Chapter 2: A Man in Grief
More chapters on my (P)atreon at Saintbarbido.
(General P.O.V)
(Elsewhere)
Bruce Wayne stood at the podium in front of a sea of reporters, his face drawn with sadness and concern. He took a deep breath before he began to speak, his voice low and measured.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I stand before you today with a heavy heart. I'm sure all of you know why. But for those who are not yet aware, it is with great sadness that I must announce the passing of James Gordon, the Commissioner of the Gotham City Police Department."
There was a murmur of shock and sadness from the assembled press. Having it confirmed by Bruce Wayne of all people hit different. Bruce paused for a moment to let the news sink in, his eyes scanning the crowd.
"Commissioner Gordon was a true hero of Gotham. He dedicated his life to serving and protecting the citizens of this city, and his loss is a profound one. He was a friend and ally to me and to many others, and his absence will be deeply felt."
Bruce's voice caught for a moment, and he cleared his throat before continuing.
"I want to assure the people of Gotham that we will do everything in our power to find out what happened to Commissioner Gordon, and to bring those responsible to justice. I extend my support to all our officers as well as Harvey Bullock, the acting commissioner who couldn't be with us today."
The press was silent, hanging on Bruce's every word. He knew that his words would be scrutinized and analyzed by the media, but he also knew that he had a duty to reassure the people of Gotham in their time of grief. This was what the Bruce Wayne persona was meant for. To be seen. To be in front of a camera and work in the light.
"As a community, we must come together to honor Commissioner Gordon's memory and to continue the work that he started. We must be vigilant in the face of danger and injustice, and we must work hard to make Gotham a safer place for all of its citizens."
"To that effect, Wayne enterprises is working on new tools and weapons to help our officers better protect our streets. Stronger body armor on the level of what the military has will soon be issued to the GCPD."
Loud cheers and claps rose up from the crowd.
Bruce paused again, taking a moment to collect his thoughts.
"Commissioner Gordon was a good man, a brave man, and a true hero of Gotham. He will be sorely missed, but his legacy will live on through the actions of those he inspired. I know that I speak for many when I say that I am honored to have known him and to have worked alongside him. Rest in peace, Jim."
With those words, Bruce stepped away from the podium, his heart heavy with grief.
The moment he was in the car, the Bruce Wayne persona washed off him. He pressed a button on the edge of his seat.
"Go on, Alfred."
"Master Bruce, the...package has arrived."
Bruce narrowed his eyes.
"I'll be there in 5 minutes."
(Later)
Davian jolted awake, feeling groggy and disoriented. He tried to move his arms, but found that they were bound tightly behind his back. He looked around, taking in his surroundings. The room he was in was completely white, devoid of any decorations or furnishings. There were no windows, no doors, no apparent way out.
As he turned his head to the front, he saw the Batman standing before him. The dark knight was clad in his signature black suit, his imposing figure looming over Davian. Davian felt a wave of fear wash over him as he realized that this was no ordinary encounter.
Pulling on the zip ties holding his hands behind him proved futile. He wanted to be anywhere but there.
The last thing he remembered was crawling away from the super-powered fight happening around him. His fingers felt raw from dragging his body across the rough ground. At least until he had the energy to start stumbling away. That's all he recalled.
"What do you want from me?" Davian asked after a while, his voice trembling only slightly. This was the frigging Batman! He was talking to one of the most beloved and iconic characters in fiction.
The Batman regarded him with a cold, steely gaze. "You know why you're here."
Davian shook his head in confusion. "I don't understand. What have I done?"
He knew why he was here. And Davian would be the first to admit that while the gates of hell were terrifying, the thought of what an unhinged Batman could do sent a shiver down his spine. He was not going to admit to Killing Gordon.
The Batman stepped forward, his cape billowing behind him. "You killed Commissioner Gordon," he said, his voice low and menacing.
Davian felt his heart skip a beat in that same bone chilling fear. "What?! I would never-"
But before he could finish his sentence, Batman pressed a button on his wrist computer and the white walls of the chamber changed into a screen with a clip playing.
Davian gulped at the sudden change. He felt as if things were soon about to turn from bad to worse. What if...what if he really did it?
"Watch."
Batman commanded causing Davian to rip his eyes off the floor and to the walls.
The clip itself was grainy and shaky.
However, it showed enough. There was a figure floating above a building. No, not floating. There was purple light under each of his bare feet. He was shirtless, displaying a chest that was littered with a few notable scars.
Davian clenched his jaw. Yeah...this was not looking good.
He was dressed in torn blue jeans that reached just below his shins. In his hands he held a huge sword that was shaped like scissors only thinner, sharper and longer. The sword instantly grabbed his attention. It was...immaculate. An aura of purple energy surrounded him.
His most distinguishing feature was the white cat mask on his face, underneath which were purple eyes. The mask was smooth and bone like. Two small spikes in the shape of horns curved upwards from it and it fit his face perfectly. As of it was a part of him. Davian could not tear his eyes away.
Apart from the scissors, that was the second thing that grabbed his attention.
'There's that feeling again...that feeling of being heavy and light at the same time.'
"Everyone hang back!"
A voice shouted and the owner of the footage, who turned out to be a civilian, fled the scene along with dozens of others. Davian leaned closer.
"Wait...what's happening?"
"You."
Batman answered as the shaky footage reeled back to capture him raising the hand holding the sword to the sky. The civilian had reached the end of the street and begun filming from behind the corner of a Starbucks.
"No...no, what are you doing?"
Davian muttered. He knew what was coming.
"We have you surrounded. Come down and surrender yourself Son. This can only go one way."
The statement was delivered through the megaphone.
"Oh Fuck oh Fuck oh Fuck... nobody's gonna believe this..."
The Civilian, a young girl whispered to herself. Any other time, Davian would have been wondering why she stayed back when everyone but the police was evacuating.
For a few tense seconds all that could be heard was labored breathing and then the figure dropped the sword. Purple light bloomed across the evening sky.
