Chapter 13: Chess

What. The. Fuck.

Where did you people come from?

Why is this story suddenly blowing up?

Who spread the word?

Who?

WHO?

In all honesty, I appreciate those who are reading the story, and newcomers to the story along with positive feedback I've been getting as of lately. Especially with those who are paying attention to nods and details I pack into each chapter. Brings a tear to my eye to see that.

I came a long way from a writer who was only motivated by reviews, got demotivated pretty easily if things don't get his way, to being more disciplined to push forward with my story and just accept whatever audience that wants to read it.

I'll say this once though because I'm not gonna hold any of you to review the story. I know people would rather read than explain what they love or hate about a story in particular. So if you see anything you guys and gals don't like; whether its a character, the pace, dialogues, fight scene, or my grammar, point it out and tear me apart if needed too. Positive comments are good, love seeing you all love my work, but I also strive to be better, and the only way I'll be a great writer someday is if you readers help me along the way.

Plus I can take it, a liver shot hurts more than words!

If it's the one place Vicki hated being in or even going to in the first place it was the Asylum. Add to the fact that dawn had reached didn't help unnerve her any less. She's a busy woman, news all needing cover, ground needed searching, and she had to put the Asylum in the back seat just a bit.

Not to mention, she needed to keep her alliance with the bat and spider a secret. If anyone, including Jameson knows of this, he might actually either fire her, or hound her for a way to get them arrested. Not like it was gonna happen since Dewolff made it clear that the GCPD would be working with them, then doing things on their own.

While the Asylum guards escorted her to intensive treatment, she had to deal with a few outbursts from the insane inmates, "HEY RED! YOU LOOK BETTER DRIP IN BLOOD!"

"Shitttt! A fine one FINALLY!"

Some tried to reach out to her, wanting more than just a piece of her hair. But again, she had guards to protect her as they made sure to put them in their place with either a smack with their rifles or jolting them with a stun baton. It was ruthless, but some people don't realize that to fight the insane's you might need to fight fire with fire.

Violence with violence.

She sighs to herself, 'This place… God… Years and years later, it still hasn't changed.'

"Hey don't have that look Vale," The guard noticed her gloom look as they reached the elevator and pushed the button to up, "You picked a more better night to show up. It's more quiet today than anything, and much of those super psychos that Batman warped are actually sedated."

She almost forgot about them; the criminals that used to go toe to toe with Bruce. Many of them are not right in the head anymore than they used to be. She didn't know what Bruce did, but she knows he's damned them to a fate worse than death, "Feels like any other night is a bad night in my case," she said.

"Speaking of which, why are you here? Interviewing Spidey's bad guys? Or maybe trying to have two face to talk again? If he can that is," the other guard questioned.

"Not even, you both wouldn't happen to know anything about the Arkham Knight?" They looked at eachother, quizzled and easily answered Vicki's answer before they could answer, "Don't worry about it if you don't know. Maybe Cash will know since he's probably the only one that's been around the longest."

"What about Strange?"

Her eyebrow raised at the mention of the psychologist, "Is he at all here? Ever since gaining ownership and running this place after his so-called, "rehabilitation," " she added air quotes, "About some months ago due to Jeremiah going mental and becoming the next black mask, I heard he's barely around. He mostly lets you all handle the work as he oversees it somewhere else."

"He might still be here actually, came here some hours ago to get updates on the super psycho's here. Don't know if he left or not."

This got Vicki intrigued upon entering the intensive treatment center. She saw veteran of the Asylum, Aaron Cash talking to doctor Cooper. He looked to be rather annoyed when talking to the doctor cause as soon as he saw Vicki, he drifted his attention to her quickly, "Another interview with inmates Vale? You know the policy here."

Vicki grinned, "Not today Cash, but you know I'll find a way to get what I want in the end," noticing the frown on doctor Cooper's face, Vicki was aware of the slight tension between the two of them, "Is this a bad time?"

"Yes it is, Ms vale," Carlie said, having her arm crossed, "Unless you can convince mister Cash over here that my team needs their own privacy to some of the more silent inmates, then I suppose you should leave the primacy."

"And as I mention doctor Cooper, for you and your team's own safety, I'm not gonna let that happen ok? If you have a death wish that's on you, but if it means the people can have a clear conscience knowing that no one dies under our watch then will stick to protocols as always."

"Then I'll make my stay here quick," Vicki interrupted, gaining the two people's attention, "I hear Hugo actually showed up for once in his facility. Is he still here?"

Aaron went to answer but doctor Cooper beat him to the point, "Mister Strange had to leave early due to other priorities on hand. He is in fact a busy man after all which is why he has people like Cash and me keeping the Asylum up to the task at hand," she spoke with pride in her voice.

Pride that Vicki can appoint to ego if left unchecked, "Hm," Vicki directed her eyes to the doctor, curiosity got to her of the fact she's able to command such authority like that. She knew of one other person that was like that, yet not like her, "And you must be Carlie Cooper, someone who studied under the late Penelope Young and worked her way to where she is now."

A surprise look appeared on Carlie's face as she adjusted her glasses, but as soon as it came it went away to a more poker-like expression, "I should've known a reporter like you would dig something on me."

"Part of the job, plus you were elected as more than a doctor but of a second command of sorts when it came to handling the Asylum a few months ago. Not to mention, you kind've just popped up out of nowhere too, I couldn't help but be curious is all and been meaning to see you."

"And then you should know, I don't do interviews, Ms Vale."

"Don't mind her Vicki, there were somethings doctor Young seemed to pass on before her untimely passing," Aaron said, "So to make it easier on all of us, what is something that we can help you with Vicki?"

"Arkham Knight."

Aaron sighed, massaging his head in response since he should've figured this would've happened. Carlie scoffed with an added eyeroll that again had Vicki more interested in the doctor's reaction, emotions, and voice at play here then anything, "If we knew I think I or even doctor Cooper here would've told the commissioner what we had."

"Well there's been proof that the carnage killer was inducted here once."

"And where'd you heard that from?" Carlie asked with her eyebrow raised, "We would've known such a person was here."

"Can't identify my anonymous sources," Vicki grin remained on her face, adding a more slyness to it.

"Tsk," Carlie eye roll, "Of course."

"Cash, mind given us a hand with Smythe here?" said a guard over Aaron's radio.

