Avenger: Blind Justice

by Buck Ink

Gotham City. A place where Justice is indeed blind. A shadowy organisation arises against Batman, Commissioner James Gordon, and the entire city. When Michael Rivers is killed by this organisation; his son, Riley Rivers, plunges into Gotham's dark underworld in a battle that threatens to tear the city of Gotham apart. Disclaimer: I don't own DC/Marvel Comics.

13. Chapter 13: Avenger

Chapter 13: Avenger.

Gotham is now in a stage of crisis.

Although Fish Mooney has finally been taken down, Batman is out of the fight and is still alive thanks to the timely arrival of Red Hood.

However Roman Sionis, Black Mask, is once again free due to Batman's weaponry under the control of Hush who still holds the rest of the bat family, Nightwing, Red Robin, and Batgirl, in the Batcave.

Meanwhile after being recused by Avenger from Fish's henchmen, Lauren Winters and her mother head to Riley Rivers' home after Lauren received a message from Riley.

-Lauren-

We arrived at Riley's house and I quickly got out of the car.

Mrs Winters: "Lauren, why are we coming here? We should get out of the city after what happened."

Lauren: "I need to check on Riley. He sent me a message that something happened to him today and that we should of left."

Mrs Winters: "How did he know, Lauren? And how are you involved?"

That's right. Mom doesn't exactly know that I've been investigating into what's been going on in Gotham recently. But, I don't have time to explain.

I knock on the door.

Lauren: "Riley? It's Lauren. Are you here?"

No answer. So I knock again.

Mom then walked over and stuck her hand under the mat.

Mrs Winters: "I hope we aren't doing something we're not supposed to."

Mom gave me the key and I opened the door, but inside, no one was here. Ms Rivers was at the hospital and Riley wasn't here.

What happened to Riley? Where could he be? Why isn't he answering his phone?

The house looks in a far better condition then mine and mom's, so maybe nothing happened.

I sat down in the living room and buried my face in my hands. Was I really so worried and nothing happened?

Mom then walked over to where I was and stood over me.

Mrs Winters: "Lauren. What's going on? Why are you and Riley Rivers doing that caused people with guns to come to our home?!"

Mom sounded concerned, and she wanted answers...

Lauren: "It's a long story."

Mrs Winters: "I think I have a lot of time."

Lauren: "... Remember that I wrote the paper and posted it online? Well, I kind of ticked off a former mob boss. So she sent people to kill me. And it turns out that she works for an even more powerful mob boss. So me, Riley, and Miss Vale have been working together with a vigilante named Avenger to bring him down... In a nutshell."

Mom looked at me with shock as I explained. I wonder what she thinks of her daughter taking on a criminal empire with Gotham's best journalist, an attorney, and a vigilante.

Mrs Winters: "L-Lauren, why would you put yourself in danger like that?"

Lauren: "Mom, so much has been happening in Gotham and it didn't look like anyone was doing anything about it. Avenger wanted to save this city and so did Miss Vale. So did Riley. I didn't want to just sit back and do nothing.
But, now all this has happened..."

Mrs Winters: "Lauren, you're a brave young woman, but to put yourself at risk like this..."

Lauren: "Mom, if I can do anything to help Gotham, then I should."

Mrs Winters: "But, for now, you're staying with me."

I knew that look in Mom's eyes. She was worried and she didn't want me close to this. But, I wanted to know where Riley was.

Lauren: "I'm gonna see if I can get ahold of Riley again. Just let him know we're here."

I called again... But I could hear a ringtone upstairs.

Mrs Winters: "Is that his ringtone?"

Lauren: "I think so."

I went into the hallway and I went up the stairs. Up into Riley's room.

I haven't been in a boy's room before, so I didn't know what to expect. But the room is surprising clean and well organised. That's what you have to expect from a lawyer.

I found Riley's phone on his dresser. Why would he leave this here? Where could he be?

As I moved my arm, I knocked over some documents that were also on the dresser.

Lauren: "Oh no! Why am I making a mess?!"

I quickly tried to pick up the documents and place them in the order I found them,
but that was impossible. I didn't understand half of this stuff!

... As I picked up the documents, something caught my eye inside of Riley's wardrobe.

For some reason, out of Riley's tracksuits and two-piece suits, it stood out.

I reached in and I pulled out... A ski mask?

Why would Riley need something like this? This mask is strangely familiar.

Avenger... When he first started, he wore a ski mask.

Riley... It can't be.

-Jason Todd-

My name is Jason Todd. Former Robin and sidekick of Batman till I was beaten by a psychotic clown before I was brought back to life.

I've been on the run since my little run in with Avenger.

The Anti-Vigilante Task Force was obsessed with hunting Vigilantes that I just decide to take a load of for a short time. Wait and see what happens while doing a little bit here and there. If a random crook's kneecap is blown off by 'accident',
then at least they're still breathing.