A massive shockwave caused the girl recording the whole thing to stumble and fall. There were people screaming and running by from something. Then the phone was reoriented to the source of the commotion and Davian's breath hitched.
The building was split into two. One section was a burning mess, the other was rubble.
Davian watched in horror as the footage played out before him, unable to comprehend how he could have been involved in such a thing.
"12 cops were admitted to the ICU. Commissioner Gordon was in the building, trying to reason with you when you decided to destroy it."
Batman grabbed Davian's hair, pushing up his face to stare at the whites of his mask.
"No no no no... that can't be true... You're lying!"
He yelled.
"You caused the explosion that killed a friend!"
Batman shouted to his face. This close, Davian could see the stubble on Batman's chin. He wasn't impeccable or put together...this was a Batman who was stressed. This was a man in grief.
Davian begun to shake his head but the grip on his hair was too tight.
"You're hurting me."
He told the Dark Knight, holding his gaze for a few seconds before Batman abruptly let him go. Davian exhaled forcefully, his gaze turned to the floor. He was trying so hard to call upon the memories of this body's former owner but came up blank. It was just him.
"I don't know what to tell you anymore." He looked up at Batman.
"I can't remember anything."
Batman scrutinized him, his eyes narrowing. "What are your powers?"
Davian stared back, anger getting the best of him. He was hungry, cold and restrained in a metallic chair in a featureless room. That was also right after escaping from a dangerous situation. Suffice it to say, he was close to hitting his limit.
"I don't have any powers." He said curtly.
"I don't know half of what you're talking about man!"
He jerked in his seat, his face set in an angry expression.
The Batman seemed unconvinced. "You were in that prison transport that was attacked. Do you remember who did it?"
Davian shook his head. "I don't remember anything. The last thing I recall is running away from Croc and a woman who could shoot energy from her fists! That's it! Untie me!"
The Batman regarded him for a moment longer before speaking again. "Are you afraid of me?"
The change was immediate. Davian settled down in his seat. Was it a threat?
He looked up at the dark Knight and hesitated before answering. "I don't want to die, if that's what you're asking. But I'm not afraid of you. If I did kill Commissioner Gordon, I'll do what needs to be done and go to prison. But without concrete proof, you can't accuse me of a crime I don't remember committing. You can't do shit like this! It's not lawful and I thought of all people, a hero would get that."
He gestured around.
"And even if you had proof, this is hardly a court room."
Batman glared down at him, his expression inscrutable. Davian could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he waited for the dark knight's next move. He braced himself for an attack, but instead, the Batman simply pinched his neck and Davian felt himself slipping into unconsciousness.
"Oh Fuck you..."
As he drifted off, he wondered what would become of him. Would he ever be able to clear his name? Or was he doomed to spend the rest of his life in prison, falsely accused of a crime he didn't commit? The footage was also damning and concerning. It had taken some time to jog his memory but the cat mask, it was modelled after something very familiar. A hollow. A soul devouring creature from Bleach.
The last thing he saw before everything went black was the Batman's stoic figure looming over him, a silent sentinel in the empty white room.
(Elsewhere)
Deadshot groaned as he woke up, staring at a concrete ceiling. There was dull ache at the back of his neck.
He sighed.
"I hate this shit."
He rubbed his eyes in frustration.
"Where the fuck am I?"
A voice said from beside him. He turned his head to look and immediately an annoyed expression crossed his face.
Captain Boomerang rubbed his head as he got to his feet.
"Oi, fancy meeting you here mate."
He greeted Deadshot, spotting him lying on the floor.
Boomerang held out a hand to the greatest marksman in the world but Deadshot slapped it away and got to his feet by himself.
"Boomer."
He nodded, looking around the both of them. 5 more people and a shark were waking up from the floor as well.
"Here we go again."
Captain Boomerang said from the side.
(General P.O.V)
"Quite a group we have this time, mate."
Boomerang commented,
"Is that...a shark?"
"King Shark."
Deadshot corrected him.
"And from the looks of those teeth, the Shark part is well earned."
"Deadshot."
A heavily built man with a Russian accent spat out, getting to his feet.
"I told you that the next time we saw each other; I would tear your limb from limb."
He threatened with a vicious look, fingers tightened into massive fists.
Captain Boomerang whistled.
"And here I thought I was your only friend."
Deadshot stretched his neck.
"Kgbeast. Still salty about Yugoslavia?"
"You left me."
Kgbeast said, walking forwards with aggression.
"After you cut a deal with the fucking mob."
Deadshot shot back, his own face hardening.
"Face it, you betrayed me first. You can't blame me for returning the favor."
He added.
"Argh...all this testosterone is going to make me gag."
The female voice that was the source of the statement, had them all looking her way.
Captain Boomerang smiled.
"I'm loving this gig more and more."
Killer Frost sneered at him, showing him the middle finger.
"Bite me, Aussie."
Laughter broke out from King Shark.
"She's feisty. I love that."
"This better be a nightmare or else I'm Killing all of you fucks."
A voice with a British accent groaned as the owner came to.
"Oh you have got to be shitting me."
Boomer said in a nervous tone.
"Manchester Black."
Deadshot followed up.
"Wow, this must be one hell of a mission if Waller managed to pull you in."
"Waller?"
The tall, handsome white man wearing a black trench coat over a t shirt with the British flag emblazoned on it, asked.
"That's who I have to kill?"
A slow smile worked its way onto his face.
"Good to know."
"Count me in."
The final member of the team, told him.
It was a girl, dressed in a purple costume with a hood over her head.
"Who let the goth girlie in? She barely looks 17."
Boomerang asked.
"Hey sweetheart, where's your mom and dad?"
He walked closer, bending on one knee.
"I wouldn't do that Captain Boomerang. You are staring at arguably the most powerful thing in this entire complex."
Amanda Waller's voice came from the intercom system placed on the corner of the room.
"Open it up."
She gave the order and a section of the room withdrew into the wall, revealing a heavy set black woman dressed in a blue office attire with white pearls on her neck.
