Gotham's east side, 1:15 AM. The air around the abandoned warehouse is thick with tension, a cold breeze sweeping through the desolate area. Jotaro and Red Hood approach the looming structure, its windows shattered and walls covered in graffiti. It looks like any other abandoned building in Gotham, but both men know it's anything but ordinary tonight.
According to Detective Bullock's intel, this is where Penguin is hiding his so-called "ace"—a superweapon that could tip the balance of power in Gotham's underworld. They've prepared for anything, but as they near the entrance, they sense something off. The air feels heavy, as if they're being watched. Jotaro stops just before reaching the door, his sharp eyes scanning the shadows.
Jotaro (quietly): "We're not alone."
Red Hood nods, his hand already moving to his holster. He's learned to trust Jotaro's instincts—they've saved him more than once. He glances at the surrounding rooftops, his visor scanning for any movement. Then, from the darkness, a slow, deliberate clap echoes through the air.
Out of the shadows steps a figure clad in tactical armor, half his face obscured by a black-and-orange mask. The cold, calculating eye of Deathstroke the Terminator locks onto them, a slight smirk beneath his mask. He stops a few paces away, his posture relaxed but ready for action.
Deathstroke: "Well, well. I was wondering when you two would show up. Penguin said someone might try to interfere with his plans. Didn't think it'd be you two, though."
Jotaro narrows his eyes, his muscles tensing as he sizes up the mercenary. He's heard of Deathstroke—an assassin with a near-perfect track record, a man who's as dangerous as he is ruthless. This isn't going to be a simple fight.
Jotaro: "Step aside. We're not here for you."
Deathstroke chuckles, unsheathing his sword with a fluid motion. The blade gleams in the dim light, sharp enough to cut through steel—and men.
Deathstroke: "I'm afraid I can't do that. Penguin's paying me a lot to make sure his little secret stays hidden. And besides, I've been looking forward to testing myself against someone like you, Kujo."
Red Hood draws his pistols, ready for the fight he knew was coming. He's faced Deathstroke before, and he knows just how dangerous the man is. But with Jotaro by his side, he feels a surge of confidence.
Red Hood: "You're gonna regret taking this job, Slade."
Without another word, Deathstroke launches himself at them with incredible speed, his sword slicing through the air with deadly precision. Jotaro barely has time to react before Star Platinum materializes, intercepting the blade with a powerful punch. The impact sends a shockwave through the area, but Deathstroke is unfazed, quickly pivoting to slash at Red Hood.
Red Hood dodges to the side, firing a volley of bullets at close range. But Deathstroke moves with inhuman agility, his armor deflecting most of the shots as he closes the distance. He swings his sword in a wide arc, forcing Red Hood to backpedal and evade the strike.
Jotaro sees an opening and steps in, Star Platinum unleashing a rapid barrage of punches aimed at Deathstroke's midsection. But the mercenary is fast—almost too fast—sidestepping the blows with a precision that nearly matches Jotaro's own speed.
Deathstroke (grinning beneath his mask): "Impressive. But not good enough."
He swings his sword in a downward strike, but Jotaro blocks it with Star Platinum's fist. The force of the blow sends cracks through the concrete beneath them, the sheer power of their clash shaking the ground. Deathstroke doesn't let up, immediately following up with a spinning kick aimed at Jotaro's head. Star Platinum grabs the leg mid-kick, hurling Deathstroke backward, but the mercenary twists in mid-air, landing gracefully on his feet.
Red Hood, taking advantage of the brief moment of distance, throws a grenade at Deathstroke. The blast erupts, sending debris flying, but Deathstroke leaps into the air just in time, avoiding the worst of the explosion. He lands on a stack of crates, briefly assessing his opponents.
Deathstroke: "You two are better than I expected. But I've faced worse and come out on top."
Jotaro's eyes narrow, his focus sharpening. He knows this fight could drag on if they're not careful. Deathstroke is a master of combat, skilled in both offense and defense. But everyone has a weakness, and Jotaro is determined to find his. He realizes he can't hold back any longer.
He glances at Red Hood, giving a subtle nod. Red Hood understands immediately—time to switch tactics.
Red Hood moves first, sprinting toward Deathstroke with an aggressive assault. He opens fire on the merc, forcing Deathstroke to deflect and dodge. But it's a feint. As Deathstroke engages with Red Hood, Jotaro moves in from the opposite side, Star Platinum striking with unreactable speed aimed at Deathstroke's exposed flank.
The combination attack catches Deathstroke off guard. He blocks Red Hood's strike but is a moment too slow to counter Star Platinum's punch. The blow lands squarely on his side, sending him crashing into the warehouse wall with enough force to leave an imprint. The mercenary grunts in pain, his armor dented from the impact, but he's far from beaten.
With a growl, Deathstroke flips back to his feet, pulling out a high-tech grenade from his belt. He hurls it at the ground, releasing a cloud of thick smoke that obscures the area. Jotaro and Red Hood are momentarily blinded, their vision clouded by the smoke. But Jotaro doesn't need to see. He closes his eyes, relying on his instincts and the sense of impending danger.
With one move, Star Platinum inhales all of the smoke, harkening back to Jotaro's battle against Enyaba's Justice. Deathstroke, however, remains out of sight, but not for long, as he goes to decapitate Jotaro. Star Platinum acts on reflex, its hand shooting out to intercept Deathstroke's sword just inches from Jotaro's throat. Even with just two fingers, the Stand's grip is harder than iron, and for the first time, Deathstroke's confident smirk falters.
Jotaro (calmly): "You made a mistake coming at us alone."
With a powerful twist, Star Platinum wrenches the sword from Deathstroke's grasp and sends it flying into the shadows. The mercenary is disarmed, but he's far from defenseless. He reaches for a backup blade, but Red Hood is already on him, delivering a brutal roundhouse kick that knocks the weapon out of his hand.
Jotaro doesn't waste the opportunity. With a final, commanding shout, Star Platinum unleashes a devastating Ora Ora barrage, each punch landing with precision and power. The rapid-fire blows batter Deathstroke, overwhelming his defenses. The force of the attacks drives him back, slamming him into the ground with a resounding crash.
When the smoke finally clears, Deathstroke is on one knee, breathing heavily, his armor cracked and battered. He tries to rise, but the damage is too severe. He looks up at Jotaro and Red Hood, a grudging respect in his eyes.
Deathstroke (panting): "You… you're better than I thought."
Jotaro: "It's over. Tell us where Penguin's weapon is."
Deathstroke grits his teeth, knowing he's beaten. He's a professional, and he knows when to cut his losses. With a sigh, he nods toward the center of the warehouse.
Deathstroke: "You'll find what you're looking for in the storage room. But you'd better hurry. Penguin's got it on a timer—whatever that thing is, it's set to go off soon."
Red Hood doesn't waste time. He strides past Deathstroke, heading for the storage room. Jotaro lingers for a moment, his eyes still locked on the mercenary.
Jotaro: "You fought well. But next time, don't take a job you can't finish."
With that, Jotaro turns and follows Red Hood, leaving Deathstroke kneeling in the rubble. The two vigilantes make their way through the warehouse, every second counting as they search for Penguin's superweapon. As they reach the heavy steel door of the storage room, Red Hood pauses, glancing at Jotaro.
Red Hood: "Ready?"
Jotaro (with determination): "Let's end this."
They push open the door, stepping into the unknown, ready to face whatever Penguin has left for them.