DC Gothic – Red-X

Part 23

Tattoo Parlour - Gotham City

I slipped my shirt off, then pulled off my t-shirt and took a seat on the bench as the body artist examined the odd designs I wanted tattooed all over the top of me.

"You sure?" asked the guy, who looked like he was a retired members of the Hell's Angel Gang "Doing all these tats is gonna hurt".

Yeah it would sting like a mofo, I knew that, but it would all be worth it as long as this guy got the designs perfect. If he didn't then I'd be super pissed and the body artist would feel my wrath. Not the owner of this place knew how much trouble he could be in because he had no clue that I was Red-X.

"I need them done as soon as possible" I told the guy I had thrown quite a bit of money at only moments ago "So let's do them all in one session".

Thankfully all the symbols were plain black so there was no need to worry about colour, and none of the runes were that complex even they did look a little strange.

"Buddy this will hurt" the artist warned me as he got out his needles.

By now I was used to pain and I didn't think that I had to worry about things such as getting an infection as if I could heal being stabbed in the back then the work of needles was nothing to be concerned about.

"Don't worry about it" I told the former bike "As long as they get done right I don't care about anything else".

And if it all went well I'd become invisible to any sort of remote observation or detection. Which I knew would come in handy.

(Line Break)

Roof Top - Gotham City

Hours after getting myself inked, in very powerful session that latested all day, I stared down at the dark streets of Gotham and listened to various police channels as well as the private communications that Batman and the Justice League used, through the comm link that was built into my mask. I'd discovered this latest feature only a few hours ago, and yet again I was amazed by the things this suit could do.

The reason why I standing on a rooftop listening to the police was because I had decided to try being a hero. I often mocked the people that ran around night after night in caps and tights, but I'd never really tried to see the world through their eyes, and until I did I had no real right to judge them. It was that whole 'make a mile in someone else's shoe' deal.

Plus now and again, it was always a good idea to do things that confused your enemies. I decided to do the misleading stuff it here in Gotham because this was where I had been before the Master of Games had dragged me off to wherever the hell that bloody silly tournament had been held.

I should really be on my way back to Jump City by now as it was an unwise idea to keep Slade waiting, but at the same time I wanted to defy him simply because I could. Besides if I wanted to do I could just wish him right out of existence and he couldn't do a thing to stop me.

There were two reasons as to why I hadn't already done that. The first one was that I didn't want to make a wish now and then discover later that I should have waited a little longer. The other reason was that I was due to inherit Slade's vast fortune, and I might not get the money if he just disappeared. If than happened than I'd very irate.

Also I still had lots to learn from the guy, and a big part of me really wanted to know what Wilson was up to. If he was going for some sort of world domination thing then I wanted to see it, and then sabotage the scheme at just the right moment so it all blew up in the guy's face.

Then there was the fact that he wanted me to met his daughter, and unless she was exactly like her father I didn't think it would be a good thing to leave her alone with him. The last thing Jump City needed was Deathstroke the Next Generation. Plus Blackfire had left me, and most likely the whole planet, behind so I was single again and Slade's daughter could be hot.

Then there was Raven, who did want to see me again, and while I was not going to go rushing to Titan Tower in order to find her, she was kinda fun in bed so I did want to hook up with her again at some point.

My thoughts about what I could do with a certain Titan were interrupted by a police report. Some cops down in Crime Alley had come under heavy fire from some gang bangers.

Crime Alley wasn't to far me according the map I had memorised and I had purposely stayed close to that area as I knew that the place was well named. The choice to do that was paying off.

Within a few moments I had arrived at the alley thanks to teleporting, and I was just in time too. The two cops who had been under fire were now crouched behind the remains of their cruiser and a gang of seven men were advancing upon them. Not all of them had guns, and a few only had close combat weapons, but that was enough prevent me from just attacking them outright.

Since my supply of tricks had been replenished after that big smack down at the end of the tournament, by the Traveller I assumed. I had plenty of things to lash out with. I used exactly seven X-shurikens and with them I badly wounded seven crooks, which was so much fun. I even managed to get the guys armed with automatic rifles to drop their weapons.

"Who the fuck is this guy?" shouted out of the thugs as he pulled one of my red throwing Xs out of his arm.