"Waller."
Deadshot nodded.
"Deadshot, I would say it was good to see you but we both know that would be a lie."
Waller replied.
Deadshot smirked.
"Trust me, it's mutual. I'm waiting for the day when you won't need me to come and clean up your messes."
Waller's smile widened.
"Nonsense, and keep you away from Killing bad guys in service to your nation?"
"I think you mean your own self-interest, Waller. But I'm not complaining, you can call me anytime if it's about shaving years off my sentence, Love."
Boomerang told her.
"Argh. Kissing ass."
Killer Frost rolled her eyes.
"You should learn a thing or two from him, Ice Queen. I hold your lives in my hands, after all."
Waller threatened.
"Bullshit."
Kgbeast spoke up.
Every eye turned towards him.
"Oh this is gonna be good."
Boomer said, rubbing his palms together. Waller made eye contact with the mercenary and stood aside, showing him the door.
"Please, step over this line and see if you won't die. It's going to be particularly...explosive."
Kgbeast looked at everyone gathered and sneered.
"Bunch of cowards."
The Russian merc spat.
King Shark bristled at the insult.
"No one calls me a coward!"
"Wait, big guy."
Manchester held out a hand to stop King Shark from pouncing on Kgbeast.
"She is not fucking around."
He touched the inhibitor collar on his neck.
"I might not have access to my powers now, but I know people, she's going to kill him."
The rest watched Kgbeast's next move. He walked forward, eyes set at the entrance.
"You wouldn't go to all this trouble just to kill us."
He stated with confidence.
"Are you willing to bet your life on that?"
Deadshot asked but received no answer.
"Fuck. What if he's actually right?"
Killer Frost asked just as Kgbeast made it past the entryway.
"3, 2, 1...Boom."
Captain Boomerang's countdown coincided with a beeping sound on the back of Kgbeast's head.
"Wait I..."
He had a fearful look on his face as he tried to turn back.
A small explosion rang out and chunks of brain and bloody meat went flying out.
"Holy..."
Killer Frost gagged, looking away. If she had followed after him...she would be dead too.
Raven's eyes widened. Even after all she had seen, the casual brutality was surprising to her.
The rest looked unperturbed.
"Can't say I didn't see that coming."
Deadshot commented.
"Now then, any more questions or should we get down to why you're all here?"
The room had gotten somber. The notion of having a bomb on the back of their necks was...disturbing.
Manchester Black frowned in thought. The Inhibitor collar would come off eventually, what was stopping him from using his abilities to remove the bomb? He then looked back at Waller's unimpressed face. She did not look the least bit nervous to be standing in a room with killers.
No, she had to have a countermeasure for that. It would be better if he simply waited for a chance to read her mind, maybe control her into disarming it.
"Good."
Waller finally said after no one spoke up.
"Pull up the mission."
She gave an order and a different section of the wall, slid away to reveal a wide blank screen.
"Convicts, welcome to Task Force X, you jump when I say and bark when I say. Moving on, I introduce to you your target."
The screen came on and showed an image of Davian.
"Gotta say, I'm not impressed. Guy looks like the type you'd find in a Drive In."
Boomer said.
"I assure you, Convict, Davian Mabuz is not what he seems from the outside."
Waller waved her left palm near the screen and the image changed to show something else.
Davian, shirtless and holding a huge sword that undulated with a certain power. He had on an intimidating mask that covered his face.
Boomer frowned as Deadshot crossed his hands before his chest, a thoughtful expression on his face.
Killer Frost whistled.
"Hello, snack. I love a man with scars."
At her comment, King Shark begun staring at his body.
"I have scars."
He told her but she ignored him.
"That mask...what is he?"
Raven spoke up.
"We don't know."
Waller answered.
"What we do know, is that he has the capability to level an entire building simply by changing into this form. Which is when he loses his mind."
'He's like me.'
Raven realized. She had to always keep a tight lid on her emotions.
"What do you want with him?"
Raven followed up.
"That's for me to know and for you to watch your mouth before I snap a finger and paint the walls with your pretty little head." She threatened, then swept her gaze across the room.
"Your mission, your only mission, is to bring him back to me, alive."
Waller ended her statement with a commanding tone.
"That building, the skyline behind it, it's Gotham isn't it?"
Deadshot asked.
"Oh I see it now, the smog."
Captain Boomerang added then his face changed.
"Fuck me."
He turned to Waller,
"You're sending us straight towards the Bat?"
"Not my problem Convict."
Waller replied, turning around to leave.
"Get in, find who I sent you to find and get out. Deadshot, you're team leader."
She threw over her shoulder.
"Oh goodie."
Captain Boomerang said in envy.
"What? No clue? Come on Waller, you usually give us more than that."
Deadshot told her.
"Harley Quinn."
She responded.
"She might know something. Get to her and Manchester will extract information that might help you find the target of your mission."
"Waller." Manchester Black called out, eyes narrowing.
"This is far from over."
Waller smiled.
"Careful now, Convict. Don't forget what you are, my hunting dogs. Stray and I'll put you down."
With that warning out of the way, she stepped over the line.
"Send them to sleep."
She ordered and the door closed.
Gas begun to pour inside the chamber.
(Davian's P.O.V)
The next time I woke up, I was still tied up on the chair. My body stiff and aching.
'Fuck, so it wasn't a nightmare?'
At least the bruises on my elbows and hands, including the chipped nails were cleaned and my hands bandaged. I swept my gaze across the room and found myself alone.
My bindings were still tight enough to hold me in place without being too constricting to cut off blood flow to my palms and fingers. I strained my legs and sighed in disappointment. My feet could just barely reach the floor.
I was also not as groggy as before, and based on the fact that I could feel the refreshing after-taste in my mouth of water, it was clear to see that the Bat had fed me some medication. That was the only reason my head was not throbbing like before. I still had a headache however, which warranted a trip to the hospital but, it wasn't as bad as before.
Now that I was alone, this was my chance to leave.
"Superman, if you can hear me..."