"Copy that," he responded, "Excuse me for a moment."

"Your excuse," Vicki said in a jester manner.

With Cash left, it was just doctor Cooper and Vicki, "You're still here."

"That I am."

"Do I need to get the guards to escort you out Ms Vale?"

"Technically yes, but something just piques my interest."

"And that is?"

"What's your take on the new villains of Gotham? Off the record that is."

"Why do you want to know my opinion at all? It won't give you the leverage you want against them."

"Who said anything about leverage," Vicki let her arms rest on the desk that stands between them, "I'm just curious to know what your expert opinion on them is."

Doctor Cooper gave it some thought before answering, "..Cletus Kasady is someone who aspires to be like Joker. Instead of a clown, more like the demonic king of chaos. He wants nothing more than to simply do what Joker did, but in his own way, a more catastrophic way. Arkham Knight on the underhand…" There was a brief pause in her sentence, with her hands being placed under her chin, "They want to watch the world burn."

Vicki journalists' institution started kicking in with hearing a sentence like that, "Almost feels like you know something doctor Cooper."

"Don't dig too much into it since it's not much there but my own opinion," Doctor Cooper said, "My field involves the studies of how the brain corresponds to a person's behavior, something doctor Young was keen on focusing at one point. And with the people I learn from ranging from various people beyond the late doctor Young, I've come to see people's perspective on things," she then shrugs, "I feel I can agree with what Arkham Knight is trying to do, even Carnage to a point. The order of balance has been off for sometime since Joker's death and Batman's demise to be replaced by one of his proteges. With peace there must be a tipping point that leads to chaos and vice versa. It is in my opinion the natural order of things, a yin yang if you will."

"Bit controversial don't you think? To believe in these anarchists."

"It is, but so is most of things along with my work," Doctor Cooper felt herself smirking, very small though compare to Vicki's slight disapproving expression, "It could be from the things I picked up from Mr. Strange, but people don't like change Ms Vale, and Gotham had been changing in ways people wouldn't recognize in the future."

"You feel that Gotham should remain crime infested then crime ridden?"

"Not really since that part won't always truly go away. But when you have places like Otisburg, Burnley, Migani island entirely being modernized, but then you have certain places; business, houses all together being shut down and kicking out those people for something stupid as an amusement park? Or a plaza? It changes Gotham for the worse than it already is," Vicki can hear a small bit of anger in the doctor's tone, "Even old Gotham is no longer becoming old day by day."

"So you hate change? And therefore, you presume Arkham Knight hates change?" Vicki asked.

Again she shrugs, "I do but it doesn't bother me since I'm like any other person who wants to keep some things the way they are. I wouldn't know if the Arkham Knight is doing it for that reason since they have some type of hatred for the rich and powerful like Al Ghul and Wayne. Putting away the criminals is one thing, but again, kicking out the poor in the street, shutting down business for cooperation buildings, or hurting those who need help instead of bastardizing their brain with blunt force? It only serves to create more people who want to hurt others. At least before, with Gotham being so crime ridden, no one hoped for change and just dealt with it. Batman changed that, and for better or worse, it came with a price."

"But there are also places like feast that can house these people," Vicki argued back, "And some people are beyond help where violence has to be met with," Vicki eyes squint as she took a little step back from the desk to have her arms crossed, "It's almost like you believe in a similar fashion like Harleen Quinzel believed in, that you can fix these people. Some can, but others not so much."

Doctor Cooper still held her smirk as she scoffed, "Ms Quinzel already had problems before she worked here. That personality disorder was around even before she met Joker, stemming from childhood trauma involving her father. She might've handled it in her way, but when she met Joker, it brought it out quite easily. Difference between her and me is that I don't get involved with my patients, and continue what wanted to do, which was cure and help people here in Arkham. Besides , you should also know that not everyone wants to be in a shelter home, that they want a home for themselves and others they care about."

She did know this and hearing from her side, it sounded like Vicki was almost interviewing someone with that experience, "Sounds like you know a thing or two about that."

"More or less."

For a few seconds, they're conversation stopped and they stared at each other. The difference in expression totally changed compared to earlier; Vicki was frowning and Carlie had a known smile now apparent. Vicki became more curious of the doctor while Carlie became more intrigued with someone who wanted an insight on their opinions of the villains. But it became more than just villains and they both knew it.

A difference in philosophies and principles. One who seeks change and the other who disapproves change, yet seeks to help people's turmoil even so, "DOCTOR COOPER! I NEED MY FREAKING MEDS! COME ON!" an inmate in the intensive treatment shouted while banging his head on the electric gate he was, shocking his system.

"And so duty calls. It was quite a fascinating conversation."

"Yeah, maybe we can talk again outside of the Asylum."

Carlie grinned a little more, "Sounds good, but just so you know I'm not into women."

A joke that took away her brief ice queen status made Vicki giggle, "Trust me it's not, just two people becoming friends."

Carlie would jot down her number on a card, quickly giving to her before rushing over to the inmate to handle him. Meanwhile, Vicki looked at the digits, becoming more and more curious of the doctor.

Who indeed was this Carlie Cooper? And why did her opinions nag her? Not just that, but the expression she wore as the conversation grew just a bit deeper. Maybe it was Vicki's paranoia, but there was something about her that Vicki would need to look into just a bit more.

November 21

Peter breathed heavily when waking straight up from his bed. He quickly took note of the room he was in; a computer with a bunch of books on a desk in front of him, posters of video games characters and band groups, a picture near him when he was younger, a kid wearing glasses being happy with two middle aged people, and also.

A blond girl sleeping near him while he still had on his red and blue costume on. He sighs as he lets his body slump back, 'Just a dream,' he thought as his hands rubbed downward on his face, tired but awake as is, 'One of those nasty dreams again. When will they stop? Whoooooo knows.'

The blond girl near him shuffled beside him, turning to snuggle in him, "...I smell breakfast," she said tiredly.

"I do too," Peter too let himself snuggle.

"God damn it Aunt May…"

"Hey! That's my aunt you're talking too."

"I know…Sorry," she lifts up her head and kisses him, letting the both couple subject themselves in some light love smacking, "You should…Get dressed… We do got classes today."

Peter groaned in between the kisses, the knowing of being a college student was dreadful on peaceful days like this. He would let his lips go from hers, nuzzling his nose with his, "Let's skip."