I came out of hiding when I noticed where the Black Sky was being manufactured,
when I discovered Bruce had found the exact same place. He was fighting a ninja which managed to get a lucky shot and poison him. So I brought him back to my place where I've been hiding out waiting for the heat to die down. I gave Bruce an anti-poison that I 'collected'

Batman: "J-Jason..?"

Red Hood: "Bruce. You done sleeping?"

Batman: "Where's Yami?"

Red Hood: "Got away. He was gone by the time I was finished applying the anti-toxin."

Batman: "You shouldn't have let him get away."

Red Hood: "Of course. No 'thanks Jason, for saving my ass'. I guess we'll just go back to the cave and find a lead."

Batman: "Jason, the cave has been taken over."

The cave?! To say that I was shocked was an understatement.

Red Hood: "What do you mean, taken over?! What about Dick? Tim? Barbara? Alfred?"

Batman: "Hush has them."

Red Hood: "Oh right... Who the hell is Hush?"

Batman: "Thomas Elliot. The surgeon."

Red Hood: "Didn't you two used to be best friends or something?"

Batman: "Used to. He knew how to get into the cave and he's taken the rest of the family hostage."

Red Hood: "Then we just storm in and get them back. It's just one guy, isn't it?"

Batman: "Hush seems to be using a variant of the Black Sky. Once the user injects it, it somehow creates a clone of the person's body with their skills and memories."

Red Hood: "A cloning formula? Heh, crazier things have happened. But, that means instead of dealing with one dangerous psychopath, we now have to deal with a dozen."

Batman: "It all depends on how long the effects last and how much Hush has."

Red Hood: "Then please tell me you have a plan."

When I said that, Bruce smiled. Bruce doesn't really smile often, but when he does, it means that he has a crazy plan in mind. Not my kind of crazy, but as close as I'm gonna get.

-Third Person-

Roman Sionis AKA the Black Mask was just broken out of Blackgate seemingly by Batman. As Black Mask sat in the Batplane making it's way to an undisclosed location,
he started to get impatient.

Sionis: "Enough of these games! I know that the Bat isn't behind this, so who is?"

Black Mask looked out the window of the Batplane, and saw that the plane was hovering over the docks.

Sionis: "What is this supposed to be?"

In the little monitor inside the plane, a man with a bandaged face appears on screen.

Hush: "Patience is a virtue, Roman."

Sionis: "So it is you. I knew that there was only one person who could twist the Bat up so tight."

Hush: "Well, I plan to twist him up tighter. With your help."

Sionis: "So that what this was? A favour? How are you using Batman's weapons?"

Hush: "I'm remote controlling the car and the plane from the Batcave."

Sionis: "You know where the Batcave is?! Where?!"

Hush: "As I said, patience."

Sionis: "My patience is wearing thin, Hush. Why am I here?"

Hush: "Do you remember those weapons and tech you stole from Batman's cache using one of the people in the Riddler's employ? That you sold them?"

Sionis: "Yes? What about it?"

Hush: "I was the buyer. And all of the gear is at the dock's storage."

Sionis: "You brought the gear? Then why are you telling me where it is? Why am I here?"

Black Mask crosses his arms while the plane starts to land on the ground.

Hush: "I made some calls to your organisation to meet you there. I've made arrangements for you and your gang."

Sionis: "What arrangements?"

Hush: "To take over Gotham."

With that, Black Mask's gang arrives at the docks in their cars and they start opening the storage lockers. Inside are weapons and explosives. Batarangs,
grenade launchers, guns with rubber bullets. Although the rubber bullets were taken out and replaced with live ammunition.

Sionis: "So you're giving your new tech to me. Why?"

Hush: "Because I can, Roman. You want revenge and it so happens that I have the tools to do so. I want you to take back your city."

Sionis: "What's in it for you? How do I know that Batman and his little group aren't gonna get in my way?"

Hush: "Batman is out of the fight for now, and his little group are in my care.
So now is the perfect time to strike. But, I'll leave the choice to you, Roman."

The face of Hush disappeared from the screen.

Even though you can't see it because of the mask, Sionis made a smile as he left the cockpit of the Batplane.

Sionis: "Load up boys! Tonight, Gotham burns to the ground!"

Black Mask's men cheered as they began to march into Gotham.

-Batman-

With Hush in control of the Batcave, going through the manor is out of the question...
Being forced to break into my own home. Tommy has raised this already personal vendetta that he has against me to new heights.

After my encounter with Yami, I know that Hush is using a formula of Black Sky that seems to create a clone of someone when it's administered to whoever uses it. There could be dozens of Hushes waiting.

I can't believe I didn't see this coming. Fish Mooney. Harvey Bullock, Jim's arrest,
Hush's involvement. The clues were there, in front of my eyes. The last place I'd think to look.

Because of that, Alfred, Dick, Tim, Barbara and... Selina are in Hush's hands.

The last ally that I have to help me is Jason, the Red Hood. The Robin who died.
A tragedy that I vowed would never happen again.

Red Hood: "Bruce, are you okay?"

Batman: "... We need to enter the cave through the sewers. There'll be a area which crosses into the cave."

