July 2nd, 1994. 5:34 AM. Nanda Parbat.
Bruce Wayne pulled his hood down letting hot rain hit his face as he drew his sword. He was facing the darkness of the morning, looking out into the darkness. He closed his eyes and struck left with his sword. He continued fighting the air, striking as if he was in battle. Ever since joining the League Of Shadows, Bruce liked to go out and practice his swordsman skills alone.
"You done playing pretend, Wayne?", a voice called out to him.
Bruce recognized the voice…David Cain. Cain was the one members of the league that Bruce truly despised. The man was a psychopath through and through. He seemed to take joy in both inflicting pain and murder. He was like an animal.
"Hope you were watching closely, David. You might learn a thing or two. Would certainly make the next time Ra's has us spar more interesting", Bruce said, without turning around.
Cain closes the distance between the two and takes out his own sword.
"You're lucky I don't slit your throat in your sleep, Wayne", Cain said with venom.
"What makes you think I sleep at all?", Bruce says, glaring at the man across him.
"Simmer down, boys. Th e Demon's Head requests a meeting", a feminine voice says.
Bruce turns around, seeing the figure of Sandra Woosan, otherwise known as Lady Shiva, standing near the steps of the building. The chinese woman stared back at the two with little more than a disinterested glance.
"With both of us", Bruce questioned.
"All three", Shiva says.
Bruce nods, catching Cain's eye once again as he made his way to the steps where Shiva was located.
Bruce looked at her, "Why?"
Shiva didn't answer, simply lead the Bruce and Cain inside the Tibetan Monastery. The candles along the walls lit up the Monastery that would otherwise be pitch black. There were symbols and weapons strewn along the walls, which wasn't an uncommon site. Still, it always made his heart beat a bit faster despite the fact that he had been with the Shadows for almost six months.
They arrived at the large double door leading into Ra's Al Ghul's, otherwise known as the Demon's Head, work quarters. The door opened on its own, revealing Ra's Al Ghul sitting at his large Throne-like chair, with his daughter, Talia at his side.
Ra's wore a green robe and dark green cape. The Arabian man possessed a gray handlebar goatee, and his black hair was perfectly cut. Although, there was one aspect of the leader of the Shadows that always stood out to Bruce…his haunting green eyes.
His pupils had been forever changed as soon as he began using his Lazarus Pit. The Lazarus Pit had kept Ra's young for centuries, allowing him to continue living until he completed his mission. He was essentially immortal, which was a thought that Bruce was a bit uncomfortable with.
Then, there was Talia. She was Ra's only daughter and thus, his remaining heir. She had soft features and long brown hair that framed her face very well. She may be the most beautiful woman Bruce had ever seen in his life with, but he was not attracted to her. He had already left the woman he loved behind in London. He had no intention to find another.
"Welcome Al-Midrab, Sayidat Shifa, and Al-Alsikiyn. We have much to discuss", Ra's said.
The names Ra's had called Bruce, and his companions was part of a League of Shadows custom. When one is initiated in the Shadow, they are given a name in Arabic of the symbol they represent.
Lady Shiva was already Sandra's title; therefore, she was, "Sayidat Shifa". Cain chose the symbol of the knife, his favorite killing instrument. Therefore, his name was simply "The Knife" in Arabic, or Al-Alsikiyn.
Bruce chose the symbol of the Bat. It may come as surprise for some, but two of the most eventful years in his life included a sighting of the flying rodent. The night his parents were murdered and just two years ago, when Bruce was contemplating giving up his vow. As he was at a crossroads, a Bat flew right over him.
It was a sign. A reminder to refocus. So, when it came time for him to make a choice what symbol he would inhabit, Bruce chose the Bat. Therefore, he was Al-Midrab.
"As you we all know, the Markovian Kingdom has recently risen to prominence thanks to their ventures into trading the relatively new substance known as Nth Metal", Ra's said.
Nth Metal? That was a new one. It wasn't common that there were major new discoveries in the field of metal or stone.
"Unfortunately, we have reason to believe that the King of the small country, Viktor Markov, is involved in some unsavory activities. The Markov's lineage is tied to the Nazi regime, and it seems that the Markov's have not changed much, if at all. They are silently oppressing their people", Ra's continues.
"You want us to liberate the citizens?", Bruce asks.
"Do not speak out of turn, Wayne!", Cain spits out.
Bruce spares him a glance but doesn't otherwise pay much attention to him, awaiting Ra's response.
"It is alright, Al-Alsikiyn. He raises the correct point. The four of you will infiltrate the country from within and bring the Markov's regime crashing down."
"The four of us?", Bruce asks.
"Yes", Ra's begins, "Talia will be going with you. You will need a cover in order to get close the Markov's and Talia can provided that."
Talia smiles at Bruce, a gesture he doesn't return. The Daughter of the Demon's Head was one of the only members of the Shadows who possessed a kindness and Bruce did like her, but she had taken to calling him, "beloved". She clearly had romantic interest in him, which he did not reciprocate.
"Now, go and collect whatever you will need for this venture."
They all begin to leave, until Ra's opens his mouth once more.
"Al-Midrab and Al-Alsikiyn, a word please", Ra's says.
Bruce David Cain turn back towards Ra's, making their way towards the man. Bruce could feel the uneasy tension in the room between himself and David.
"Do you know why I continue to pit the two of you against each other?"
"You want someone to knock this self-righteous idiot on his kiester?", Cain said.
"Not quite. You two are my final candidates for my heir. I need to weed out the lesser. Neither one of you possess all the skills necessary.", Ra's says.
Ra's turns his attention to David, "Al-Alsikiyn, you possess the necessary drive and ruthlessness. I have no doubt that you can make the violent and often terrible choices that the Demon's Head is required to mess. Unfortunately, you're desire for carnage and violence often clouds your judgment and could be a devastating weakness for the Shadows."
David looks frustrated by that answer but doesn't say anything. Bruce had noticed that Cain held the utmost respect for Ra's and would never speak out of turn. It was odd to see such an animalistic man exercise such restraint.
Ra's turned to Bruce, "Al-Midrab, you are a brilliant technician and fighter. Your deductive skills and strategic mind rival my own, but you lack motivation and drive. You don't seem to even know what you want out of the Shadows. You may have caught the eye of my daughter, but you aren't even fully committed. You still have much to prove."
Bruce frowned. He wasn't insulted, just curious. Why would Ra's tell them all this?
"I have much more work to do, but my time grows near. Everything is a competition, gentlemen. I'm always watching, and you both should know that whoever is my eventual heir will be awarded full control of the Shadows and entrance to my Lazarus Pits."
Bruce stared back at Ra's, "And you're telling us all this for…"
Ra's smiles, his grin almost sickening. "This upcoming mission is very important to me, and I want to be sure of who is the best candidate. And as I said, I am always watching."
Bruce stole glance at David, seeing his glaring eyes. Well, this was sure to be an eventful mission. That much, Bruce was sure of.