"He can't."
A voice stated from behind.
It was unfamiliar. Not Batman's.
"Who are you!?"
I craned my neck to try and see, only managing to catch a glimpse of a green cape before I felt the darkness creep on the edges of my vision. I went unconscious for the second time.
This time, something was waiting for me on the other side.
(General P.O.V)
"Did you get anything?"
Batman asked the Martian Manhunter.
They were in front of a console with terminals showing different camera feeds of a passed out Davian.
"Negative. His mind is shielded from my mental probes. I've tried breaking through but it's impenetrable."
Bang!
Batman punched the table in frustration.
"You don't really need confirmation, Batman, so what is this really for?"
Manhunter asked the Dark Knight.
"A hunch. There is much more going on here. I feel...I feel like I'm on the verge of seeing the bigger picture. Jim's death, the fact that his body was never found and the kid," he motioned with his chin towards the high tech interrogation room. A chamber that was strong enough to withstand a nuclear blast and had an energy field that hid it away from most forms of detection.
"He's a victim as well. I can tell..."
Batman removed his cowl, rubbing his eyes.
Beep. Beep.
The Dark Knight accepted the call coming in through his wrist computer.
"Yes, Alfred."
"Sir, you have been gone for 2 days. Dick and I have been worried sick, you didn't even bother to check in."
Bruce sighed.
"It's been a busy 2 days, Alfred. Status?"
"We might have a problem. I'm sending over the footage."
It only took a few seconds for the data to arrive.
Batman opened the file and immediately growled.
"Waller."
(Davian's P.O.V)
I was back in the graveyard.
Knelt before his grave.
I fell asleep in the real world and when I woke up, my surroundings had changed and I was no longer bound to a chair in the white room. Now it was the mist, the graves and...
"It's times like these that remind me of just crazy the world is."
A voice said from behind me. I turned around warily, my feet spaced out, ready for action.
My hand reached for my hip and I cursed. I had forgotten I wasn't strapped. The man looked at the action and blinked.
"Davian? What are you doing here?"
He questioned, then looked around.
"How...long have I been here?"
He wasn't doing anything so I calmed down. It was easy enough to know who this was. The moustache, brown coat over a generic white suit, glasses and a badge strapped to his hip...
"Commissioner Gordon."
I stated.
My headache. The cause of all this.
"Where are we Davian? The last thing I remember is..."
He looked at me critically before sighing in relief.
"You're you. Thank God."
He said, walking closer to me with an air of familiarity. Seems like he knew the last resident of this body.
"And I'm dead."
He stated, as if discussing the weather.
I said nothing, studying him instead. He did not look hurt in any way. How was he here? Wherever here was anyway. Though I had an idea.
"Yeah. You are." I finally answered, looking away to distract myself from the truth. That his death was in my hands. The mist covered the cemetery just like before, though it seemed a bit thinner. In fact, I could swear that there were a few more graves than before and... something was out there. Watching.
The same feeling of being light and heavy took over.
'Call me...'
"Did you hear that?"
I asked Gordon who was knelt before his grave with a bewildered look on his face.
"I'm dead. Barbs..."
He muttered.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Gordon whispered, leaning on the headstone.
"I remember trying to make my way to you and then..."
He went silent.
"I'm... I'm sorry."
I apologized. This wasn't my fault but...I still felt liable in a way. Davian stole him from his family. How can I ever get past that?
"Hey, are you okay?"
I asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.
The instant I did so, the entire world shook and collapsed from underneath my legs. I awoke to a burning building, scalding hot...smoke in my lungs...I can't see anything...
I stumbled as the whole building trembled, the walls around me cracking. I loosened the tie on my neck to catch a breath. 'Gotta stick to the floor, where the air is...' The explosion from above caused the ceiling to cave in but luckily, I survived due to the frames of the metal staircase providing a cover for me.
As a consequence, I was stuck under it. I coughed and took a breath while covering my nose with my hand. 'Gotta call it in, get rescue.' My hand went for the radio on my left hip and started patting around. 'Where is it?'
The floor below me begun to splinter, the weight of the collapsed ceiling proving too heavy to handle.
"Help! Help!"
I called out, maybe Davian could hear me. Things were not looking too good. Wait...what?
Davian?
I bit back a scream while trying to extract my foot which was stuck between concrete debris. Then without a second warning, a purple flash lit up the sky, visible from the holes in the building and blowing down more of the roof to crash onto me.
I saw death, smiling at me, with a promise. I could have sworn she told me,
'Not today'
But those might have been the delusions of a dying man.
The last thing I saw was her face. My sweet Barbara.
"Dad, promise me that you'll always come home."
I could remember her saying that and then, darkness.
The next thing I felt after that, was a chilling breeze.
"Quickly! We're losing the subject."
"They will not be happy."
A few frantic voices spoke up. My body was mostly numb. The only muted feeling being a tightness in my chest. I couldn't see. Something was covering my face. I tried to reach out with my hand and found both of them and my legs bound.
"Wha..."
My throat was scratchy and dry.
"Shit, he's waking up, professor!"
"Shut up! Both of you!"
Light hit my eyes underneath the eyelids as the sheet covering my face was ripped away.
The mask of Professor Pyg revealed itself to me. There were two of his nurses/henchmen with all types of surgical procedures done to them, beside him. My gaze was stuck on Pyg's cruel eyes.
"Besides, our job is not to keep old Gordo alive. A precious waste of prime experiment material? sure. But our job is to collect enough D.N.A samples to create his replacement."
No...
"Batmuh..."
I tried to call out but the pain on my chest increased as laughter escaped Pyg's mouth.
"Get ready Commissioner."
He showed me a hack saw.
"I promise to make your death experience...memorable."
Then he started cutting.
"Gah!"
My shoulder slammed onto the corner of a grave stone as I was thrown away from Gordon.
"Davian!"
Commissioner Gordon called out rushing to my side.
"What...what was that?"
I asked myself, the weird feeling of being light and heavy at the same time gripping me. It was like I was swimming in a pool of murky water.