Me and Jason head into the sewers, looking for the entrance to the cave.

Red Hood: "Ah, the smell of the sewers. How I missed wading around in what possibly was my lunch with you. Isn't it a bit risky to have a route to the Batcave through the sewers?"

Batman: "Unless you know where you're going, you'll never find the cave. Hush will pick us up on the sensors due to the signals in our suits if we go through the dive area, but the sensors have a built-in failsafe in case they were ever used against me."

Red Hood: "Wow, a plan for everything. So what is this failsafe?"

Batman: "Once we enter the cave system, they'll be a hidden switch which should scramble the instruments used for the sensors. Hush won't know what happened until it's too late."

Red Hood: "Speaking of Hush, if there are a lot of copies of him, how do we know which one's the real one?"

Batman: "Thomas Elliot is the type of plan out his attack and carry it out with precision. He knows I won't attack if there's a possibility I'll kill the real one."

The clones of Elliot are simply made of liquid. If I plan to stop Hush, I'll need to eliminate his clones as if I intend to ensure that they stay down.

To me, it sounds like murder. I vowed not to kill, but is defeating these clones,
killing? They aren't alive, they're a likeness of Tommy, but it's not him. Just soulless copies of him.

Red Hood: "Can I finally use the live ammunition?"

Batman: "Wound them, but don't kill them. We can't risk killing the real Hush."

Red Hood: "Fine... Shoot to wound."

As we move through the sewers, we come across the location where the hidden entrance to the cave is. I feel around the walls and the floor to find the switch, but then I hear heavy footsteps coming from the other side of a grate.

Red Hood: "I knew there was a croc down here."

Jason has his guns trained on the grate. The large figure that created the large footstep sounds appears on the other side of the grate.

Waylon Jones AKA Killer Croc.

Croc: "You aren't welcome here!"

Croc roars at us while attempting to pry open the grate.

Red Hood: "I thought Avenger took you out."

Croc: "I belong here. These are my sewers! I don't want you here, Batman!"

Batman: "I don't have time to fight you, Croc. Let us pass."

Croc: "I don't need to fight you here and now, Batman. I'll have my moments, but now I have more important things to do."

Killer Croc then turned around and left, diving into the waters behind him.

Red Hood: "Did he not see the guy with the guns?"

Batman: "Not now, Jason."

I found the switch to open the door to the cave, now that Croc was gone. I pressed the switch and a part of the wall opened up.

After activating the scrambler that was hidden in the cave system, me and Jason both found our way through the cave system towards the Batcave.

When we got to the cave, we were in the shadows above with a clear view over the cave.

We found Nightwing, Red Robin, and Batgirl locked in the containers where their suits are usually kept. Alfred has been locked in the reinforced glass cage while Selina is strapped to her bed in the medical room. She still hasn't woken up.

There are multiple copies of Hush all around the cave. All with guns.

Red Hood: "Well, this could be tricky. We make a bad move and we'll get shot."

Batman: "That's why we don't make bad moves."

Red Hood: "I wonder about that."

I may have allowed Jason to die at the hands of The Joker, but I won't allow the same mistake to happen again.

Batman: "Shoot all the Hushes. Make sure you wound them lightly so that they bleed,
if the blood is black then it's a fake."

BLAM BLAM BLAM!

Red Hood shot at all the Hush clones while I threw a smoke pellet into the cave to prevent the clones from firing back at us. We managed to catch a glimpse at which ones of the Hush clones were fakes, but we couldn't see the real one yet.

Red Hood: "I'll take the ones of the left."

Like Jason said, he went to the left, while I went to the right. Too late to go with another plan.

I started to clear the right side of Hush clones. Gun fire ringed out all throughout the cave. Both from the Hush clones and Jason.

Hush: "Smoke, Bruce? And I see you brought your failed Robin with you. Jason,
is it?"

Red Hood: "If you're the real Hush, come out and join the party."

Hush: "Not just yet... I hold all the cards here."

Batman: "No. It's over, Tommy."

I could hear Hush's voice through the smoke, he was a bit away from the fight.
But, I could tell where he was. The Batcomputer.

Hush: "No. It's over when I take what's mine. You've been the king of this cesspit of a city for so long. It's time for the rightful king of Gotham to assume his throne."

He was close. I took down the closest clones to the Batcomputer as quickly as possible and the smoke started dying down and...

?: "Bruce. A little help?"

Selina's voice. Hush had a gun to her head. But, Selina's still strapped to the medical bay bed.

Batman: "This another one of your clones, Hush?"

Selina: "Bruce? What are you talking about?! I'm real!"

Hush: "Or is she, Bruce? For all you know, the one in your medical wing may just be another clone. Or is this the clone? Decisions, decisions."

Selina: "Bruce, don't listen to him. He's trying to confuse you. You know me."

I do know you, Selina. Both as Catwoman and as Selina Kyle. Hush knows this much about me that I care for you, that's why even taking a clone hostage would give him the upper hand.