"And do what?" she grinned, her eyes kept closed as he was wide open, watching her, smiling at how beautiful she is even with no makeup on.

"Web swing? Go picnicking? I don't know…Anything but college."

"Mmmm…Tempting, but Gotham needs us, or more precisely," her blue eyes open, then blood drips from her neck, creaking from the sides where her more important veins were.

Peter's eyes steadily widen, trying to stop the blood, trying to hold her steadily, trying to hold her neck slicking back, practically being snapped in half. His breathing became rapid, his heart beating faster then he could think, and all he was focused on was saving her.

Saving her Gwen, but like before, it proves useless, "Gotham needs you."

"HURRY BARBARA!" Cassandra shouted as she held onto Peter by being on top of him. He was having another seizure, and she was trying to make sure the poor man wouldn't hurt himself in the process by holding him still.

Yet he gripped the stretcher hard to break it.

His eyes widen, brimming with tears.

And he was stifling once more from his mouth as he shook and shook.

All Cassandra could do was hold him till Barbara quickly sedated him with the drugs, yet it hurt Cassandra to see him like this, to see him hurting badly that she couldn't do a thing to stop it. Barbara would have done her part, in the process once again stopping his seizure. Cassandra sat still on top of him, her eyebrow knitted together, her hands gently pressed along both his cheeks as his eyes shut slowly back to sleep.

But the briefest of moments, his one hand touched hers, wanted to hold onto her and maybe at some point, his mind knew how bad she was suffering when watching his condition unfold. As soon as it came, it went as his hand slump to the side of the stretcher that was still good enough to support him and her weight.

Part of Cassandra wanted to cry, wanted to shed some form of sadness of what's going on with her partner, her boyfriend, but she can't, and all she could hope for is that he keeps fighting to be in better condition. Because like a few days ago that she learned thanks to Mary Jane, she needs him, and he needs to know that she desperately needs him.

Not just as a partner, but as a boyfriend, her boyfriend, her lover, her…Everything. She wants to be honest, wants to take that step forward, regardless of how much it scares her, she wants to, because she needs him to know that she loves him.

With all her flaws, scars, trauma and all, she loves him, "10," Cassandra muttered.

Barbara's ears perk from Cassandra muttering, "What was that Cass?"

Her thumbs rub gently on his cheeks, "10 times…It happen…In 10 days."

Barbara would move her wheelchair close enough to Cassandra, wanting to rest a caring hand on her but Cassandra quickly. The only thing Barbara could do was follow her, because she had an idea what Cassandra would do in times like this.

Go to her heavy bag.

And punch.

Cassandra did so, punch without any support for her hands, kick with all the power that echoed throughout the cave, startling the bats above. Cassandra expression to one out of a mix of stress and anger.

For the past week and a half, all she felt was useless and she hated being useless.

She's Batwoman. She shouldn't be useless at all. It didn't matter if she was human because if Bruce can push through it all, then so could she. She ignored the tiredness coming through her eyes since she wasn't sleeping properly as she should and kept fighting. She had too much to worry about; her city, her family, the villains, Peter, everything and sleep only made her worry more, "Cassandra! Cassandra! CASSANDRA!" After one heavy strike to the bag that sent it hurtling forward, she looked at Barbara with a mean-streak glare. Barbara didn't back down from the look, "Punching your way through things won't help you," Cassandra lay her forehead on the heavy bag in front of her, "..How many times do I have to tell you that?"

Cassandra breathed in, calming herself before sighing, "...Too many. Hate being useless."

"Your not being useless, your resting till you can go back out there," Barbara said, consoling her,

"Feel like it," she pushes herself off the heavy bag, letting her small bangs on her forehead shift to the left side. Thanks to Peter, she didn't need to worry about braiding or fixing up her hair before or after using the batsuit, "Need to be ready. Knight strong, need to be stronger. Carnage strong, need to be smarter."

"So then do something about it," Cassandra and Barbara turn to see Tali making her appearance known by the stairs of the bat cave. She wore something different since now living in the manor; slim brown jacket that hides the green shirt inside her, slim pants that were white along with boots on. Cassandra frown at the fact that they were obviously her's, but stuff that she hasn't used a while, "Your Batwoman so own it, Bruce is no longer the bat but you are," she came down the stairs, and walk up to them with an unimpressed expression written on her face, "You don't know what Richard is up to, and Alfred sure has been out a lot with no explanation on his end. So, what do you do when your enemy seems to have a power move over you, you have people telling what to not do, and your own beloved is in a coma?"

Barbara frowns at what Talia is proposing, "Why are you baiting her to go out there? She still recovering from her battle with the Knight, hell, even from the Carnage fight too!"

"And yet she still stands on her two little feet. When will you all learn this little bat isn't as little as she use to be," Talia then gestures their similar height by examining with her hands, "She's as tall as me, and so she should decide what's next instead of you, Bruce, or anyone else, besides her own beloved."

Odd as it was, Cassandra doesn't understand why Talia wants her to lead. Was it for agenda purposes? That there was something to gain? She couldn't see no deceit in the way she talks, so why? "Why? You don't like me. Yet you side with me. Why?"

"Come on little bat, Bruce is the only one I like and everyone I tolerate to a degree, you're no different even if you took after him. Although.." she started mauling over something with her hands by her waist, "You did kill my sister which adds to my dislike."

Cassandra eyebrow furrowed at that claim, "Your assassin's did so! I don't kill!"

"Then you sided with us."

Cassandra drew herself closer to Talia, "Only to stop your father."

"And you did so, without anyone telling you otherwise," Talia's famous smirk came alive, and then it disappeared, "Now choose little bat. What do you do, when your enemy has a power move on you? How do you continue this game of chess, little bat?"

Cassandra noted the time on the bat computer, it was past 2 in the morning with everyone likely off the streets at the time. It meant that whatever she wanted to do at this time, it had to be now, "Bait," Cassandra said easily without a second of a thought, "Pawn forward. Knight takes the pawn."

Again, Talia smirked, "Good."

With the judgment being said and done with, Cassandra wasn't gonna be useless when everyone else beside Peter is being more useful than her, "We move now."

Talia followed Cassandra as she went to grab her bat costume in the chamber. Barbara knew the second what she meant by bait, "Cassandra! The second she's out there, they will strike. And it's as she said, "I don't know where Dick is right now to provide backup for you if you become overwhelmed."