"You're... you're glowing purple."
Gordon spoke up from close, not quite touching me but hovering over my body in concern.
"Purple?"
I wondered, getting to my feet.
I looked down and saw what he meant. My hands...they were covered with an aura of bright purple that was tinged with silver at the edges.
"Reiryoku..."
I muttered in realization.
Which meant... I looked at Gordon as the memory of the burning building replayed itself in my mind. Except, it wasn't my memory was it? They were Gordon's. Somehow I had experienced his memories as if they were mine.
"That was an ability."
I added with confidence.
This...this could be good or disastrous. I wasn't 100 percent sure but, the fact that the previous host could apparently turn into a vizard and rampage meant...I might have the same abilities. If my speculation was true though...how did the abilities transfer? Reiryoku or Spiritual Energy comes from the soul. His soul was gone from what I could tell, so how?
"An ability?"
Gordon broke through my thoughts and asked.
"Yeah."
"You mean like the other...guy?"
He asked and I narrowed my eyes in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
I wondered.
"Come on Davian. 2 years ago, Joker's factory. He used it to produce his laughing gas, with plans to release it on the city."
He begun, frowning upon noticing the blank look on my face.
"You went after a few orphan kids that his henchmen were using to threaten Batman. The whole Factory went up in flames. By the time I arrived, you were crouching on the ground, holding onto..."
He looked away.
"Holding onto three lifeless bodies."
My lips thinned. Seems like the me from this world hadn't had it easy either. I wanted to learn more about him but...not something like that.
"I... huh... I'm sorry about all this, Commissioner."
I told him, changing the subject.
"Don't worry about it Kid."
He smiled at me, turning around to face his gravestone.
"We all gotta go sometime."
He added with melancholy.
"I'll just...sit here for a while, glow stick."
He joked, referencing my aura covered body.
Problem is, I did not know how to turn it off.
I was still glowing and each passing second more of my stamina was being drained. Tapping into my Reiryoku for the first time was taking a toll on my body and I couldn't keep it going for long.
What was it that that Triad dude told me back in prison? I sat on the ground and closed my eyes.
"Visualize the body, it's place in the universe. Visualize the mind, it's place in the body, visualize the intent, it's place in the mind. Visualize until they become one."
Or something like that.
Going in, I had no idea if it would work. The first few minutes were spent with me trying hard not to let my mind wander. Getting control of whatever this was, would help me survive better. Maybe even escape Batman. Only 2 minutes in, I felt something new inside me. Something... different and then...
Nothing. The feeling went away and I opened my eyes with a little frustration.
"You're thinking too hard on it."
Gordon spoke up.
"If you have an idea, share it."
I shot back, annoyed.
"Whoa, first of all, curb the attitude. Secondly, those are your powers. Just turn them off."
"You think I'm not...?"
I visualized flipping a switch and locking the Reiryoku away and immediately turned back to normal. Whoa...wait.
"I can't believe that actually worked."
I said dumbly, staring at the bare skin of my palms.
"You deactivated them. Good work, son."
Gordon congratulated. I recalled the feeling and tried to recreate it.
So, flipping a switch works but it's more like pressing or pushing down on something. The opposite to that would be pulling. My body lit up with purple once again. I laughed in disbelief, the exhaustion was still there but...I had powers.
I had honest to God powers.
...'not ready...'
I turned my face around, 'that voice again...'
"Someone's happy."
Gordon commented.
"Yeah."
I couldn't keep the smile off my face.
"If I learn how to control them, no one else needs to get hurt due to my carelessness."
Gordon looked at me weirdly.
"You really are different."
How do I tell a guy that I apparently killed, I had no memory of our past encounters? Nothing.
"After everything that has happened, it would be weird if I wasn't."
I told him, deactivating the Reiryoku cloak. My shoulders sagged at the exhaustion I was feeling.
"I guess you're right."
He walked over and patted my shoulder.
"For what it's worth kid, I don't blame ya."
My eyes widened slightly. Growing up where I had, Cops were no better than criminals, so my trust in them had always been low but...Gordon was one of the good ones. That much was certain.
"Thanks."
I responded, meaning it. Right there, I decided I needed to make things right. Not just to clear my name but to also reunite Gordon with his family.
"And... I don't actually think you're dead."
The statement surprised him just as I was sure it would.
"I've been thinking about it, Commissioner and something doesn't add up."
I couldn't tell him that I had no memories but even with what I knew so far, a lot of it was odd.
What had Davian been doing on that particular building?
Why would he wait to attack? The clip had played for 2 whole minutes before he had made his move. If he was as unhinged as Batman tried to make it seem then he would have attacked almost immediately.
And third, someone had taken away Gordon's body. Professor Pyg. One of the worst villains in Batman's Rogues gallery. This was DC. The chances that someone was behind all this was very high.
"If I'm not dead...then where are we?"
He asked, looking around.
"This...is my inner world."
I replied and the instance the words left my mouth, I knew it to be true.
"I think I intercepted your soul."
Gordon blinked.
"Which means...it's likely you didn't kill me, hell, you might have saved me."
(General P.O.V)
"Our asset is on site, just waiting for the green light."
In a room with multiple screens, a man with an eye patch on one of his eyes spoke up.
"Excellent. We should avoid mistakes from here on out. Our first plan was a catastrophic failure."
A female voice stated from one terminal.
"The Batman, as always, intervened."
Another voice intoned.
Deathstroke leaned in.
"I told you to let me take him out."
"No. He is still necessary for our plans. However, maybe a lesson on who not to mess with is in order?"
The new voice was elegant and well spoken.
"I agree."
"Agreed."
"Sounds like fun. I'm in!"
"Agreed."
A multitude of voices pitched in.
"Good."
The first voice said.
"Deathstroke, inform the handler to be ready for both Assets' extraction."
"Red Dawn has proven to be... difficult."
Deathstroke answered.
"Difficult even for you?"
The female voice wondered.