I made a mental note of where the tossed my shuriken as I had no way of buying, stealing or making anymore of them, so recovering them was important.

"Who cares" another of the tattooed thugs said "Just smoke him".

The others seemed to find some sort of courage from their leader's words and they quickly raised whatever weapons they had.

A criminal with a spare 9mm pistol aimed at me, but he didn't get the chance to fire as I shot a X out of my palm, and the X wrapped itself around the thug rendering him immobile.

Then the two men nearest to me charged. I dodged a clumsy swing with a baseball bat and then kicked out at another which caused the guy to tumble to the ground in a rather undignified manner. Then I shot out an adhesive X which acted like glue, and that stuck two outlaws to the street as their shoes were now covered in very sticky stuff. After that I kicked the guy who was lying prone on the ground in the head.

Before I could do anything else the remaining members of the gang, the ones that could still move, all screamed as dark metal projectiles were embedded into their caused them all to drop their weapons and scream and I saw that the projectiles were bat shaped.

As I looked up I saw that Batman himself was watching me, no doubt his eyes were full of suspicion, but I couldn't tell for sure as he was on top of a nearby building. However there was something in my gut was telling me that he was not happy to see me.

Since I also got the feeling he was going to attack I shifted into a fighting stance and I gave the Bat the universal sign for 'bring it on'. Which had been a foolish thing do, even more so since I was now pretty sure that the Gotham's Grime Guardian was not alone.

Then I noticed the two cops that were now pointing their guns at me. Which was in my mind very rude as I had in fact been trying to help them, not harm them.

"This is what happens when you try to help people" I muttered.

Clearly the hero life was not meant for me and it was also very obvious that I needed to leave this city as soon as possible.

I focused on one of the roofs above me and I threw down some smoke before I teleported. Then I turned around to see Batman and Nightwing standing there, they hadn't been fooled for a second.

"Okay" I said to myself "Nice night for a run".

I put my words into action and I ran like a bat out of hell, or at least I ran like a guy who was being chased by a bat from hell.

Something flew past my ear as I teleported again, and I didn't get very far as Gotham's finest had sent a lot of backup into Crime Ally, and part of those reinforcements was a helicopter than shone a spotlight on me. Which told Batsy and the original Boy Blunder exactly where I was.

"Nightwing, no" I heard Batman call out.

While I'd started running again I still didn't get very far as something wrapped itself around my foot. It was a wire that Nightwing had fired at me from some sort of gun. However he wasn't going to be able to hold ,e with that I as my suit allowed me to send an electrical current down the wire. Grayson's suit was not insulated like mine was and he got shocked.

Then I cut the wire with the knife I'd gotten from the Predator, and I had been about to start running yet again only I got tackled by the Dark Knight. If I hadn't been so scared I would have felt more than a little honoured to met the guy. As it was I just electrified the suit again, but this time it had no effect.

Suddenly Batman had me pinned against the wall and was slapping some cuffs on me, and while I was pissed off I was also very impressed by how easily he had beaten me. But I wasn't actaully that surprised. I might have beaten Robin and Batgirl, but they were only apprentices really, Bruce Wayne was the master.

"Let's see what you look like" Nightwing said as he pulled my mask off.

When he saw my face I smiled at Grayson.

"So what are you going to do now?" I asked the first dynamic duo.

Before they could answer I gave them something to think on.

"As soon I get a chance I'm going to tell everyone that Bruce Wayne is Batman" I then said "Oh and that the Batcave is under the manor, and that Nightwing is really...".

I never got the chance to finish as the Dark Knight shoved me into the wall. For a human he was really strong.

"Or maybe Commissioner Gordon would like to know what his daughter gets up to at night" I then added.

That had been a silly thing to say as it got Nightwing mad and that meant he was less likely to listen to reason.

"Why are you here?" The Batman demanded to know.

I decided to tell the truth as at least he was focused on the larger picture.

"I'm came looking for Talia al Ghul" I admitted.

Well that had been the plan. I hadn't really decided what I would do if I ever caught up with her, but I'd needed to do something to stop myself from feeling like a victim.

"Why?" the Bats demanded to know.

He wasn't giving me anytime to think so I had no time to fudge the truth.

"She tried to kill me" I said.