"I know," Cassandra responded as she fitted the gauntlets, chest, and boots of her suit on, "Using the new bat cycle. Bat mobile doesn't have cloak."

"Peter hasn't worked on it for months! Who knows if the invisibility cloak would work like the one in your morning suit?!"

With her suit on, and then her helmet sliding itself neatly on her head, she was ready to go back out there regardless of the injuries, "I trust you," she then turned to Talia, gesturing her head to follow her.

Barbara could only watch as Cassandra made her judgment to do something instead of nothing. She couldn't fault her, but she was too damn stubborn to at the very least trust her into searching for the Knight or Carnage. She could only let out a sigh and move towards the bat computer as Barbara would help bring up access to the vehicles at her disposal, 'If only if she knew that she isn't the only one feeling useless,' Barbara devalue herself.

Cassandra saw multiple grounded vehicles being brought up near the ba tmobile. Some weren't for her; motorcycles that had different ranges of colors and functions that belonged to her other family members. But there was one covered up in fabric, taking it off revealed the new bat cycle Peter was working on for her.

It mostly looked like the old one that was heavily damage and needed repairs, but there was more protection in front with its windshield, engines and parts looked to be different and coated in more of a deeper navy blue with an added yellow compare to the pure black look the previous one had, and it seemed Peter made sure the seat had an added comfort not for herself, but another person who would be boarding, "Hm, that spider of yours does have a taste for fashion."

For once, Cassandra let herself chuckle lightly around Talia. Because it was true, his costume said it all.

"Just be careful," Barbara told as she took it upon herself to activate the bike from her computer, "And make sure the witch is alive."

"Huh. You're too kind Barbara, more kind than Richard," Talia commented as she got behind the passenger seat while Cassandra was already in the front, revving up the bike.

She would push a button, cloaking her, Talia, and the bike before she sped off out of the batcave, launching through the river side.

Ever since Dewolff made the decision to have GCPD willingly work with the various vigilante heroes in Gotham, it's been a pain in the ass on her end of the deal. For a half of a week, she was hearing complaints on either end about not wanting to work with them, sharing details, or anything in general with the vigilante's.

It's mostly because of the effect that Batman had done to them, or even spider-man for that matter when he was wearing that black and white suit of his. They don't trust them, haven't for a good year. And it doesn't help that Dewolff isn't the former commissioner Gordan that can have more leeway on the decisions that affect everyone, "You can't expect me or any of us to fix that god damn light on the roof of the GCPD! It's been blown to pieces thanks to the bat!" Said a rather fat man with a cigar hanging from his lip as he wore a black flat top hat while also having a brown and white suit, "Come on commish!"

"I don't want to fucking hear it again Bullock!" Dewolff turned and pointed at him, "Either fix it or get a bench because either way, that goddamn light needs fixing!" Both were in the headquarters of the GCPD; it's a non-stop ruckus with large numbers of cops handling crooks, answering 911's, or all the more being very busy when it comes to the safety of Gotham, "And I don't need to hear the same shit from you."

"You don't even know what I'm gonna say!" Dewolff groan and went to walk to her office to have some level of peace but was stop by the Bullock's, "Hey look, I know your getting fucked on every end because of that statement you made, and I know you believe that I can't see you replacing Jim and I'll admit that I rather prefer if he stayed with us," he took the cigar from his mouth, smoking away from her face, "But you doing the best you can as is. I don't like working with them…But it's for the best when it comes to anarchists who have more power and tech than us."

Bullocks own opinion has been said time and time again for the years Dewolff has been with GCPD. Starting from the early age of a hardworking rookie at 19, all the way to being commissioner at her current age of 34, she knows how much Bullocks detest vigilante's of Gotham that he even approves of what Jameson says about them. He, like him, believes Gotham should be saved by the ordinary people who don't have any special abilities or high wiz tech to help them, but their own wits and bones to do the job. Yet after all the years of being a cop in Gotham, with his own age showing from the wrinkles along with the partial gray facial hair.

Harvey Bullocks had come to an understanding that to fight fire with fire, you'll need a helping hand along the way. Dewolf's irritated expression was lifted just a bit at his touching remark, "Thanks…I actually needed to hear that from an experienced cop for once. Honestly, I feel like at every turn I'm making a huge mistake when people disagree with my decision making."

"That's the role Jim gave to you, and you're doing alright, for a woman that is."

Dewolff eyebrow screwed, but added a small smile to her lip, "Ok fuck you." They share a light chuckle before Dewolff begins receiving a call from someone, not other than Gordon, "Gotta take this, fix that god damn light you hear?"

"I ain't doing it! HEY YO SOMEONE FIX THAT BAT SIGNAL FOR FUCK SAKES!"

Dewolff closed her office door behind her while answering her phone, "Hell of a time to call Jim."

"Well I've been busy on my end."

Her eyebrow raised at the kind of sly response, "You mean on a beach in Hawaii?"

He heard his small crackle behind the phone, and it didn't dissuade her smile since it was always nice to talk to the former commissioner at the GCPD, "It is very nice over here I can't lie. Sometimes my body feels just a bit angsty, hoping and being paranoid that something will happen. It seems that's been the case in Gotham. How are you holding up after the Carnage massacre?"

Dewolff sighed, walking over her chair where she sat, turning her chair to stare at the late night skies. In her eyes, they betray all that is going on in the city, even if it's been quite as of late, "Good as I can, but really, terrible. I mean… I've seen some shit Jim for the past 15 years of being a cop but what I saw? Seeing everyone, and I mean everyone fighting it out by some metahuman that can control what seems like our deepest, darkest thoughts and passion? I…I never seeing anything like that….Kids Jim, even kids were in harms way…Not even spider-man could save them all."

"Which also means you had another panic attack?"

"Yeah… I did…" from her green jacket pocket, she took out a case that was supposed to have cigarettes but had none, "Damn…Should've asked Harvey for a smoke."

"A small taste of rum would do the trick."

"Not my style Jim," her hands rub the bridge of her nose, "I thought I got over my panic attacks but they're still there Jim… Almost like nothing changed from the rookie I was."

"But you learn to control it right? Breathing technique and all?"

She scoffed, "More like a certain reporter had to bitch slap me."