Deathstroke rubbed the pommel of one of his swords.
"Not if I kill him."
He responded.
"No, nothing that extreme. He just needs to be...reminded who he's working for."
The first voice instructed.
(Gotham)
"I have visual on the target. Boomer move in."
Deadshot spoke into his comms, lying on the rooftop of a building overlooking the tin roof club.
"Roger. She's moving across the street. I'm following."
Boomer adjusted his beanie and shrunk into himself, walking quickly after Harley Quinn as she strolled into an alley next to the lounge.
There were crowds of people all around the sidewalk and entrance, waiting to enter the high class establishment.
"I don't understand why we have to hang back."
King Shark complained, sitting inside an ice cream truck, outfitted with a wide range of communication and surveillance tech. The truck was packed at the end of the street, far from the view of the club.
Raven looked him up and down at his large form.
"Really?"
She deadpanned.
"I'm big boned."
King Shark defended himself.
"Sorry."
Raven replied in a monotone.
"So, what's your deal?"
Killer Frost, who was on the driver's seat, enquired from Manchester Black. The latter was flipping through a magazine, feet placed on the dashboard on the front passenger seat.
"Fuck off."
He said in a bored tone.
"Someone's in a pissy mood."
The ice meta commented sourly.
"I have a bomb on the back of my head that I can't remove because even trying to disarm it with my power is a no go. So excuse me, if I'm not chipper, darling."
Manchester responded, staring at her with annoyance colored across his face.
"Hey, both of you, play nice." Deadshot's voice came through the comms.
Manchester threw the magazine out of the window of the car.
"Just because you're comfortable with being Waller's lap dog, does not mean you can order me around, Deadshot."
He then growled out.
Deadshot narrowed his eyes, shifting his rifle from Harley to the Ice cream truck. Manchester appeared in the interscope.
"Just one pull and you're dead, Black."
The master Marksman warned him.
"Do it."
The British supervillain fearlessly replied.
"You're not faster than a bullet."
Deadshot shot back, finger on the trigger.
"I..."
"Wait! Deadshot, I lost sight of her, mate!"
Boomerang interrupted in a hasty tone.
He picked up speed towards the alley while Deadshot cursed and panned out his view, trying to locate the missing clown. Then he felt claws on his neck.
"Not so fast, hot shot. This kitty has claws." A female voice said, adding a purr closer to his ears.
"Very sharp ones."
"Deadshot!"
Boomerang called out through his comms.
Raven and Killer Frost shared a look.
"Maybe we should..."
Of course that was when the truck tilted on its side, shaking as thick green vines broke through the asphalt and wrapped themselves around the vehicle.
The windshield groaned and cracked. Screams rang out as civilians begun to run away from Poison Ivy as she revealed herself.
"Guys!"
Boomerang looked back, trying to contact the team through his ear piece, but the only thing he heard was grunts of exertion.
"What in the hell?"
Boomer contemplated signaling to Waller. Two taps on his ear piece and he would be speaking with the loud, fat, murderous cunt.
Boomer blinked, getting his ears blown up due to her loud voice did not sound fun.
The others could handle the vine bitch, Boomer instead pulled out a boomerang and decided to go inside the dark alley.
(General P.O.V)
"There was a ping from the Watchtower."
Batman informed Martian Manhunter, fingers flying across his wrist computer.
"Something is wrong with the communication devices; I can't get in touch with the console. Keep an eye on him as I go and check it out."
Batman informed Martian Manhunter in a growl, leaving for the Zeta tube at the end of the room.
"Of course."
Martian Manhunter responded, casting a thoughtful look at the screen separating their prisoner and him. Davian's shoulders were slumped; he was still passed out.
Once the Dark Knight had left, Manhunter opened his palm to reveal a rectangular device that was flashing with lights and letting out various different sounds as it activated.
A boom tube manifested next to him.
(Davian's P.O.V)
"...so the call came in and we managed to make it there within a few minutes. The rest you know."
Gordon concluded with a sigh, removing his glasses and wiping them on his shirt.
He was leaning on his gravestone, seated on the ground as we faced each other.
"I still can't believe that Batman has you locked away. Basic police procedure state you should be in processing. It's the law. There is nothing legal about your imprisonment."
"Batman is not a cop. He's not subject to your rules or procedures."
I answered.
"Besides, he's just lost you. It would make sense if he went off the deep end."
I shrugged, understanding but still mad about the whole thing. I wasn't going to just let it go. You fuck with me and I returned the favor. That's how you built a rep as someone you don't want to mess with.
I could see that despite my words, Gordon still felt as if something was amiss. Maybe he was right. Maybe he was wrong. We wouldn't get to find out while stuck in my inner world.
We were silent for a while, each lost in their own thoughts. Finally, I stood up, having made a decision. I had been too passive. Content to let things sort themselves out. I hadn't truly fought for myself. That changed now.
"Gordon, we have to find a way to let Batman know I'm innocent."
The police commissioner looked up and ran a hand across his hair.
"And how will we manage that? If you were right, then it means I'm stuck here in this..."
"Soul form."
I helped him, channeling a little Reiryoku into my eyes.
It was hidden from his gaze but I could see a chain that connected to his chest. His soul chain was about 4 feet long, and the chain links were steadily dissolving into nothing. Gordon didn't have long.
"I just need to convince him that your body might still be alive. In that case, all we would need to do is get you there and I'm sure I can bring you back."
I insisted, a plan already forming in my mind. I could see his soul degradation by channeling Reiryoku into my eyes, maybe that was the key to all of this.
"What if...my body is not the same?"
Gordon asked a question I had been trying to avoid considering. His voice was soft and almost...weak.
"We both know Pyg's M.O."
Gordon insisted, a flame of resolve burning in his eyes.
"I won't be brought back as one of his playthings."
He spat out.
"I can't let...I can't let her see me like that."
He choked up.
"You mean your daughter."
I sighed, crouching before him, establishing eye contact with the man I was quickly growing to like. I placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You're a good man, Commissioner Gordon."
