The dead assassin seemed to be holding on to something, I opened up his hand and saw a piece of paper with random numbers written on it.
I for one knew that with the League of Assassins, nothing was done at random. I observed the numbers and they didn't fit into any clues, I started to think maybe it was just some code, but that was when it hit me.
"Gwen, run these numbers up across longitude and latitude, I think it might be coordinates." I ordered, suspecting it might be some kind of coordinates and probably my invitation from Ra's. I do not know what he wanted from me this time around but Talia did mention he could be one stubborn geezer, and would try other methods to get me to come to him.
Since the direction was never specified, Gwen produced four different coordinates and displayed them upon the screen of my visor. "The third one, there seem to be nothing in that area." I pointed out.
"Yes sir, it's a desert with nothing significant in the area, no sign of human residence." She replied.
"Good, put a pin on that location. That's where they are most likely to use as their hideout." I didn't bother going back home to get anything or informing anyone as to what had transpired that night but just headed straight towards a possible base for the League of Assassins.
…
Talia al Ghul, daughter of the infamous Ra's al Ghul and a formidable leader of the League of Assassins, found herself in a dimly lit room where the League had imprisoned Raven. The air was thick with anticipation as Talia meticulously arranged candles around the room, creating an atmosphere that was both eerie and mysterious.
As the candles flickered to life, Raven slowly regained consciousness. Her violet eyes fluttered open, revealing the confusion and disorientation that lingered from the sedation. Talia observed her with a casual demeanor, fully aware of the powerful being lying on the bed before her.
"Oh, you're up. It would be better if you kindly go back to being asleep; Father will be right with you in due time," Talia remarked, her voice carrying an air of authority. The message was clear – Raven's presence was not a matter of Talia's choice but a requirement set by Ra's al Ghul himself.
Raven, still groggy from the sedation, attempted to use her magic to confront Talia. "Azrath Metrion Sintos," she uttered, directing her hand at Talia, but the attempt proved futile.
"Azrath Metrion Sintos," she tried again, frustration evident in her voice as her magic continued to be suppressed.
"What did you do to me? Why… Why won't my magic work?" Raven questioned, struggling to make sense of the situation.
Talia extinguished a match with a nonchalant blow, her gaze unwavering. "That's because the herb pressed against your nose before you were put to sleep serves a dual purpose. It knocks people unconscious and, conveniently for us, temporarily blocks the use of magic if the victim is a magic user."
Raven's confusion deepened, realizing the extent of the circumstances that had led to her captivity. "What does Ra's al Ghul want with me?" she inquired, her curiosity overcoming the haze of sedation.
A subtle smile played on Talia's lips as she savored the realization that Raven had yet to comprehend the true nature of her predicament. "Don't worry; you'll find out soon enough."
A knock echoed through the room, and an ally in a mask entered, bearing a tray with a steaming cup of tea. Talia, maintaining her composed demeanor, acknowledged the timely arrival.
"Perfect timing," she remarked, taking the tray from the masked ally. "Drink this tea; it will help you relax a bit," Talia suggested, placing the tray on a stool near Raven's bed.
Raven, distrustful of her captor, resisted the offer. "You can have it because I won't be drinking that," she asserted, attempting to rise from the bed but discovering a disconcerting numbness in her legs.
"Why can't I feel my legs?" she questioned, her confusion growing as the reality of her situation became more apparent.
"Guards!" Talia called out, summoning two masked assassins who promptly placed Raven back in bed.
"I thought it might be rude not to offer our guest anything. That's why I asked them to bring you this tea. It might help with whatever is going on with your legs, who knows," Talia taunted, her tone dripping with subtle amusement as she prepared to leave the room.
"Be a darling and stay put," she said to Raven, the door closing behind her as she left the captive hero to grapple with the mysteries and threats that surrounded her.
…
The chamber was dimly lit by flickering candles and lanterns, casting dancing shadows across the ornate walls. Talia entered with a silent grace, bowing respectfully to her father, Ra's al Ghul, seated regally on a throne-like chair.
"You know the boy will come for her, don't you?" she remarked, her gaze meeting her father's.
"Indeed, my daughter. I've taken precautions based on the information gathered from encounters with the exceptional young man," Ra's replied with an air of unwavering confidence.
Talia, concerned for the potential consequences, warned, "We must not underestimate him. Your plans for the girl could lead to another massacre of our men if mishandled."
Ra's, seemingly unperturbed, assured, "Fear not. I have countermeasures that will subdue even the most formidable opponent. His prowess will be no match for my preparations."
Talia, aware of Tom's capabilities, pressed, "He's unpredictable. We need to be prepared and vigilant or else things might not go as planned."