"Ha! But you got it under control! You're in control and only you can stay like that. Your strong Dewolff, George always saw it in you just as any other experienced cop has."

"Still, it would be just a bit easier if you were here to guide me to do what's right."

"None of us knows what's right and wrong an-"

"And we have to just follow what our gut says, what our minds know what to do, and what our heart has to follow through it… I really miss George."

"I do too. Not a day goes by if I was a second faster, I probably could've saved him. Hell, I knew spider-man beats himself up for that alot."

"And the death of his daughter," she again sighs with the topic of the spider being at hand, "He's been dealing with a lot and he's out of it right now. Now it's all up to me and whoever bat family is around."

"Stakes are getting high Dewolff. Match them."

"Trying, but it isn't easy."

"You'll find a way, I know you will. It's why I place you as commissioner above anyone else."

A notification wrong on her phone that got Dewolff attention.

Unknown: Archie Goodwin International Airport. Bait. Talia. Need GCPD forces. Here's tracker. Don't know if the Knight of the sun will intercept. Be prepared for anything.

"Duty calls Jim, but thanks for the check up."

"Any time Jean."

Her mind was set straight, with the help of the present and past.

Bludhaven

Nightwing perch on top of the bridge that led into the city he used to protect. The only that was possible was configuring his locator so that way at least, Barbara would see that he's in Gotham then at Bludhaven. When he gave up being Bruce's robin, he decided this place would be just fine to start up his more solo routines.

It was hard. Knowing that he couldn't fall back on Bruce's money meant that he had to find ways to salvage the tools and medical equipment when protecting Bludhaven from crooked heads. Though, it wasn't all bad, since it didn't take long for Nightwing to reform the teen titans with new members along the way.

He felt his lip curve at remembering those times with his friends, and even introducing Peter to them that allowed him to be a part of something bigger, since his costume said otherwise. In a way, he misses those younger days, where he hadn't even reached his prime and nothing seemed unattainable so long as he tried to achieve it.

But then the more hardships of his time as Nightwing came through, only making him lose the smile so easily as it came. The many battles he fought with the titans, bat family, and the many battles he fought for this city weren't always easy.

Not to mention, Bludhaven went through its own hardship as a few years ago ended up being blown up by a chemical explosion by a villainous group that wanted revenge for Nightwings intrusion on their plan. Even when it had to rebuild, there were definitely scars this city took that can't always be overcome.

Till this day, the wall for this city that covers multiple bridges and angles that lead to the exit or entrance was still around. If Dick tried to fly in, it meant the likes of helicopters and armed military presence would be on his tail. Reason? The government had done what it did to Gotham years ago as it did to Bludhaven, commission a no man's land operation. Although for better reasons, Bludhaven still had known pollution in the air that was slowly being drained as the years went by.

With the help of star labs made it easier to allow people to not wear masks, and also allowed people to enter and exit the city, so long as they check for a clean bill of health.

Dick would then cringe in pain, feeling his body, his head, and every muscle ache in pain. He ignored it like always when the pain in his body flared up, when the tingling that poke and prod at each fiber of his bones, or the constant migraine that came slap dead in his temple. He hated feeling this, hated feeling off balance that it caused him to sit on the edge of the bridge.

He hated feeling helpless that he can't numb the pain without an extra, extra help that needed resupplying.

It was then a faint ultraviolet color became clear that reflected his shadow more, Dick turned his head to see it was someone who looked to be similar to his girlfriend Koriand'r. Only that the clothing she wore was complete black and white armor, wearing an m like silver crown that adjusted her long, straight reddish-black hair. Like all of her race, the tamaranean, her clothing didn't hide much of her orange skin, but enough to accept earth costumes such as covering up her breast and lower region, "Took you.." Dick groaned when standing on his two feet, "Long enough.."

"You joke, yet you're in pain Grayson," she floated down near him, her ultraviolet aura diminished as she took the bag off her back to reveal a green serum with a device to inject Dick with, "Neck."

"Does it hav-" she didn't let him talk his way out, instantly grabbing his neck lightly as she could, and injecting the green liquid by his neck, "AGH!" Dick moans in pain, hunchback as the serum does its job to rectify all that he's feeling. His breathing picked up just as his heart raced, the drug going into his system, his hand clutch, enough for even the fabric of the suit to see the veins of his muscle, while also seeing a boost in bulk.

But it briefly shows before subsiding, just like everything else in Dick system. He would take a few deep breaths in his nose before standing up straight without worrying about the pain, "Thanks Komand'r."

She gives him the bag, to where he can see a bunch of pills and a few serum for his needs, "You know this isn't a permanent fix."

Dick closes the bag and slings it behind him, "Of course, when I'm done with Gotham I'll figure out a better solution."

Her greens glared at his easy way out answer, "Don't lie to me Grayson, not when you want to marry my sister!" Her slight anger was able to evoke her ultraviolet aura again, only by the hair, "She doesn't even know, and it'll only worsen your chances of wanting to have her for the rest of your humane life."

"I'll tell her!" He then looked away, "...Eventually."

She scoffed, "Can't even be honest to her to this day… I don't understand why she keeps going back to you when there are far more better tamaranean's, hell, humans! That can be better suited for her!"

"What do you want me to do?! I need this! The only way I'm gonna help my family is with these!" Dick said, gesturing behind his back, "I can't, I won't be useless!"

Komand'r could only shake her head of how unaware of Dick was quite literally saying he's an addict for the drugs, "You should know better that drug, what you humans called venom? Will only make you weaker up here," she taps the side of her head, "And you notice the changes haven't you?" Dick who's silent said it all for her, "I could only dampen the elements, the compound to minimize some of its effects, but the more you take it Grayson, the more it's gonna impact you negatively.'

"I KNOW DAMN IT!" He shouted in her face, "I KNOW OF THE CONSEQUENCES, BUT I WON'T BE USELESS, I WON'T BE WEAK, I DON'T EVER WANT TO BE WHAT I WAS A YEAR AGO."

Komand'r understood where he came from, but she didn't give him the pleasure of sympathy even so, "Which is why I'm still helping you out. It'll hurt my sister more, but I've hurt her enough as is and I accept whatever come's my way. While the secret will hurt her, it wouldn't compare to how much pain I caused her when we were younger," this is when her glare was let go, soften, but she still look stern in her own presence, "..You on the other hand, will only serve to crush again, and again, just like every time you two have gotten back together, to only break up again. How much pain does my poor sister have to endure, for your selfishness Grayson?"