Red Hood: "Batman! Snap out of it!"

Jason shoots at Selina's leg, revealing... Black Blood.

I rush at Hush who quickly pushes the Selina Clone aside and tries to shoot at me,
but I grab Hush and slam him head first into the Batcomputer.

But, Hush only laughs.

Hush: "Checkmate."

His bandages broke apart, revealing the face of Thomas Elliot, but his face bleeds black.

Another clone?!

BLAM BLAM!

Red Hood: "Argh!"

Jason went down after the gunshots! He was shot in the legs!

Selina (Clone): "Time for a catnap, Bruce."

The Selina clone places a canister close to my face and gas pours out of it. I quickly throw her off, but my body refuses to move after that. I watch as the Selina clone melts into black liquid...

I'm sorry. Selina. Even as a clone, I never wanted harm to come to you...

Hush had set a trap for me and I fell for it. As another Hush dragged Jason by his wounded legs and threw him into another container for another Robin suit. The one which Damian was wearing before leaving Gotham on his own journey.

The Hush walked up to me and then cut his own finger. The blood was red. This was the real Hush!

Hush: "You never did plan ahead, did you?"

Batman: "What's the endgame here?"

Hush: "The endgame? You mean with me finally taking what's mine? Controlling Gotham?
Killing you once and for all?"

Batman: "When have you ever cared about controlling Gotham, Tommy?"

Hush: "Tommy? You still haven't figured it out yet... Have you?"

I watched as Hush unwrapped his bandages from around his face. As each came off,
i started to see the man underneath...

An elderly man who looked familiar. No! It can't be!

As the last wrap fell, his face was fully exposed to me. The man behind all of this...

Batman: "But... You're dead. I saw your body."

?: "Yet another clone, I'm afraid."

Batman: "And your illness? It was terminal."

?: "I know. The pain I had to endure each day. Watching my little girl grow up to see her father in pain. But I knew that she was destined for greatness. So I couldn't leave things as they were. I wanted to leave my mark on Gotham. And I got a second chance, thanks to the chemical that restored my life."

Chemical that can restore life?

Batman: "The Lazarus Pit."

?: "Whatever it was called, it was a damn miracle. My second chance at life and finally establishing my legacy."

Batman: "What legacy is this?! Kidnapping? Deceptions? Drug dealing? Murder?
Becoming a crime lord? That's your legacy?"

?: "No. My legacy is this."

The batcomputer console was broken, but on screen, images of Black Mask and his gang armed with my tech and weapons that was stolen from my cache was being shown to me. They were creating chaos in Gotham!

Batman: "What have you done?!"

?: "I've defeated you. Your allies are beaten, your tech is mine, your name is being slandered across the city, and now the final nail will be driven into your coffin.
Mr Wayne. You will bear witness to your final defeat and then... I'll kill you.
The man who defeated the Batman."

The man took out a knife and started cutting a bat symbol across my head. I could tell in the reflection of the blood soaked knife.

?: "Winston Grace."

-Avenger-

Rick, Charlotte, and Lauren are safe and Fish Mooney is, by now, in police custody.
Tonight has already been eventful. Tomorrow morning, I'm hoping Gotham can breathe a little easier.

But, as I ride on my motorcycle through Gotham's streets, I find out very quickly that my night isn't over just yet.

BOOM!

Explosions could be heard from nearby. Explosions!? What causing this?!

I dismount my bike and park it nearby. I need to see what's going on first.
So using my grapple gun to head to the rooftops, I quickly move to the scene as gang members wearing black masks are using, what seems to be grenade launcher on the nearby buildings.

It was absolute chaos down here! Buildings set ablaze, and gunfire everywhere!
People are screaming and running down there as the gang members are shooting and blowing up anything and everything they want!

How did this all happen? These men work for Roman Sionis! But, he's behind bars now...

I need to save those people and quell this chaos! I need to find out if it really is Black Mask behind this.

Using my grapple gun, I aimed it at the floor near one of the gunman and I quickly zipped to the ground, landing on him. Another gunman noticed this and aimed their gun at me, but I quickly picked up the first gunman's gun and threw it at the second. A gang member with a grenade launcher aimed it at me, but another member stopped him.

"Are you crazy?! You'll blow us all up!"

I took the opportunity to run up and hit the two in their faces with my fists.
A couple of the thugs got back up, only for me to take them back down with a flurry of kicks.

I left one conscious however and I lifted his arm as he was lying on the ground and twisted it ever so slightly. Enough pressure will break his arm and I'm sure he knows that too.

Avenger: "Where's Black Mask?"

"I-I don't know! He didn't say where he'd be."

Avenger: "Not what I wanted to hear."

I started to twist his arm more and he started yelling in pain.

"I don't know where he is! But, it's too late anyway. Our men are all over Gotham with the Bat's weapons. The boss wants to burn down Gotham!"

I remember that Black Mask stole Batman's weapons and now he's using them against the city. I don't know where Batman or where his allies are. The police, even if they've been made off by Hush, can't ignore this, but how effective will they be?