Ra's, with a calm resolve, declared, "I will bring him to submission. My measures are designed to disorient even the most untamed. Even a Kryptonian mind can't withstand what awaits him."
Talia, acknowledging her father's confidence, conceded, "If you say so, Father. But we must stay vigilant. He will arrive soon."
With a slight bow, Talia turned to leave the chamber, leaving Ra's al Ghul immersed in the shadows of his calculated schemes.
…
In the heart of the League of Assassins' fortress, a training room echoed with the clash of weaponry. Damian Wayne, the young prodigy, found himself surrounded by a quintet of highly skilled assassins.
The dojo setting was dimly lit, emphasizing the seriousness of the training. Shadows danced on the walls as the combatants engaged in a disciplined dance of combat.
Damian wielded a sword with precision and grace that befitted his lineage, while his opponents, each armed with different weapons – arrows, swords, a bow staff, a Sai, and kunai – circled him. The air crackled with anticipation as the training session reached a crescendo.
The training session unfolded with precision and intensity. The assassins attacked Damian with a strategic blend of coordination and individual skill. Shurikens whizzed through the air, swords clashed in a symphony of steel, and the dojo became a battleground of strategy and technique.
Damien, a formidable combatant, parried, dodged, and countered with the finesse of a true descendant of Ra's al Ghul. Each opponent tested a different aspect of his abilities, making the training not just a physical exercise but a mental challenge.
As the session neared its end, the masked assassins acknowledged Damian's prowess with silent bows before standing down.
Talia al Ghul, clad in the League's traditional attire, had observed the intense training session from the shadows. As Damien concluded the skirmish, sweat glistened on his brow. Talia approached, acknowledging his skill.
"Excellently done, as always," she complimented, her voice carrying a blend of approval and maternal concern. Damian, catching his breath, wiped his face with a towel offered to him.
"Mother, what are you doing here? I thought you were occupied with Grandfather's agenda for the next couple of days," Damian inquired, a hint of curiosity in his tone.
"I am indeed occupied, but I wanted to assess your progress. Your skills are crucial, especially considering the challenges that lie ahead," Talia explained, her eyes scanning the masked assassins who, at her subtle nod, respectfully withdrew, leaving the training ground to the mother and son.
As the training room cleared, Talia, her demeanor a mix of authority and care, issued a warning to Damian. "The one your grandfather has chosen to invite tonight is not to be taken lightly. I advise you to stay in your room until I say otherwise"
Damian's arrogance surfaced. "Why should I? I heard he's just a boy."
"Not just any boy," Talia emphasized. "He is a force to be reckoned with, a merciless one. The Demon Head has provoked him, and engaging him might lead to consequences beyond your reckoning."
"He sounds like a handful," Damian retorted, the confidence in his abilities undeterred.
"More than you think. So, for your own good, stay put," Talia insisted, her tone leaving little room for argument.
"I'll try, but no promises," Damian replied, a subtle defiance lingering as he left the dojo.
In the dimly lit hallway, shadows danced on the cold, stone walls as Talia al Ghul, clad in the traditional League of Assassins attire, walked with purpose towards the prison cell. The air carried a palpable tension as she approached, her every step echoing through the corridor. Raven, the empathic sorceress, lay on the cold floor within the cell, her dark cloak billowing around her.
"Give us some privacy," Talia commanded, her voice low and authoritative. The guard stationed at the cell's entrance bowed discreetly before retreating, leaving the two formidable women alone in the oppressive silence.
Raven, still recovering from the effects of the sedating tea, managed to lift her head with a wince. "Tricking an innocent, powerless captive into drinking a sedating tea. You really are the Spawn of the Demon," she accused, her tone a mix of defiance and disorientation.
Talia, standing tall with an air of regal indifference, responded, "That's quite funny, coming from the Demon Child."
"At least someone has a sense of humor around here. Just tell me the reason you abducted me?" Raven inquired, her gaze piercing despite the lingering haziness in her mind.
"To be honest, I wish I could help you, but I can't. Just hope, by some miracle, you get out of here, and Ra's Al Ghul does not get what he wants," Talia replied, her voice holding a hint of genuine concern but not for Raven. She turned around, intending to leave the confined space.
"You didn't give me an answer," Raven pointed out, her frustration evident as she struggled to piece together her thoughts.
"You do not need one; you already know why Ra's would come after you," Talia remarked, her back to Raven but still within earshot.
"He wants Trigon," Raven muttered, a realization settling in.
Without uttering a word, Talia gave a subtle nod, acknowledging the truth in Raven's statement. As she walked away, the weight of the situation lingered in the air, leaving Raven alone in her thoughts within the cold confines of the cell.