I smiled reassuringly.
"And we can't afford to have good men give up. Not in a place like Gotham."
Gordon blinked.
"Now, time is running out."
I told him getting to my feet once more. A feeling of dread occupying my mind. Something was happening. It felt as if there was a blade at the back of my neck, waiting for a signal so that it could fall and take it off.
"...not ready."
And then there was that voice again. I held out a hand for Gordon to take. He stared at my calloused and rough palm before grabbing onto it and standing up as I pulled.
"How should I convince Batman?"
I questioned.
"You can't."
Gordon replied, adjusting his glasses and patting his breast pocket for cigarettes. I knew because there was a time I had a smoker phase.
"Shit."
He muttered, folding his hands on his chest.
"You can't convince him."
He reiterated.
"What you can do is feed to his suspicions. He's a detective. One of the best I have ever come across. He doesn't view things in absolutes. If one single detail is off, he will pull on that small thread and unravel the whole thing."
"So we stoke that fire."
I said in understanding.
"Yes. But if it fails, tell him this code, '6-4802 Bravo Whiskey'. It's a phrase we have just in case an unlikely scenario happens."
My speculations pointed to the Scenario being, in case Batman's real identity was ever revealed to the public. The backlash would be immense. It made sense that Bruce would have measures in place.
"That should give you a chance to talk it out."
Gordon finished, stepping away as my body lit up in purple.
I was ready to leave. The hour or so we had been stuck in conversation had been enough time for me to regain my stamina. I concentrated on the pull. The ebb and flow. I could feel something rise up from the bottom of my feet, to my legs, my belly, torso and finally my head.
A rush unlike any other invaded my body. I felt... powerful wasn't the right word. I felt immovable. Taking a deep breath, my eyes and ears seemed to change. I could see clearer, hear better. It was... incredible.
I could finally see what was past the mist that covered the graveyard. Unsurprisingly, it was just more mist and more gravestones.
"Incredible."
Gordon whispered from my front, staring at my body in awe and fear.
"I... I can feel your power."
He added.
I looked down at my hands. The scars and rough skin.
Then I clenched them. No more. I couldn't rely on anyone's goodwill right then. If Batman wanted to act like an asshole, then I would show him that he had never met someone like me.
I had power now. I was no longer weak. A smile worked its way to my face. And I was going to fucking use it.
(General P.O.V)
The Zeta tube lit up and Batman walked out to find the entire Justice League, with the exception of Martian Manhunter and Lantern Jordan who was off world, gathered in the Watchtower.
Batman stopped in place, narrowing his eyes.
"What is this? I don't remember having a scheduled league meeting."
He asked to the confusion of the others.
"Say what now?"
The Flash wondered out loud.
"Batman, you called for it. Sounded really urgent too."
Superman informed him, rising from his seat. Batman's hand inched towards his utility belt.
"I don't remember doing such a thing."
He ground out, eyeing everybody with suspicion.
"You did. Saying something about civil unrest in Markovia."
Wonder woman insisted.
Batman's eyes widened under his cowl.
"There has not been any civil unrest in Markovia for the past 5 years. The current ruling class have good relations with their people and neighbors."
He said, quickly rushing towards his seat, activating the security alarm and putting the whole Watchtower on lockdown.
"Okay, are we missing something here"
Green Arrow asked Black Canary.
"Civil Unrest in Markovia is part of an extensive code. In the event that my mind was ever compromised, I would forget to run the code through our systems and that would send a prerecorded message to all of you, to meet up with me in the Watchtower. The Code also had the function of remotely disconnecting my communication devices to the Watchtower..."
"...therefore notifying you and causing you to come and check out what the problem was."
The Flash concluded.
"Damn, that's genius."
"So what does this mean, exactly?"
Stewart enquired, checking through the camera feeds across the Watchtower.
"It's a countermeasure in case a telepath managed to get close to me and took control of my mind. It was meant for J'onn."
The whole chamber became deathly silent as a serious atmosphere set in.
"Bruce...you can't be serious."
Wonder Woman told him, sharing a stupefied look with Superman.
Before Batman could reply they heard groaning sounds.
The Flash grabbed his head, eyes wide and panicked. Streaks of lightning begun to wash off him.
"Everybody! Get back!"
Superman warned.
Bam!
It was too late. The Flash was quickly off, headed on a course for Batman with a murderous expression on his face. His hands blurred as he pumped the air.
The symbol of a shield of red and yellow neatly intercepted him, Superman coming in between the two. His chest inflated with breath then he released the air in a fan of snowy winds, carpeting the floor to obstruct Barry from getting anywhere near Batman.
The Flash increased his speed once more, moving too fast to lose traction on the ice sheet covering the floor. Then, he vibrated his molecules and passed through Superman's body.
Clark fell forward as momentum was stolen from him. The Flash side stepped Wonder Woman's Lasso, flicking it away to wrap around Hawk woman and drag her to the floor before she could attack him with her Nth metal mace.
Batarrangs cut through the air, so slow it was like decades had passed with the projectiles suspended in motion. The Flash found them inconsequential and so he dodged them with the slightest of margins. However, the moment he was 2 inches from one, something happened.
The Flash seized up as a sheet of blue energy expanded from the Batarrangs in the air, forcefully dropping him out of his super speed and onto the ground on his knees.
"What in the hell was that?!"
Green Arrow asked, lowering his crossbow.
Batman walked forward.
"A gravity bomb. A device that generates a localized field of gravity, strong enough to prevent a speedster from moving at high speeds or phasing through objects. By manipulating the gravitational field around the speedster, the device can effectively trap them in place, making it impossible for them to escape."
"He's okay."
Canary told them as she checked on the Flash's vitals.
"Of course he is. It was meant to be non-lethal."
Batman told them, getting back to typing on his wrist computer.
"We need to find J'onn."
He told the rest who were still in various states of shock.
"Batman."
Lantern Stewart called out, hands crossed on his chest.
"What is really going on here?"