I need to find Harper. She may be able to help.

I quickly get back to my motorbike and I ride towards the Narrows.

-Bluebird-

Come on, Harper, focus. You're only trying to hack into Batman's network and shut down all of the weapons that are being used to blow the city to kingdom come.

BOOM!

Cullen: "Harper! We need to get out of here! You're not gonna be able to shut down those weapons before they're used to kill us!"

It's bad in the Narrows. After Black Mask escaped from prison, I quickly came back here to see if I can shut down the weapons, but I'm having trouble. It's just like the riots again. I wanted to go out and help, but I have to shut down those weapons.

Bluebird: "Have faith in your big sis, Cullen. I can shut them down and then that should even the odds."

Cullen: "Would that be before or after we blow up?!"

Bluebird: "Clearly before."

I then started to hear signs of fighting out in the streets. I couldn't move from the computer since I was fighting a really annoying firewall.

Cullen: "It's Avenger! He's fighting the gang outside!"

Bluebird: "It's about time he got here. I was worried we were on our own."

Cullen: "He's kicking their asses!"

Bluebird: "Hey, Cullen. Give this to him."

I throw an earpiece to Cullen.

Cullen: "Hey, Avenger!"

Cullen throws the earpiece out the window and after a few seconds...

Avenger: "Is this working?"

Bluebird: "Yeah. What's happening out there?"

Avenger: "Black Mask. He's using Batman's tech against the city! Can you shut it down?"

Bluebird: "No matter how hard I tried, the firewall was really complex. It would take me time to crack it. Time we didn't have."

But, there was one thing I could do.

-Maggie-

The city was in absolute chaos! Black Mask's men were all over the city, carrying what seemed to be beyond military issue hardware. It had Batman written all over it. But, I knew this wasn't his doing.

Montoya: "If this is Batman's mess, where is he right now?!"

Maggie: "I don't know. We're by ourselves on this one."

Montoya: "But how do we do this? Black Mask's gang is all over the city. W We have distress calls coming from everywhere and we having trouble. Even if we manage to take down the foot soldiers, there's still the matter of..."

BRRTATATATA!

Machine gun fire came from the windows! As we down behind cover, we see that the gun fire didn't come from people, but from some sort of flying devices!

Maggie: "Those are Drones!"

Montoya: "Who cares?! Just shoot!"

Renee and I then returned fire on the drones. We heard gunfire and screaming from downstairs! The Drones must have gotten inside the building!

Me and Renee managed to shoot down our drones and we ran into the precinct and started shooting at more drones. They've killed dozens of officers already!

-Bullock-

I started hearing gunfire from inside the building and the guard that was standing around the cells had left to check what was going on.

Bullock: "Hey?! Hey! Let me outta this cell! I can help!"

No one was gonna hear me over that gunfire.

?: "Oh, Harvey. Nobody cares if you can help. You're a criminal now, you can't be trusted."

In the cell next to me Fish is at the door of her cell, talking.

Bullock: "Ah, shut it, Fish."

I was trying to find of a way out of the cell, but I don't have a key or even a slim Jim.

As I thought that, something was shooting the small barred window inside the cell! I quickly hid just below the window as the bars were shot off.

I looked up and I saw a flying machine looking thing just come into the cell.
Whatever it was, it was my ticket out of here.

I jumped up and grabbed the thing, But, it started struggling and sprayed gunfire all over the place, cutting through the door to my cell. I managed to smash it against the wall and run out of the cell.

Fish: "Hey, Harvey! Let me out of this cell!"

Bullock: "Screw you, Fish."

I ran away down the cell block as the machine followed me! I took cover as it began to spray gunfire again. But, there was a dead cop where I was... Poor guy.

He did have a loaded gun with him though. Thanks buddy. I'll put this to good use.

I came out of cover and emptied the entire clip into the machine, disabling it.

Bullock: "That was way too close."

I quickly ran out into the precinct where Montoya and Maggie were shooting at more of those machines.

Montoya: "Bullock?! What are you doing out of your cell?!"

Bullock: "Is this really the time for that?! I'm out of ammo, I need a clip!"

Maggie: "Here!"

Maggie threw a spare clip to me.

Montoya: "What are you doing?!"

Maggie: "We need all the help we can get!"

Maggie, Montoya, and I were holding off the machines. But, there were so many of them.

Bullock: "Where's the AVTF?!"

Maggie: "Busy containing the situation outside! Roman Sionis is using Batman's weapons against us!"

Bullock: "Great. Where is the costumed freak anyway?"

Montoya: "We don't know. Ever since that stunt you pulled at Arkham, we haven't seen him since."

Bullock: "What does he want? An apology?!"

We kept shooting at the machines, but we started to run out of ammo...

BLAM BLAM BLAM!

The machines went down after someone came from behind and shot them down.

?: "Is this how this place has gotten to without me?"

We watch as the man walks in. We can hardly believe our eyes. I could hardly believe my eyes.

Maggie: "Commissioner?!"