...
[Tom Hendricks POV]
Flying through the air at sound breaking speed, my hair whoosh backwards as I pierced through the wind, headed to reclaim my girlfriend from the hands of her captors.
I wonder how she had survived for so long without me because since we started dating this is the second time she's being kidnapped and here I was headed to her rescue again like she was some Disney princess in need of a prince in shiny armor.
I didn't have a shiny armor buy I've got snow white hair at least, that should do.
Gwen led the way, navigating me through a deserted wasteland where the only thing I could see through my night vision glasses was a wide mass of sand and rocks in all directions, with a few reptiles and desert crawlies here and there.
Now the problem was the internal debate whether to sneak in or go in there with a bang, declaring my arrival as Ra's special guest for the night since he's probably expecting me.
But knowing Ra's, I'm sure he probably has something up his sleeve of which he hopes to get me with, before proceeding with whatever the reason he might have kidnapped Raven.
So I snuck in, casually levitating through the hallways with flame lit torches on the walls and without making my presence known. I flew as high as the dark ceilings where no one ever seemed to be looking as I kept on going until I arrived at a well lit hallway.
"Hey there, any idea as to where a beautiful maiden who was kidnapped by you lots, might be held captive?" I asked the masked assassin I saw guarding the entrance to another hallway down below as I dropped head first right above his shoulder, telekinetically sealing his mouth so he wasn't able to raise an alarm.
He quickly responded by reaching for the sword strapped against his belt and attempting to go for my head. So I quickly caught the sword, then broke his neck with a swift hand motion, without drawing attention our way.
I careful opened the door of the first room I saw to the left, it was dark and I could barely see anything from the door but I needed to get in fast. I cautiously sneaked into the dark room, closing the door as I took one last peep at the hall way.
Activating my night vision glasses, I turned to see a kid holding a sword which was pointed at me. "Whoa whoa, at ease soldier." I said, lifting my hands into the air in surrender, making him think he had the upper hand for a second as he reached for a switch to turn on the lights.
"You have five seconds to answer my question, and depending on your answer I might temporarily spare your insignificant life or kill you right this instant." He said, exhibiting an air of arrogance and authority all around him.
I quickly snatched the sword from him as I dashed at him, grabbing him by his neck, as I pushed him against the wall by the door.
I telekinetically shut his mouth and prevented him from moving a muscle but he glared daggers at me like he really wanted to gut me right that instant.
"Wait, wait a second… Unreasonable bloodlust, a kid with the League of all groups, sharp and arrogant tongue." I released him from my telekinetic hold over him and placed his sword against his neck, lifting his chin up a bit as I mused on the thought of his identity .
"You must be Damien." I said, slightly pushing the sword against his neck.
"How do you know my name?" He asked with a raised brow.
"Your mum is an acquaintance of mine." The moment I said that, I could clearly see the disgust in his eyes.
"Long story, now tell me where you guys are keeping Raven." I ordered, making my purpose for intruding clear.
"I do not know, even if I did I won't tell you." He replied. "All I can say is that it is already too late for her, being brought here is proof of that." He added.
"Give me what I asked for or I will yank out that tongue right from your mouth hole." I threatened, pressing on so the kid knows that I'm not one of those lowlifes who would let him speak as he pleased, and he should mind his manners if he wanted to survive this.
"You've got the wrong guy, I know nothing about grandfather's plans for your sweetheart." He replied.
"Now that makes you totally useless, doesn't it?" I rhetorically asked with a sinister tone, making him believe I might end him since he was of no use.
Letting go of him, Damien made a swift sidestep and quickly dived to a safe distance from me, rolling over as he mounted into a battle stance. "Relax kid, I don't have time to hand you your bratty ass right now."
He kept glaring at me, reaching for something at the back of his waist as he pulled out a knife. "Kids these days, they just never listen." I reluctantly sighed as I would rather go on ahead and not waste my time with his futile attempts.
Damien dashed forward, charging knife first as he tried stabbing me in the gut.
"That's got to bruise your ego, little guy." I casually taunted him after using my bare hand to effortlessly slap the knife right off his hand as I grabbed him by his neck and lifted him off the ground.
"Nighty night little man. Hopefully you might turn out to be useful someday so I won't kill you, not yet anyway." I said as he struggled against myself, swinging his legs as he was unable to break free from my grip.
I instantly released a jolt of electricity into his nervous system and it shut him down for a while or out commission till further notice.
I left him on the ground as I moved out of the room and unto the next, not caring who finds his unconscious body.
Charging head on might put Raven in greater danger and I was sure they must have noticed my presence already, so it's best I picked up the pace.