Well she hadn't tried per say it was just that I hadn't died, and technically it had been Ubu and given the chance I would kill that guy. However it was not a good idea to mention any of that given then he and Talia had a thing.

"But I got distracted by the tournament, and now I don't really have reason to be here so I decided to try out being a hero" I confessed.

Nightwing snorted before talking to me some more.

"You don't expect us to believe that do you" he remarked.

Batman said nothing, and I got the sense that he knew I wasn't lying.

"It's not like I'm some psychopath" I pointed out "I'm just a thief I specialise in stealing high tech stuff, but I'm between jobs at the moment so I thought I'd see what its like to play for the other side for a while".

I had the skills for it, and not being able to die made the gig a whole lot safer.

"So you want to be a good guy?" Nightwing asked.

This time he didn't sound like he thought I was joking.

"Well I did think about it" I said truthfully "but given what's happing I'm thinking of writing a tell all book. I know things. Secret identities, events that have yet to happen, that sort of stuff. I'll need something to do in while I'm locked up in Arkham".

Not that I was likely to get thrown in there. I wasn't criminally insane I was just a selfish jerk with lots of cool toys and some knowledge of the arcane arts.

"So unless you want everyone to know that Oliver Queen is Green Arrow then you better let me go" I demanded.

The only way to shut me up, other than letting me go, would be to kill me, which wouldn't work even if they'd been willing to do it. They might try to wipe my memory, but arranging that would take time and I could escape while they were sorting it out.

"Are you blackmailing us?" Nightwing inquired.

Judging by the amount of pressure Bats was applying to my arm he wasn't happy about the idea either.

"I am" I replied "You won't kill me, and if you don't let me go I'll be letting the world know that Clark Kent is Superman. I bet I could make a lot of money selling that little tidbit".

Batman did not take kindly to that either and he let my arm really have it.

"Not that I really need to say anything" I added "I made sure that people will find out in case if I ever go missing".

Since I was lying at this point I didn't dare to supply any details.

"So you better let me go" I told Batman "and just to prove I'm not such a bad guy I'll leave town. You'll never see me again, fate willing".

Despite the fact that my deal was reasonable The Bat still didn't let me so I made my move. I activated my rotary Xs, then I flatted my palms and and twisted my wrists so that the blades cut through the cuffs. As I was doing that Batman smartly backed off.

"Besides I think you have bigger fish to fry" I then said "Someone's gone and turned on your night light".

The Bat Signal was indeed lighting up the night sky, and I knew it meant that something big had to be going down.

"This isn't over" Batman promised as he and Nightwing moved away.

It was only when they were out of sight did I let out a breathe and reach for my mask. I wasn't sure if I'd won or not but what I was sure about was that getting out of Gotham was a really, really good idea.

I had to get on my flyinf motorbike and go to Jump City. The one problem with that was the fact that I couldn't recall where I had stashed the damn thing.

(Line Break)

The Batcave – Gotham

Hours later, upon returning to his hideout Batman had sent Nightwing home as the younger man had a town of his own to look after. Also he hadn't wanted anyone to see him with the mask off as then they'd know how truly worried the Dark Knight really was.

While the encounter with Red-X had been short, it had also been intense as now Bruce understood just how dangerous the crook really was. The criminal was somewhat skilled and he had an advanced suit which gave him access to lots of gadgets, but those things weren't what made the thief so worrisome.

Red-X knew he was, he knew who Nightwing was, he even knew who Superman was!

As he updated a file the Batman pondered the situation. He considered options on how to deal with Red-X in ways that weren't fatal. Erasing the man's memories was an option, however arranging something like took time and he'd hadn o way of holding X other than to hand the crook over the police.

The Watchtower would have been an option, however the League was still rebuilding the station so there was no place up there to hold people. At least not without them suffocating.

Batman suspected that Red-X had been lying about having a way to get the information he had out to the public if he went missing, but Batman hadn't been able to risk calling that bluff. If it had just been him he might have but Nightwing and Batgirl didn't deserve to have their lives destroyed.

Which was also why he had to come up with a way to deal with this issue in the long term. Having Jo'nn wipe the thief's dangerous memories was an option, but Batman wasn't sure if the Manhunter would agreed to it.

He would have to find another way, and thanks to the Batcomputer he had a number of options. None of them were good, they were just necessary.