Montoya: "You're out of Blackgate?"

Gordon: "Someone from the state signed my release form. They have evidence that it wasn't me that had something to do with Hamilton Hill's murder."

It felt tense as I look at Gordon. I had been apart of the conspiracy that put him behind bars after all.

Bullock: "Hey, Gordon..."

Gordon: "I know, Harvey. But, not now. We have work to do."

Same old Commish. Always ready to work in the most hopeless of situations.

Bullock: "Lead on, Commish."

-Third Person-

Meanwhile, Black Mask has been using the Batplane to blow and destroy any of the Yukuza's operations in Chinatown. The Yukuza have been trying to fight back, but with Black Mask not just plioting the Batplane, he also has remote control of the Batmobile on the ground. Chinatown becomes a firey inferno.

Sionis: "That's what you get when you go up against the Black Mask. You burn!"

Most of the Yukuza's businesses and buildings have been destroyed, but what Black Mask notices is that he is losing contorl of the Batmobile.

Sionis: "What? What's happening to my car?!"

?: "You mean Batman's car? Just remotly taking contorl of it."

Sionis: "Who the hell are you?!"

?: "Just call me Bluebird."

Just like that, Black Mask loses contorl of the Batmobile as it starts to drive away from the Batplane.

Sionis: "You think you can steal from me and get away with it?! Not a chance!"

Black Mask's Batplane chases the Batmobile under Bluebird's contorl. Black Mask uses the weapons on the Batplane to shoot at the car, but it managed to manuver the attacks.

Meanwhile Avenger who had just been dealing with riots in the Narrows, is heading towards the docks on his motorcycle. He uses an earpiece given to him by Bluebird to communicate with her.

Avenger: "Bluebird, where are you luring him to?"

Bluebird: "The docks. At least I can shoot him down with these awesome Batcannons and he'l land in the water."

Avenger: "I'm on my way there now. Try not to hurt Sionis."

Bluebird: "I'll try, but no promises."

Black Mask kept on firing his weapons at the Batmobile.

Bluebird: "You don't have that good an aim, do you?"

Sionis: "I will end you!"

Black Mask roared out in anger and frustartion as the Batmobile reached the docks.
It turned around and then started firing at the Batplane.

Black Mask: "Away from innocent bystanders? Okay, we'll play that game."

The Batplane and the Batmobile then started a battle which each other which both vechicles shooting the other. But, the Batmobile started to run out of room and Black Mask started to damage it with gunfire.

Black Mask: "Did you really think you could steal from me?! I'll hunt you down and make you choke on your own blood after I'm through with this!"

However, the Batmobile managed to get a shot on the Batplane which broke part of the cockpit, exposing Sionis.

Avenger is running across the warehouses on the docks towards the battle between Sionis' Batplane and Harper's Batmobile.

Bluebird: "Umm, Avenger? You might want to get here quickly. He's disabled the car and I can't use any weapons."

Avenger: "I see you."

As the Batplane blows up the Batmobile, Avenger uses his grappel to hook onto the plane and leap onto the wing of the plane. Black Mask notices him and pulls out his dual handguns.

Sionis: "Send me to prison?! You'll gonna die for that!"

Black Mask shoots at Avenger, but Avenger throws his baton at Sionis, knocking him back, which damages the console.

By the time Black Mask recovers, Avenger reaches the cockpit and retrieves his baton, but Black Mask throws him back out onto the wing and dives at Avenger with a knife. Avenger blocks Black Mask and then slams him back into the cockpit.

However, the plane began to go out of control and started spinning. Avenger manages to hold on tight while Black Mask fell out of the cockpit, but held on.

Avenger quickly fired his grappel gun towards a warehouse roof and swings off, grabbing Black Mask.

When the two land, however, the roof can't take the weight of the two and they fall straight through the roof. Falling through the warehouse seleves and then hitting the ground, both Avenger and Black Mask landed side by side on the ground.

But, Black Mask attmepted to crawl away and Avenger slowly got back up. Avenger followed Black Mask, but only to get hit in the chest with a crowbar.

Sionis: "Ready or not, now you die!"

Black Mask readied the crowbar, but Avenger blocks with his baton and fell backwards and flipped Sionis over him into the wall. Getting back up, both Black Mask agressive attacked Avenger, only to receive a roundhouse kick to the face,
followed by an elbow to the stomach. Using the baton, Avenger disarmed Sionis and threw him through a window to the outside.

Avenger: "Bluebird. I have Sionis."

Bluebird: "Oh, that's good. What about the city? Black Mask's gang is still shooting and blowing crap up."

Avenger: "Could you continute to work to shut down the weapons that they're using?
GCPD could use some support."

Bluebird: "So I'm stuck behind the desk. It's too bad that I don't have the Batmobile anymore, that was awesome."

Avenger: "Sorry, but we need you where you are, Bluebird."

Bluebird: "What are you going to do?"

Avenger: "End this."

