Chapter 5: Rivals Meet Again
It was quiet in Gotham on this dreary August night which was highly unusual for this city to stay quiet for too long. Reporter Jack Ryder was taking center view of the camera that was filming him while he was giving his report. "As you can see, people. The streets of Gotham are as clean as a whistle and as quiet as a mouse. Even though within the last year, our fair city has suffered the attacks of fear gas clouds, giant plants, and monster insects; Gotham has rebuilt itself and recovered from those events. Let's just hope things can stay like this and not have any more big predicaments.", Ryder said. Just after he said that, the ground began to tremble and about a dozen army drones remote controlled by the militia drove down the streets and past the live newsfeed that could be easily seen by everyone who was watching. Ryder saw all of this and once they were gone, he seemed extremely annoyed and said, "Oh, God damn it!". Meanwhile, Batman was doing his nightly patrol of the city and was surprised by the lack of action and crime in the city tonight which made him decide to throw in the towel a little early. "Alfred, things are pretty quiet so I'm coming home now.", Batman said to his butler through his intercom speaker. "Very good, sir. See you soon.", Alfred replied. Batman then dived headfirst into his car which was down on the streets below him and strapped himself in. Just as he was about to drive home, he was stopped by several drones who ambushed him and locked onto him as their target. "What the hell?", Batman said to himself as he was caught off guard by all of this. "Sir, we got sight of Batman.", a soldier told him who was controlling the drones from somewhere else. "Are you sure it's him?", the militia's leader said. "Absolutely. Should we engage?", the soldier asked. "Yes, you should engage.", the leader ordered. "Copy that. All drones fire!", he ordered the drones. One of them began to launch missiles at the Batmobile, but the car was able to dodge them just in time. Batman used his car to do a quick scan of the drones in front of him. "They're all unarmed. Remote-controlled by whoever is giving them orders to strike me. Good thing the scans indicated their weak spot.", Batman said to himself. The Batmobile then transformed into its battle tank mode and was ready to fight. "Good thing Lucius's new Batmobile has come in handy within everything I've had to deal with the last year.", Batman said. Batman then began to fire at the drone aiming at their weak spots. With just one good hit at those spots, they were able to explode. The drones proved to be quite a challenge as he kept dodging their blasts and missiles. The Batmobile kept firing at the drones until they exploded. The hero could hear the soldier controlling the drones talking to someone whose voice sounded familiar thanks to how his mask could easily listen into radio conversations. Eventually, the drones were all destroyed without the Batmobile taking any damage. "This isn't over, freak! There's plenty more drones where those came from!", the soldier said before getting off his communications. Batman then pulled up Alfred on his screen inside the car who was trying to reach out to him. "Master Bruce, I just saw Jack Ryder's news report which was interrupted by what appear to be tanks of some kind moving through Gotham's streets.", Alfred said. "I know. I was just fighting with some. Luckily the Batmobile's weapons system was able to defeat them. They're being remote controlled by someone and I was told there's more to come.", Batman said. "Oh, dear. I'm just getting word that someone is trying to reach out to you. Apparently, it's whoever is behind those remote-controlled monstrosities attacking you.", Alfred said. "Patch him through, Alfred.", Batman told him. "Very good, sir.", Alfred said as he allowed his master to see who was trying to contact him. Batman was surprised to see a face or mask in this case he never thought he would see again. "It's good to see you again, Batman. It's been a while.", Deathstroke said. "Slade.", Batman said. "Code name's Deathstroke. And I am on the job.", Slade said. "What job?", Batman asked. "Don't interrupt me when I'm talking. Others have been killed over doing that. I was just about to explain that. Now, as I recall, you once said that I didn't worry you. But my latest employer says different. She sought me out. She told me I was the toughest bastard you ever went toe-to-toe with.", he said. "Who said that? Who are you working for this time?", Batman asked. "A real foxy woman you might know by the name of Sofia Falcone. She wants to rid Gotham of its bat problem so she can take back the city that once belonged to her father before you started the masked and costumed lunatic plague.", he said. "So Sofia Falcone hired you. How much is she paying you?", Batman asked. "Oh, she's paying me twice as much as Joker offered all those years ago. 100 million just to kill you. And I brought along my own highly-trained militia that I taught to deal with the likes of you. And after they're done with you, I plan for us to have a proper rematch.", Slade said. "I beat you once, Slade. I can beat you again.", Batman said. "I wouldn't count on it. You just got lucky last time.", the merc said. "That's what they all say.", Batman said. "Well, we'll see if it was just luck. You'll be seeing my men and more drones making appearances in Gotham soon. Until then, it was nice to see you.", Slade said before he went off. Alfred then came back on and said, "I do believe we've dealt with that assassin before.". "Slade clearly wants revenge after I beat him on the Final Offer all those years ago and Sofia's giving him the chance to do so while paying him handsomely.", Batman said. "I take it this means you'll be staying out late tonight after all?", Alfred asked. "I'll be home soon. We'll figure out a game plan for this tomorrow. Before I come home, I want to have a little word with Ms. Falcone.", Batman said. "Very well, Master Bruce.", Alfred said and then went off. Batman then made his way towards Sofia's penthouse where she was held up. She was currently mixing herself a drink as she knew Slade's course of action was taking effect. "Hello, Sofia.", Batman said. Sofia gasped and saw Batman standing in front of her open window. "What the hell are you doing here?", Sofia asked. "I came to warn you you're playing with dangerous fire by hiring a killing machine like Slade Wilson.", Batman warned her. "I don't think it's me who should be warned, but rather the other way around. He and his army are going to mop the streets with your blood. Then, the city that once belonged to my father will be mine.", Sofia said. "Gotham only belongs to its good people. Not to scum like you. I said the exact same thing to Carmine when we first crossed paths.", Batman said. "Don't you dare say his name! He died because of you! If you never existed, he would still be alive and Gotham would still belong to the respectable criminals and not psychopaths dressed like clowns, scarecrows, and God knows what else.", Sofia yelled. "I'm telling you, Slade's too dangerous to be trusted. Whose to say he won't betray you and try to take everything you have?", he asked. "Because I know he's a man of honor. I'm not stupid, Batman. I didn't just hire any random contract killer without doing my research.", Sofia said. "Maybe so, but I would watch my back if I were you. I don't know what exactly those experiments did to him entirely, but I know he's more likely to be unstable then he was before because of it. And if you think either you or him are going to get away with this, you're wrong. After I'm done with him and his army, I'll be back for you.", Batman warned her and then grappled out through the same window he came in. Sofia watched as Batman disappeared into the night and continued to sup her drink with a small spread across her lips as she could tell things were about to get very interesting.