Batman stopped, turning to find his colleagues all staring at him with questioning glances.
"I have reason to believe that the Martian Manhunter has gone rogue."
(Davian's P.O.V)
I blinked a couple of times to adjust my eyes to the bright light in the room. The first thing I did was to look around, making sure I was alone. That done, I got to work. I was done with being a prisoner.
The bonds around my wrists were still tight and my shoulders ached from the strain. The good thing was that the headache and nausea caused by the concussion was gone. I could think more clearly right now.
"There is no way I'm getting these zip ties off."
I whisper in realization, ready to call upon my Reiryoku.
"Not by yourself."
A voice stated from somewhere to my right.
My head turned to see Martian Manhunter walk in, a section of the wall rising up to opened.
"Oh Fuck No. Stay away from me!"
My muscles cried in exertion as I tried to pull my body on the chair away.
"You're supposed to be the good guys!"
Where's that feeling!?
Heavy and light...push...pull...push...
I could feel something brewing inside but it would be too late as Manhunter glided the rest of the way to hover at my back. His presence hanging like an ominous cloud over me. Shit, I can't get knocked out again!
Snap.
The zip ties loosened and I could move my hands again. I looked at the deep lines on my wrists, rubbing them while I got up.
I took a few steps back as Manhunter and I watched each other.
"Why?"
I questioned.
"You were right. We are supposed to be the good guys."
He stated and a scowl was my response. A bit too late for self-reflection wasn't it?
It was... surprising. Why was he really doing this? Was it all a scheme by Batman? But what kind? Then again, the simplest answer is often times the truth. Maybe J'onn was helping me out because that's what Superheroes do.
I wasn't going to kick a gift horse in the mouth.
"Can you get me out of here?"
Preferably before the Batman arrived.
Manhunter smiled, turning around.
"Of course. Follow me."
My fingers wrapped around the frame of the chair as I raised it up and brought it crashing down on his head. The metal chair deformed around the base as Manhunter went down on one knee.
Fuck that trust bullshit. He could have been leading me to another trap. Better safe than sorry.
I wasted no time, grabbing his head and slamming his face onto my knee. A meaty thunk! rang out, followed by a spray of blood as J'onn's nose deformed.
"I'm done playing your games."
I told the downed Martian, stepping away and running towards the open door, not even aware of my flashing eyes. Later I would question myself on how I had been able to hurt someone that was basically Superman tier. Later, I would also question myself on why I hadn't felt it fast enough. The wrongness under my skin.
'...not ready!'
Later I would regret a lot. However, right then, all that concerned me was leaving and there was no way I was just going to trust Manhunter after they had kidnapped me once.
My bare feet slapped the concrete floor under me as a small breeze hit me. The smell of the ocean was easy enough to identify. The white room behind me turned out to be a holding area as it opened up into what turned out to be a long hallway, with individual rooms on the walls.
I managed to open one, only to see a well spread bed, a few furniture and another door leading to the bathroom. There were 4 rooms like this. Guest rooms no doubt. I made it all the way to the end and stood before an elevator.
My eyes widened when I saw it light up. Someone was using it, headed straight for this subsection. I ducked into the door next to the elevator which turned out to be a staircase and ran up the stairs fast. A few flights up and I peeked through the small window on the door.
The next floor seemed different. It was a training room. Different weights and exercise machines littered the place. Luckily there didn't seem to be anyone around. I pushed it and walked in. Maybe there was a change of clothes in the lockers and something for my feet.
I walked through and immediately the air changed. My body reacted before my mind did. I found myself jumping away towards a set of dumbbells as a javelin bit onto the ground next to where I was. My back collided with something hard and I was tossed to the ground while groaning in pain.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?"
A female voice, hummed with an undercurrent of violence. The sound of feet shifting and Cheshire held a Sai onto my neck, the point pushing slightly in to draw blood. I slowly scrambled to my knees, raising up my hands in surrender. Dammit! I knew something was up.
"Hey, careful with that. You can hurt someone really bad."
I spoke up with a calm I was not feeling inside. Cheshire cocked her head to the side, the mask on her face not revealing much.
"What is that supposed to mean, you condescending little fuck? Think I can't use it? That I'm going to stab myself with it like a c-lister, you dumb fuck?"
She growled out, pulling in closer.
Well that came out of nowhere.
"No." I leaned back, gritting my teeth.
"I meant no disrespect. But I gotta wonder, are all assassins so sensitive?"
Someone else landed next to Cheshire.
"He got you there."
The villain I recognized as Sports Master told her.
"You're lucky we need you alive."
Cheshire growled menacingly. I couldn't help but notice she smelled nice.
"I wouldn't mind carving you up a little though."
Then my dick remembered she was a stone cold killer.
Heavy and light...push, pull, push, pull...
A ghostly figure rose up from the ground next to our little group. Manhunter had a serious look on his face as he appeared. I narrowed my eyes. Cheshire and Sports master didn't react in shock or surprise, telling me all I needed to know.
Martian Manhunter was a traitor.
"Nice of you to finally show up."
Sports master told him, removing an inhibitor collar from somewhere.
"He managed to distract me enough for him to get away."
Manhunter informed them, eyes locked on to me. I stared back without flinching.
Heavy and light...
"By your busted nose, I can tell he did more than distract you."
Cheshire laughed.
Yeah she was right. Couldn't Martians heal fast?
Heavy and light...
"Enough talk. Let's go before the Bat comes back."
Sports master told the other two, walking towards me.
I took a deep breath as power suffused my entire body. Cheshire noticed the glowing purple eyes first. She didn't hesitate, plunging her sai into my neck but the weapon bounced off. I stood up and pushed her off with a burst of Reiryoku.
A few things happened next. Time seemed to slow down and clearer than before...the voice returned.
"You are not ready!"
Then I understood why. My vision blacked out, something surging up to the forefront. Something that stole my breath away as it hit me.
Anger! Anger! Anger! Anger!
Then I lost it once more.
When I opened my eyes next, it was to a scene I would never have expected.