Dick didn't answer her question, couldn't answer because in the end he really was selfish. If he could've, he would stay in her home planet, continue his therapy and not take the easy way out. He could've, should've, but there was a greater reason why he didn't do it, and didn't take the hard route for a more successful recovery.

He couldn't stand to be pitied.

He couldn't stand to hear about his small accomplishments.

He couldn't stand to hear her telling him that she'll still love him no matter what else happens.

Dick couldn't stand the thought of being useless to Koriand'r, and vice versa, he couldn't stand aside from knowing that he so badly wants to be this, Nightwing, and helping others once more instead of looking afar while others do the work.

He hated that feeling, and he never wants to experience it, "Then she won't know. On my end at least."

"It's not my part to tell her, only you."

"Then again, she won't know. If I can at least keep her happy as is, then it's fine by me," Dick activated his jet wings, "By the way, you should tell Peter hi."

"And why would I do that?" Her glare was reinforced when that man was brought up.

"Since you're all about reconciling your old ways, maybe you should patch up your relationship with him. It would give you two some needed closure," Dick then proceeded to fly off, leaving Komand'r to watch him go back to Gotham.

It did leave her to wonder in her own thoughts briefly, 'That bug man… No.. I won't see him, he doesn't need to deal with me,' leaving that thought behind, she would fly off in her own direction, in a trail of her ultraviolet aura.

Gotham

Underneath the Gotham river lies a small but efficient submarine moving close to a bridge. Inside it was the Arkham Knight, arms behind they're back, shield and sword at the ready with a few guns if need be used, "Talia has been relocated, heading to the Archie Goodwin airport as we speak," said one of the members of the knights of the sun when mobilizing the submarine.

"No way you're dumb enough to escape Al Ghul," The Knight mutters to themself, "Bait for the bat to fight? Heh…Bold move. Everyone at the ready?"

"Yes!"

"We're ready Arkham Knight!"

A small snicker occurred at hearing the army at the ready. Like their last mission that wasn't so successful, the Arkham Knight made sure to pack a small efficient team when converging towards their target, Talia Al Ghul. They would tap the side of their helmet, opening com's to someone on the other line, "She's gonna reach Trigate bridge, how fast can you get there?"

"With your vehicles I should get there before she does. You do know, she's a bait Knight."

"I do know this, but we also need to show how ruthless we are while exposing more of the bat family. The more we push, the more likely all of them will show up, and then the real fun begins."

"And what about this Carnage foe? Are you to ally with him and his own army?"

The Arkham Knight that was an intriguing option; one chaotic chaos along with sophisticated types of chaos coming together? Can be interesting to see and do, but also can lead to an array of problems. Such as their perspective and objective not aligning with one another. But they'll keep that in the back of their head when the time has come, till then, the Knight will work with what they have, "It's an option if we need too. Now, let's begin our movement."

Talia made sure to play her part of the plan. Acting like she was trying to get out of Gotham as she packs her bags to head back to her home in Nanda Parbat in the mountain sides of Hindu Kush. Since many of her assassins were all but killed here in Gotham and she could in no way contact the league without alerting whoever could be a mole in the league, she had to resort to normal means to get her way.

Basically, order an Uber like a normal modern citizen would.

Talia admires the upgrade in technology as the years go by, but it only seems to make people just a bit lazy because of it. She remembers a particular move that had a robotic trash can developing feelings for another robot while also illustrating humans being lazy and fat as technology operates their life.

It was a good Disney movie she watched by herself, but also something alluding to reality ever more. In a way, it's why her father was trying to dismantle a lot of what modern times has established and go back to the more older, simple, harsh ways. Where the strong only survives while the weak dies. She still abides by that philosophy, but she believes there's a different way to go about without murdering millions of people in the process.

She'll find a way before her time is up. She always does.

In the car, she was reaching the airport, going through the Trigate bridge that was not only a bridge for North Gotham that leads the Gotham county outside of the city, but it passes over Arkham Asylum and can also lead into Miagani island if need be. Talia was lucky enough to buy a condo in North Gotham so she could make it look like she was trying to get away from the city.

An added bag with an added coat to her liking just so she can sell her role properly if the Knight actually does have eyes on her. The idea that the little bat had in mind was there need to be less casualties during the fight, yet if Talia being honest who knows if she'll make it to the airport. More than likely, the knight probably has a beem on her as she speaks, and being around a bridge where traffic was now getting involved.

She's not in a great position to do much.

Ironic enough, Talia's phone rang in her hand, reading beloved and she answer to hear what Bruce had to say, "Beloveddd~ How nice of yo-"

"You think this is a game?" Talia smirk was held in place, especially when she heard that tone of voice of his. Serious, straightforward, brings back fond memories of the conversation she had with Bruce when he was the bat, "Taunting Cassandra like this and making bad calls all for what? Because you despise her?"

"Despise?" She snorted, "Please, you've done a terrible job at grooming her to replace you." as Talia talked to Bruce, she kept her eyes and ear open for anything and anyone that can gun after her when on the bridge. The bridge didn't hold as many cars compared to the morning, but she never knew where and how the Knight and her army would strike, "She knows why she does this, but there's no push for her to do what's necessary regardless of her condition. Beyond her beloved, which I also feel's he's doing a terrible job when it comes to being her partner, she's not being the leader she supposed to be, she isn't doing enough as she should."

"There's a time and place for that. We need to be smart, move when appropriate. You being out in the open only paints not only you, but Cassandra as a clear, easy target."

"And that's the point, a bold move to take down the king. Something she knew what needed to be done"

"And what about the knights? The rooks? The bishops? Or even a queen? The queen, if out in the open, can strike anywhere at a given time, Talia."

"Then we know who else we're facing."

"Talia, this isn't a game to be having right now! Cassandra's life's on the line and so is yours! Who's to say Carnage and his partner won't look to strike just to try to lure Peter?! You can't have Cassandra being a leader by having her make decisions like this!"

Talia didn't flinch at how loud his voice got, it seems that he's been frustrated with everything going on. And he, if she can guess, feel's that he's useless while he watches his family partake in a brewing war he should be a part of, "It's better now than later. She knows of the conseque-"

That's when Talia saw a rocket launcher coming her way from behind the vehicle she was in. Her eyes quickly widened as she could only duck under the seat because the rocket was not only coming fast, but it was shifting its direction. It didn't hit the back of the car, the driver had no time to react to it or even shout something, as it ended up hitting the right side in between the vehicle and another.