-Avenger-

Now that i've taken down Sionis, I can guess that it was Hush that gave him control of the car and plane. I walk over to him and stand over him. He'll know where he is.

Avenger: "Where's Hush?"

Sionis: "Go to hell."

Avenger: "Wrong answer."

I use my baton to hook Sionis' arm behind his back since he was lying on his stomach and I twist it.

Avenger: "Either give me what I want or go back to prison with a broken arm."

Sionis: "Do you really think you can make me talk?! Better people have tried."

Avenger: "You haven't met me yet."

I twist Sionis' arm more and more each time he doesn't talk.

Sionis: "Even if I did know, why would I tell you?"

Avenger: "You're beaten, Roman. Without you and the vehicles, your men aren't gonna last long."

Sionis: "You're just like Batman. You put too much faith in the law, when it's nothing but a scam."

Avenger: "Believe that if you want, Sionis. Now, where is Hush?"

Sionis: "You think you can take on somebody that even the Bat couldn't take down?
I don't even know where he is. Because he's taken over Batman's home. His Batcave."

The Batcave. Mr Wayne told me that already, but... Why am I so stupid? Wayne Manor, that's where the Batcave is.

Avenger: "It's been a pleasure, Sionis."

I then hit Sionis in the back of the head, knocking him out.

Wayne Manor. Looks like I'm gonna finally meet the man behind all this.

On my motorbike, I ride towards the entrance to Wayne Manor in Gotham Heights.

I need to get inside and find the entrance to the Batcave. Hush should be there.

I better stay on my guard for possible defences, I can guess that Hush may have contorl of Batman's security system if he has one... I don't know if I'm being paranoid, but I wouldn't put it past Batman to have a security network.

I jump over the gate and head towards the manor. When I do, I stay to hear mechcanical sounds coming from the lawn... Maybe not so paranoid.

A turret comes out of the ground and fires eletricity at me! A taser of somekind?!

Muitple turrets came out of the lawn and fire at me! I run down the path, but lasers come out of the ground and I jump over them while dodging the eletrical attacks from the turrets.

I end up trapped between turrets, but dodging at the last second, caused them to shoot and shortcircut themselves.

I made it to the door, but the door wouldn't budge. So... Sorry Mr Wayne.
I quickly use the grapple gun to swing upwards and break my way into the manor through the window.

I'm inside. I can't say it was easy...

?: "So you made it inside, did you? Well done. Batman seemed to have great taste in defences, even if they were a little non-lethal."

Avenger: "Hush, I assume?"

Hush: "That's right. I can assume that you know about Batman's secert if you're here. Good timing too. I've been wanting to speak to you for some time, Riley Rivers."

It's not a shock if he knows who I am. He did have my mother attacked and put into the hospital, and his clone that attacked me there knew who I was.

Hush: "Come to the grandfather clock. Turn it to 11:47."

Grandfather clock? 11:47? Could it be the entrance to the Batcave?

I searched around the Manor and I found the Grandfather clock in the main study...
This is way too easy. It can't be this easy...

The lights went off in the Manor! It must be a trap, so I quickly hide on the celling, pushing myself on both sides with my hands and feet to keep me on the celling.

My suspeicion was right as three copies of Hush appeared below me. All with guns.

"Where is he?!"

"He's hiding somewhere."

"Find him!"

The three Hush clones move away from the clock. I can't risk opening the entrance while Hush's clones are standing guard. I better take them out. But, this is someone Batman has had trouble with, so I better play it safe and take them out one at a time.

I dropped down quietly and followed the clones until one of them was far enough away from the others to attack. Since they're using flashlights, they'll know the second I attack, so I better be quick.

Using my baton, I choke the first Hush, but he drops his flashlight and the others turn and start shooting, so I throw the clone to the others and he is shot by the gunfire. I manage to get back into hiding as the other clones are on guard.

"He's trying to pick us off! Cover each other's back!"

The two clones then start to walk close to each other, got to seperate them...

I quickly get ahead of them and see a chandier. I use my grapple gun to reach the celling and I start hitting it with my baton which damages the support connecting it with the celling.

"What's that noise?!"

The Hush clones come running, but I got the trap set as I hit the support one more time and the chandier falls. It only gets one of the clones, but with only one left, I drop from the celling and land on him, hitting him hard with my baton.

That takes care of the Hush clones.

I head back to the Grandfather clock and I turn the handles to 11:47. The clock then slides to the side, revealing an entrance into the darkness below.

This was it. The Batcave. I had been here once before, but I was blindfolded.

I go down the stairs which lead into the caves and I look around.

Nightwing, Red Robin, Red Hood, Batgirl, and Mr Pennyworth were all confined inside glass cells. In the light of the cave, I notice a shadow of the bat symbol on the ground. When I look up...

Batman unmasked and bleeding from the head from a cut shaped like a bat symbol. His arms and cape were formed in a way which created a bat symbol shadow on the ground.

Hush: "Enjoy my work, Rivers? The Bat Family defeated. Gotham's in ruins. And I'm standing tall over it all."

