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Post by capeandcowl on Jun 11, 2008 21:48:27 GMT -5
Issue #30: "A Mirror, Darkly" Part Four Written by Grant LaFleche Cover by Ramon Villalobos Edited by John Elbe
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Post by capeandcowl on Jun 11, 2008 21:50:13 GMT -5
It hung over the city like a floating corpse. Blocking the moonlight. Raining ash upon the street. Spreading an acrid stink of death. Spreading. Always spreading.
The plume had clawed its way into the sky from the shattered remains of Wayne Tower. Charred remains of insulation. Pulverized plastics, paper and debris that was once human, floated up on currents of impenetrable smoke. The hot winds then pulled it over Gotham, where fused with other clouds of death, driven into the sky by other explosions.
Now the great cloud of ash swallowed the sky. Hot orange flashes from the street below streaked across it’s under belly, reflecting the inferno that was once Gotham City.
The Joker had won. The city cracked and burned like dry timber.
Ra’s Al Ghul looked out over his city and a crooked grin crept over his face. He tried to stop it. But it came all the same. The grin became a broad, toothy snarl and a rumble from somewhere deep in his soul climbed his throat.
The Head of the Demon laughed at the hell he had created. Ubu felt a chill roll up his spine. Those around him shrank back in horror. All but one.
“Why do you laugh, father?” Talia said. “The city lay in ruin. All your plans…”
“Oh my dear child,” Ra’s said, wiping the tears from his eyes. “You are as brilliant as I raised you to be. But your vision is still too narrow. The Joker has cost me years of planning. But I’ve lived long enough to know the value of adaptation to shifting nature of fate. This may well work in my favor…”
“Father?”
“Sometimes, daughter, when a forest grows too wild a cleansing fire is needed to restore what was once pure and balanced,” he said. “We will seize this city and rebuild upon these ashes. The Gotham of old is gone!”
Talia watched part of the ash cloud separate for a moment letting in a slice of moonlight before closing up again. “Father, these people…”
“Victims of a weapon my ego believed I could control, my dear. Whatever else I am, I am still human. I regret their loss, but they have not died in vain,” Ra’s said. “The police and National Guard are stretched too thin containing the chaos and chasing Bruce and his pitiful allies around the city to pose much of a threat for the moment. Just enough time for to accelerate my agenda…yes…”
“Father,” Talia said, unable to tear her eyes from the cloud over head. “What are you going to do?”
Ra’s only smiled, kissed her lightly on the forehead and left with Ubu in tow.
Talia looked out over her father’s city and her heart sank. She tried to stop it. But it came all the same. A catch in her throat. A knot in her gut. A single tear that rolled down her cheek.
The city burned and she feared the gapping maw of its greasy soul would consume the poor, huddled and suffering plebeians, her father and her beloved.
And so for the first time since she was a child, Talia Al Ghul, the daughter of the Demon, the other half of Dark Knight’s heart beat, wept.
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Post by capeandcowl on Jun 11, 2008 21:50:49 GMT -5
Then// the Songshang Mountains// China: Blood filled Bruce Wayne’s mouth. It tasted glorious, like ambrosia. “Is that all you have, master?,” he said, sneering. “You’re slowing down, old man.” Ra’s growled. “Impudent wretch.” Ra’s swung his sword high, aiming for his disciple’s throat. A fatal blow. Bruce slipped it, slashing his own blade at Ra’s knees. A blow just shy of lethal. Ra’s easily dodged it and the two men paced in a slow semi circle in the temple’s main hall, with only the nine ton bronze Buddha in the shrine as a witness... Master and student. Father and son. Mortal enemies. “I ask you one last time, Bruce. Stand down! I will forget this happened…. “Never,” Bruce hissed. “I’m not blind anymore, Ra’s. I see what you are. You’ll pay for what you did to Master Kirgi.” Ra’s snickered. “The old man stood in the way of our agenda, Bruce. From here we can build, and plan and prepare to change the world! To save it from itself!” “Spare me the sales pitch, Ra’s. We’re doing this.” “Then I cannot save you. This path is of your own choosing, my son,” Ra’s said, crouching low. “You will never rule of the League of Assassins!” “Rule it?” Bruce said, tensing his legs and arms. “I tend to destroy it!” Ra’s leapt low, thrusting his blade forward. Bruce tried to parry, but the force of the attack was unexpected. His teacher’s blade bounced off his own steel but managed to take a chunk of flesh from his side. Bruce staggered backward. His heel struck part of the shrine behind him. Bruce stumbled and Ra’s drove the heel of his sword’s handle into his chest. The young man landed in a heap at the feet of the Buddha, his blood seeping on to the polished stone floor. “Foolish boy! What have I told you a million times?” Ra’s said, pouncing forward and pressing his blade to Bruce’s throat. “Be mindful of your surroundings!” “Oh I am, ‘master’,” Bruce said, grinding his teeth. “You are the one not paying attention. For instance, where do you suppose I got this sword?” Ra’s eyes opened wide and his jaw went slack. “The… The armory…” “Yes. Imagine my surprise when I saw crates of Russian, military grade explosives in there. In the months I trained here I never knew Kirgi to keep anti-air craft missiles in among his spears….” “No!” Ra’s leaped over his student and ran down the corridor, screaming for Ubu. Bruce Wane laughed. Ra’s would never make it. He sat up and looked at his watch. “In five, four, three, two….” The ancient temple shook. Brittle motor and stone work vanished into cloud of hot dust and flame. The eastern court yard crumbled like an old man whose cane was knocked away. Kirgi’s temple groaned as it slipped into the dust bin of history. And Bruce Wayne smiled. He had already planned his escape. He’d be up in the mountains before the secondary charges he set went off. But he could already feel the vibration of the first explosions under his feet. It was time to go. He climbed into a window and over looked the river far below. It was a dangerous jump. Another man, a weaker man, would be reduced to paste on impact. It all depended on slicing the water just so. He had done this a thousand times when Kirgi thought he was sleeping in his room. To a man like Bruce Wayne, this was as easy as breathing. “Bruce!” It was Talia. They said nothing for a long heart beat as the mess hall below them shuddered and collapsed into ruin. Bruce finally held out his hand. His fingers out stretched. Imploring. Without speaking his meaning was plain. Come with me. Leave this madness behind. Come with me.Talia took a step forward. Then stopped. Her face hardened. She ran toward the sound of the explosions, looking back only once. Bruce Wayne leaped into the waters of fate. He didn’t look back. Not even once.