Talia couldn't see where it hit, but she felt it when the explosion sent her car flying. The car was hurled over the other side of the lane, hitting the middle of a truck trailer. The truck had a hard time stabilizing the trailer, as it ended up swiveling and breaking apart the bridge's railing. The driver's only way of saving himself from falling into the Gotham river was by detaching the trailer in the process.

Yet other vehicles were caught in the crossfire; crashing into one another, being sent off the bridge, causing traffic, it was being becoming hell on earth on the Trigate bridge. Both people dying and getting hurt all the same with no hero to save them. Meanwhile, Talia's vehicle was sent rag-dolling; the head of the vehicle impacting each and every time that the driver was already dead from the impact. Talia held on to the car's grab handle for dear life, and with timing and because the wind shield was broken, she let herself drop from the vehicle once it hit another vehicle back side shifting its rotation in the air once more.

She rolled rugged on the pavement. She felt cuts, bruises, and her land caused a snap in one of Talia's hands, or possibly both. She doesn't know because she was already dazed as she tried to stand, it being hard because she not only took a nasty blow from a rocket launcher, but also had a terrible landing when escaping with her life.

Fire bloomed behind her, fire bloomed from across the bridge, cars in front of her were on top of one another, colliding with each other, and sent some more off the bridge. The other side of the bridge was also not looking as good, less chaotic, but all the more destructive with on going collisions from multiple cars. But as Talia at the very least sat up, groaning in pain as she saw both her hands were twisted in the wrong direction, and so was her feet, she couldn't have time to fix them when she saw the people gunning after her.

Appeared out of thin air, but she saw some came from the bottom of Gotham river. The Arkham Knight and their army, steadily walking to her amongst the chaos, "Hello again, Talia. Seems like you're having car trouble."

"TALIA! TALIA!" Bruce shouted in his office at Wayne tower. With no answer he quickly tap the ear pierce in his ears, gaining access to the batcave comm's, "Oracle! Something's wrong on Talia's end."

"I know! Batwoman is heading there as we speak, she's not far off from there."

"What about Nightwing? Where's he?"

"Off radar, don't know what he's doing, but we can't rely on him. Cassandra already thought ahead and had GCPD lock on Talia's location, they're already heading over there to assist Cassandra. Though, Cassandra has to circle back to Trigate bridge due to trying to make it seem like she wasn't tailing Talia."

Bruce couldn't help but silently curse himself with everything going on. His fist clutches tightly as he watches over the city, his city, that he so rightfully wants to protect.

But if he does so, then there won't be no going back, if he does put on the mask it means ruining any possible chance of recovering, if he becomes batman… Then his family would no longer trust him. Because how would they know what he could potentially do?

And the terrifying part? Is that small part of him he tried locking away for well over a year? That part of him so badly wants to be released, and kill those who want to bring chao to his city. So Bruce can only put his faith into his legacy, the person who's carrying out the mantle, the person who was meant to be everything he once was. All he could do was hope she can meet the challenge that she's now facing.

Especially without Peter or Dick at the moment.

The Arkham Knight clutched Talia by her neck, showcasing the mere strength by lifting her from the ground. The fire caused by multiple cars, the panic from the many civilians that were on the bridge, only seem to resonate more with the snickering coming from the Knight. They don't care about who they endanger, only that their a means to an end.

Pushing their goal forward, nothing more and nothing less, "So what was the plan? That you could escape? That the bat could flush us out? Take me away to the loony bin or the gates of hell?" Their snicker grew, but was quickly stopped by ongoing screams coming from the civilians that try to escape the bridge, "Knights! Either kill them or round them up. It's surprising that the GCPD was coming so soon," they edge closer to the frowning face of Talia, "Bat was smart to get more people on her side since her spider isn't around at the moment."

The knights of the sun did what they were told; some murder civilians on the bridge, while others grabbed hold of them on both lanes and held them at point since the GCPD was gonna intersect from both points of the bridge.

Dewolff and her officers had just closed off the bridge and saved whatever civilians they could. But the situation was quickly getting worse. Each and every cop knew of the circumstance but held back and even hid behind the covers of vehicles just in case a fire fight goes down. Bullock and and a swat officer would virtually use goggles and a sniper rifle to get a good view on what's happening further down the Trigate bridge, "They're not only got hostages but they also got someone on the high top of the bridge with a bird eyes view on us." Bullock told Dewolff.

"Could we take a shot at this person Yuri?" She asked one of the swat members who had eyes not only the Knight but also the person on the top of the Trigate bridge.

Yuri got a good look at this guy; some type of white mask was on him, but wore a similar armor set like the night of the sun just without the added bat-like cowl. An odd thing was the belt that lit up in a green hue, like it powered him up or something. She couldn't see his face at all, though she knew the body type was indeed a man. And he was not really eyeballing her, but eyeballing Bullock. Quickly as she could, she ran and tackled him, "HOLY!"

Yuri caught the bullet on her shoulder pad but saved Bullock as she helped him up and made sure they were both behind multiple GCPD vehicles, "Negative commissioner," her shoulder was all the more find thanks the padding, "If he wanted to, he would have shot me when he had the chance."

"And he has an actual sniper! Not just a freakin rocket launcher!" Bullock threw his hands in the air, "Where the hell is the bat? Or her partner, the spider?"

"Spider-man is most likely still recovering from the Carnage massacre, and Batwoman is coming soon. Nightwing should at least been here but I don't got nothing him," she went to call the Batwoman the second she saw the scale tip for the Knight group, "Hey, we're gonna need an ace in the hole here if we want to push on them. Sniper ontop, and the Knight looks like is about ready to ditch the bridge along with Talia, and kill off hostages."

"Heard! Coming from north of Sommerset!"

"Your in the county side, how fast can you get here?"

"Finding out."

That's when they heard a gunshot that made every officer flinch and jumpy. Dewolff quickly check to see if everyone was alright, "Was that from the Knight?! That shot didn't came from that direction"

Bullock, with the goggles around his neck, took a peak very quickly to see what's going on, and he had a surprised look on his face, "No, someone shot at her!" Another gun shot rang out, with Bullock having the balls to peak again, he didn't see anyone else got shot seeing as the knight and their army took cover, but the sniper was no longer seen on the top, "Whoever is gunning them from afar, I think they gave us an opening we need to move forward."