Hush was standing with his back to me. This one didn't have the bandages on his head.

Avenger: "I don't. You've been behind this entire conspericy. People have been killed, Hush."

Hush: "True. I guess a lawyer can't understand my work. But, there's one thing that's missing."

Hush then turned around and faced me, but when I looked at his face... I thought Bruce said he was dead!

Avenger: "Winston Grace?! It was you, this whole time?! Then the body in the morgue was a clone!"

Winston: "You're right. A convincing death was the best way to throw everyone off track. You were onto me thanks to the mistakes of Mr Martini. In fact, I should have instructed Jack Marco to kill you as well as Michael Rivers, then Batman wouldn't have gotten wise to the plan."

I knew that Grace had a hand in my dad's murder, and he just confessed to it.

Avenger: "Why? Why would you have my dad killed?"

Winston: "Business. It's always been business. I thought I lost everything when I was told I had cancer. There was so many ideas in my head at that time, but I didn't have the one thing that this country values the most: Money. But, thanks to one Dr Thomas Elliot..."

Grace went over to a curtian and pulled it back.

What I saw was a horifying sight.

It was the real Thomas Elliot. He looked like he'd been tortured. The chair he was strapped to looked like there was dried blood on it. He looked near death.

Winston: "Excessive exposure to the Black Sky formula. His cooperation was paramount to this entire plan. After all, if he didn't share with me everything that there was to know about Batman, then I wouldn't have been able to formulate a plan this precise."

Avenger: "You sick man!"

I walked towards Grace, but he pulled a gun out on me.

Avenger: "You think that gun scares me?"

Winston: "Scares? No. Kills? Yes."

Avenger: "What is this whole thing about?"

Winston: "I just wanted a legacy to leave behind."

Hearing his reason made me want to hurt him more than anything.

Winston: "I was given a second chance and look what i've done with it. I've taken Gotham. From Batman and all the other vigilantes. Me, a simple old man with cancer,
took on the Batman and won. Look at my work, Rivers. The Bat family is defeated.
Gotham in shambles. I've won. Gotham will never be the same again."

Avenger: "I'm still here, Grace."

Winston: "True. You brought down my enitre operation and sent all my plans straight to hell. With Fish in prison and Gordon free, i'll have to work so much harder to get back what I once had."

Gordon?! He's free?! But, what about the charges?

Winston: "You took a lot from me, Rivers. You're the only thing between me and my victory. So this is where I send you to join your father."

Grace aimed the gun at me. But, before he pulled the trigger, Dr Elliot who was strapped to his chair, got one of his arms free and he pulled Grace's arm, stopping him from firing.

I quickly ran towards Grace and jumped over him and grabbed his shoulder, flipping him to the ground. I started hitting him repeatedly in the face, but Grace kicked me in the face, which stunned me a bit. He was stronger than his elderly appearence showed. But, Grace wasn't trained. He was stronger than an average man his age,
but not trained in any martial arts. Which made it easy for me to punch, kick, elbow,
knee him into submission.

He got back up and I kneed him in the face. Not to hard, in case I kill him by accident. This man was responsible for the deaths of those during the riots and those who died tonight.

He turned Gotham, my city, into his stage. For his sick legacy.

Tonight, it all ends.

Winston: "No... NO!"

Winston got up again, but one punch from me put him down.

Winston: "No... I can't lose! I'm so close!"

Winston once again got up.

Winston: "I won't let Emma take my empire like it is. I will leave her a grand legacy as the daughter of the man who killed off the vigilantes of Gotham. Lazuras gave me a second chance. I took the legal, police, and media departments! Gotham was mine! I won't lose it all to some child!"

Avenger: "Give up! You've lost!"

Winston once again threw a punch, but I blocked it and delivered two punches to his ribs and a kick to the head.

Winston staggered on his feet. This was it! Finally this whole thing was going to come to an end...

BLAM!

I then found myself falling... I felt intense pain enter my stomach like fire.

I was shot. But who fired the bullet?

Hush: "I've been waiting for this."

Hush. Dr Elliot. He got free of the restraints and got Grace's gun.

Hush: "You used me. You stole my money and used it to take what was mine from Bruce Wayne. I can't let you do that again."

BLAM!

Hush shot Grace through the stomach. He placed his hand on the wound and stared at Hush in disbelief.

Winston: "N-Not like this..."

BLAM BLAM BLAM!

Three more gunshots later. Grace, the man who masterminded this entire event,
died right there.

Hush: "Grace did do one thing right. He toppled everything you worked for, Bruce.
But, he left you alive. A mistake I won't allow."

I stuggled to stay back up as Hush aimed his gun at Mr Wayne who was still hanging above the celling.

Hush: "Finally this bitter comedy is at an end."

I quickly rush forward and I punched Hush in the face. He stumbled and then fell off the railing which lead down towards the water. I looked down off the railing and saw nothing... Did he survive that fall? Or is he still down there?

I didn't know, but I did know something...

It was over. All of this.

Chapter 13 end.