. And we'll also need supplies to keep those millions fed."
"And what makes you think I'll do that?"
"If you don't, then we blow the city to hell." Porter's grin widened as the Captain's disappeared.
TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR
"The people of our nation's largest city are strong and resilient," said President Walker in the urgent press conference from the White House. "I have no doubt that they'll stand strong in the face of this adversity, and to any that may be watching, I assure you; America is behind you."
"That's just great," muttered Elliot, watching the television from Gordon's safe house.
"What does that mean?" asked Amanda.
"It means were on our own Rollins," replied Gordon.
"Fucking perfect," cursed Dickie, chambering rounds into a shotgun. If Penguin's goons happened to find them, they wouldn't go down without a fight.
"It's not their fault son, Bane's got them by the balls. It's up to us now to fix the situation. Jim, in the morning you need to get me a camera. I'm making an address to the city."
Maureen gasped. "You can't, they'll kill you daddy."
"If they come after me then Bane will show his true colors."
"I agree, and then they'll kill you."
"He has a point commissioner," said Amanda, agreeing with the young woman, who now was tearing up out of fear for her father's life.
Standing up, his legs still a bit shaky from his wounds, Elliot walked over to his eldest girl and hugged her, kissing her on the head. "Maur, my responsibility is to the people of this city. If this is the way to save you, your brother, and Olivia then I will do so." His daughter started sobbing which caused him to hold her tighter.
TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR
As the mid-morning sun rose in the skies above Gotham City, the procession of Tumblers arrived just outside of Blackgate Correctional facility, much to the alarm of the guards. Outside her cell, Selina watched as they ambled about like a chicken with its head cut off. The sight would have been amusing if she didn't know the reason behind it.
Rifles pointed at her back, Olivia was forced outside. She had spent the night huddled in the underground prison, wishing for nothing more than to be by her husband's side. It had been a small comfort that the cell which was to hold Elliot remained empty; 'that stubborn partner of mine wouldn't give up without a fight,' she thought to herself.
Exiting the lead tumbler, Porter and Penguin rose up the steps of city hall while Bane mounted the Wayne Enterprises armored vehicle, his muscular form radiating ferocity beneath his fur-lined leather coat. Gazing down at the assembled press, he pointed behind him to the former mob boss.
"You all must still be wondering why a liberator such as myself would be associated with a convicted criminal such as Mr. Cobblepot. However, people of Gotham, he is just as much a victim as the rest of you." Bane was lying, but it was necessary. Only Penguin could guarantee the loyalty of those in the prison, and he needed those men.
His hand jerked violently to the prison behind him. "Behind you stands the symbol of oppression, Blackgate Prison! For the last eight years, 2,500 hundred souls languished there in the name of this man," he unfurled a 8 by 11 photo, "Harvey Dent, held up to you as the shining example of justice and good."
'Oh no,' Olivia thought, a pit of ice forming in her stomach. 'He knows! How could he know?'
"These lies were used to stop you from tearing down this corrupt city!" Selina sat as the entire prison erupted in shouts and cheers. The assembled convicts could smell freedom; their boss was outside at the head of a small army, so what else could they expect?
"What better to tear down this false idol," he began ripping the photo into shreds. "Than the words of Gotham's very own Police Commissioner, the other held-up hero, Elliot Stabler!" 'Elliot? What did you do?' Olivia refused to believe that Elliot actually told Bane; once the masked monster started to speak she knew she was right, but it didn't make a damn bit of difference in the end.
Elliot's forgotten speech from Harvey Dent Day in his hand, Bane began reciting the commissioner's fateful words. "The Batman and Batgirl did not murder Harvey Dent, they saved my boy, my young son. After the Joker assassinated his girlfriend, ADA Alex Cabot, the man that was once Harvey Dent died and was replaced by a monster. Therefore, the Batman and Batgirl allowed themselves to be blamed for his appalling crimes and I erected, to my shame, a lie over this fallen idol." The entire city, watching over the news, was stunned into silence at this revelation. "For years I praised and allowed my friend Olivia to praise this monster that tried to murder my own beloved son. However, it is time the people of Gotham knew the truth, so at this time, I offer my resignation effective immediately." With a dramatic pose, Bane crushed the speech in his massive fist. "People of Gotham! Do you accept this man's resignation?"
The entire prison erupted in a chorus of affirmation, all except or Selina. 'Well what do you know?' she thought. The commissioner sure had a set of balls to pull a stunt like this. As the pragmatist she was, it made complete sense to her as to why the commissioner did what he did, and Selina didn't feel any resentment toward him as a result. In fact, to her consternation, a part of her felt for the now disgraced commissioner. 'Stop it Kyle. What is with you?'
Outside, Bane was on a role. "Do you accept the resignation of all the liars? Of all the corrupt?" He waved to another Tumbler, which swung its 2.5 inch cannon toward the prison's gate, causing the press to flee. "It is time to take back this city from the corrupt! Take it back from those who've oppressed you for generations and give it back to you, the people."
Porter looked over at Olivia and winked. All present knew that this was a complete farce, that communism could never actually work in the long term. But all present also knew that there was no long term in this.
"And we will start by storming Blackgate, and freeing the oppressed that dwell within its walls!" With a loud BOOM, the cannon fired, blasting a jagged hole in the wall of the prison. A battle cry howling from his throat, Porter led the men of the New League of Shadows inside to free Penguin's men.
TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR
The safe house was in silence, processing what had just been said over the TV. No one was willing to make the first move.
"Is it true Elliot?" asked Jim Gordon, breaking the silence. The three Stablers were almost in a trance. Maureen was in a corner silent (she hadn't been a part of the incident but did know about it). Dickie had his head hung in shame, trying to fight off the repressed feelings of terror and anger that were bubbling up. Elliot simply stared at the TV, only answering his subordinate's question with a nod.
"Why commissioner? Why would you lie?" asked Amanda incredulously. Elliot Stabler, the epitome of integrity, was capable of such a monstrous lie. It didn't seem possible to her but it was.
Nick however was disgusted. They had all learned of his bravery and honesty at the academy, held him up as the man they all wanted to emulate, and here he was part of this shit. "All those people locked up, denied parole under the Dent Act. All the trial consolidations and end runs around civil liberties that enabled Penguin to be put away, all of it was based on a lie?"
"Gotham needed a hero rookie."
"It needs one now more than ever sir. I thought you could be that hero, but you betrayed everything you stood for."
"Who are you to talk!" yelled Dickie, defending his father. "You weren't the one who that monster held a gun too and threatened to murder!"
"Granted, none of us had to experience that," Amanda countered, "But none of us have allowed it to turn into a massive cover-up against the people."
"I don't get it Elliot," opined Gordon, his knees close to giving out. "You always said that our laws and system were what separated us from the scum like Penguin or his cronies. Why would you descend to their level?"
Elliot chuckled dryly, his voice devoid of any humor. "Our laws, our systems, they were useless to stop the bad guys; they were always letting them get away." He looked Amaro in the eye. "You may come across a moment of decision rookie, and when it comes I hope you have friends like I did! Friends, who will plunge their hands into the filth so that yours remain clean!"
"Your hands look plenty filthy to me commissioner." Elliot's mouth opened to argue but he knew it was futile. All of this, the lost hope, the occupation of the moral high ground belonging to Bane, all was his fault. Olivia would be ashamed, every cop under his command would be ashamed, but most of all the woman with the piercing grey eyes would be ashamed. For some reason, Elliot feared that most of all.
TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR TDKR
The scene in front of the prison was a madhouse. Having entered the prison and subdued the guards, Bane's men had freed every single prisoner in the facility. The convicts rushed out with cheers, Porter ordering his men to hand out assault rifles and shotguns to the now 2,500 strong Gotham Liberation Army.
"Be free citizens!" thundered Bane. "Gotham is yours, none shall interfere. Do as you please."
Olivia took in the situation. Porter was busy organizing the convicts, Bane was still speaking to the press, and Penguin was now huddled with his former lieutenants discussing where to go from here. Now was her chance.
Flinging her head backwards, she butted one of her guards in the face, breaking his nose. The second leveled his weapon but she knocked him out with a well-executed side kick to the temple. Smashing her fist in the first guard's chest, she ran as fast as her legs could take her, heading for an alley that would get her away from the prison.
Reaching the street, she began searching for the quickest was out when something hit her in the back of the head. Falling to the ground with a grunt, she began to rise when a voice came from behind her. "Well, well, if it isn't Chief Benson?"
Olivia's entire body tensed at that voice. Slowly turning around, she saw the evil sneer of Lowell Harris, the man that had come so close to raping her. It had been an undercover operation at Sealview correctional, used to hold Gotham's female convicts before Blackgate had been built. Being her last operation before being promoted to Chief of Detectives, Harris had been one of many suspects in a rape of a young girl when he locked her in a basement and tried to rape her, only stopped when Jim Gordon arrived just in the nick of time. The nightmares of that night had plagued her for months, Olivia often shaken awake at 3 AM by her husband, spending the rest of the night crying in Bruce's arms. Now he was here.
"This must be my lucky day," said Harris, clutching an AK-74 assault rifle. Throwing it to the side, he straddled her and pinned Olivia's arms above her head, enjoying her struggles. "Time finish what I started." His hand began to drift south.
Just before he could unzip her pants, Harris felt a hand on his shoulder. "I wouldn't do that if I were you." Turning his head around to accost the person interrupting him, he felt a fist collide with his face. Harris collapsed in a heap, Olivia too stunned and terrified to do anything. "Need a hand Chief?" asked Selina, clad in her orange jumpsuit.
Hearing her voice caused Olivia's mouth to contort into a snarl. "What the hell do you want?"
"To save your ass Wayne," responded to thief in a bored tone. "What did you expect?"
"And why would you do that?" She didn't trust the woman as far as she could throw her after the stunt she pulled.
"Consider it a belated apology." Selina gave her a ghost of a smile. "Now hurry up before they come after pervert here." Not seeing any other way out, Olivia took the proffered hand. 'Crises sure make strange bedfellows.'
A/N: That was so much fun to write! No matter what anyone says, TDKR is the epitome of an anti-communist film.
Selina saves the day, beginning my planned redemption of her. We'll see much more of our favorite criminal than we did in the movie now that she and Olivia are teamed up, albeit reluctantly.
Sorry for not showing Bruce, but we'll see him next chapter.
Next time, Harris gets his punishment from Bane, Penguin makes a speech, Bruce begins his recovery, and our two ladies run into someone.
The fire rises!
God Bless and please review!
The Congressman