"Yuri, gonna need another drone out."

Dewolff's radio that was latched on her pants ended up making some static noise till someone cleared their throat, "Testing! Testing! Tes- Yeah you guys here me so uh, GET THE FUCK A MOVE ON!"

Bullock scoffed, recognizing the voice who took over the radio, "This is the only time I'm glad that punk is back in Gotham."

"LET'S MOVE PEOPLE!"

Everything went out of place so fast for the Arkham Knight. They had a hold on Talia, they made sure cop's couldn't do anything to move on them without anymore hostages getting their heads blown off, and likely, Batwoman would've made things worse if she showed up. She would not only have them, but also the army that had every advantage point to win.

But of course, they knew it wouldn't be an exact victory, as they were banking on someone coming to their rescue. Case in point, some of her army laid dead beside them, others took cover, letting hostages run free seeing as whatever they make would give the sniper an opening. The Knight themselves was breathing rather heavily. It was mostly because once they had a fine helmet being clean, posed, dominance, chaos, and fear, the reverse of Batwoman.

But now there was a crack surface on their forehead where a bullet was lodged in. A bullet that demonstrated just how careless she was from not knowing this could've happen, but she couldn't let Talia escape, not back to her home where it would be harder to capture her. They took it out, eyeing the long bullet in their hands, "...300 Winchester Magnum. Huh…So now the gunsmith of the bat family shows his face?" The knight heard Talia laughing as she manuals with the pavement, snapping her one hand back in place, causing a groan before she fixed the other, "You laugh, but I expected this."

"True… But you can't do anything to make a move on me," Talia said with confidence as she sat cross legged, now snapping her ankles back into place, "Police…Grr! Are coming…And..Gah…You hear that familiar engine roaring behind me?" The Knight didn't just hear it, they could see it from afar. Batwoman was coming, behind her was another crew of GCPD officer, "In a way, you risk taking me with you, dealing with my mercenary while also dealing with multiple GCPD, and the Bat," she smirk, more devilishly knowing the game of chess was her's today. The queen had been taken, and the king was in a position to lose, "Or you can escape, lick your wounds, and maybe fight another day."

The knight knew what choice to have, and better than to lose more members, they needed to escape right here and right now, "Everyone! If you can move, excavate the bridge so we can regroup… This isn't over Al Ghul," The knight and their army took out smoke bombs, creating a cloud of it so that it could make their escape.

"Of course, it isn't."

From a light tower that had its own bridge hailing from the asylum, it overlooked the west side of Gotham river and was tall enough to get an angle and a proper view of the Trigate bridge. Usually the Asylum guards would be staying on point around this time of the night, but they were knocked out by a man who was almost as tall as Bruce; wearing a prominent red mask that visor was open up for him to drink a tray of alcohol, a white vest that has a hood over his red mask, silver and gray armor both on body, arms with its own gauntlet, and legs with the added support of footwear bridging between gray and red. He also had a red bat symbol on the center of his chest, two swords holsters on his side, two other swords stash behind him, along with other holsters on his waist for grenades, smokes, throwable weapons, even two dual wield pistols for added measure.

As he drank his alcohol, he kept aimlessly on the bridge, letting both hands focus, seeing as he felt the alcohol kicking in his system, "Come on little piggy's…I wonder if you're feeling lucky to come out of this alive?"

The so called gunsmith of the bat family began firing, catching some with easy headshots. He then focuses on the one top of the bridge, but he dive into the water where he caught him by the legs just as he caught him by the shoulder, but all the more live to see another day, "God damn it Parker… Now Cass got to worry about another one of your villains," he went back to focusing on the Knight, they and their army were now deep in the ocean, "Oh ho…Where do you think you're going, fake batman?" He changed the scope, allowing him to not only zoom in through the Gotham river, but also allowed him to see where the Knight and their army was going. Finding out that they had a submarine, not huge, but good enough to hold a dozen or so people, "Bingo," with a push of the button on his sniper, an added laser sight occurred, and the bullet in the chamber changed just a bit.

He fired the bullet at the submarine, its speed hit the submarine, and stuck itself on it. The man with the red mask took another sip of his alcohol, but pressing a few buttons on his helmet where behind it, he can see exactly where the knight would be going, "All high tech and you wouldn't even notice something low tech," he chuckle to himself, he then got a glimpse of the Trigate bridge, he did frown at the innocents that were killed, the cops that tried to handle the situation best they could.

Hell, he can see big Bullock not liking it just as much as Dewolff.

Then there was the Bat, talking with them, but also looking around before she looked directly at him. Just from the arm cross and head tilt alone, she wasn't surprised to see him, "Bitch must've mentioned I was showing up," however when it came out, he couldn't help but smirk and wave. She didn't respond, instead looking like she said something to the police before getting Talia with her, putting her behind the batpod and driving off while going invisible, "Huh, that's new. Wonder where her boyfriend is? He should've been here..Unless guy got clocked…Fuck Parker, when will you stop getting your ass kicked?" he added a chuckle in his question.

In hindsight, Jason wished he didn't come back to this city, but he was obligated to by money. How else was he going to get more of the alcohol that just ran out, "FUCK IM OUT!"

Yes sir! Yes sir! The red hood, Jason Todd, has come out from wherever he was to praise his appearance in Gotham. Chapter took a lot longer to design because I was trying to figure out how to lay out the ending scene better. I had to take account in certain things Cassandra needed to do, how the Knight indeed knew when and where Talia would show up if Cassandra didn't use Peter's new batpod to camouflage herself properly, and how this whole entire scene can play out.

It was challenge, because I wanted a fight scene, but that didn't work, I didn't want anyone to come out incompetent, but I also don't want mere luck to work on anyone side. As I've been playing more chess, I wanted to represent that more, that Talia and Cassandra we're able to conquer the game of chess today. And I will especially showcase it more thanks to Talia. Part 2 is just about done, and we're gonna head into part 3 of this story soon. Things are in motion, players are coming out, and the fate of Gotham rest on the shoulders of these heroes.

So till then, hopefully in a week time, see yall whenever.