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Post by capeandcowl on Jun 11, 2008 21:51:59 GMT -5
Four hours ago// Gotham City: Batman knew the kick wouldn’t land before he threw it. That wasn’t the point. It was a test. An object lesson. Just how good was she? Talia Al Ghul slipped the kick with ease, striking high with an open palm she knew had no chance of connecting. But she threw it all the same. The dance went on for a full minute. A strike and slip. A feint and shift. A dance of lethal intent. “You’ve improved,” Batman said. “You’ve slowed down. You seem tired, beloved.” “I am not your beloved,” Batman said, lashing out with a straight kick, high and on its mark. It struck Talia cleanly under the chin. She rolled her head at the last moment, saving her jaw. But even a glancing blow from Batman will demolish the strongest of men. Talia, got up on one knee and wiped the blood from her mouth. The strongest of men are nothing to her. “How slow am I now, Talia?” “Touché,” she said, getting to her feet. “But it changes nothing, Bruce. You won’t win. Not this time.” “Maybe not. But I won’t lose either.” “Bruce,” she said, stepping close to him. She still smelled of jasmine and Batman breathed deep. “Why continue to resist? “You know what he’ll do. The lives he’ll claim in pursuit of his agenda,” Batman said. “He won’t take this city!” Talia reached up and slowly pulled the cowl back over Batman’s head. Dark circles sat under his eyes. His hair was greasy. His skin pale. But the fire that had once attracted her was still in his eyes. “Think about it Bruce. You’ve been fighting for so long. I’ve watched you batter yourself trying to hold back the madness of this city. Father will bring that all to an end. Your mission can be achieved in one fell swoop if you’d only come back to us…to me,” she said. “I’ve seen what your crusade as done to you. It will be the death of you and you know it. This is your chance, finally, to claim victory…” They kissed not like old lovers, but like starving people who hadn’t had food in years. There was a knot in Bruce’s stomach, a feeling distant and familiar. His heart wanted to burst from his chest. And if he where not what he is, Bruce might have melted into her arms and left the city of crime forever. But he is what he is. As sure as pole star. He pushed Talia away. “How long?” “What? Bruce…” “You said you’ve been watching me fight the madness of this city? For how long? How long have you been in Gotham?” he said, pulling his cowl back over his face. “Long enough.” Batman seized her wrists and pushed here against the alley wall. Talia tried to fight back. It was futile. She was no longer facing Bruce Wayne. She was now in the grip of Batman. “HOW LONG!” “Years…Bruce you’re hurting me… Get…OFF!” Talia said, kicking forward with both feet, shoving Batman back on his heels. “You were his advance man. You laid the ground work for Ra’s. You came to my city to stick a knife in my back!” “No! I came here to help you see the light of reason…” “Tell me what you set into motion,” Batman said, sweeping her objection aside. “Business and politics, setting the ground work,” she said in a matter of fact tone, stepping closer again. “I did it all for you, Bruce. For us. Even the work I did with your own company and Arkham…” “Arkham? Why would you…” Batman said. “My god. The Joker’s brain surgery…Dr. Elliot…” “Don’t you see? We’ve disabled your most lethal enemy. Father controls everything he does now…” “You fool! You can’t control him! Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” Batman said, his voice more of growl than human speech. “If he slips from your control for even a moment, all…” The ground shook violently. They looked up to see red and orange column of flame climb into the sky, riding a plume of smoke. Talia walked past Batman to get a better look. A building a few blocks away must have exploded. Who would do that? This was not part of her father’s plans. “My God, Bruce… What is that?” “All hell breaking lose. Watch your back Talia. He’ll come for you.” Talia turned around and found herself alone.
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Post by capeandcowl on Jun 11, 2008 21:52:27 GMT -5
Now// Gotham City: “Sir, I must insist you return home at once!” “Stop being a mother hen, A,” Batman said, slamming his foot down on the accelerator. “Emergency services are starting to get the chaos under control, but Ra’s is still out there. I know he’s going to make a move now to take advantage of the situation." “Nevertheless, B, you musssszzzzzzzzzzzzzz” “What the hell?,” Batman said, adjusting the Batmobile’s radio to another frequency. “A?” “zzzz…Hear you, sir. The emergency chanzzzzz... working but there is a great deal of interference. zzzz… Sort of broad band jamming from the looks of it…” This was it. The communication gear the Joker was stealing. Ra’s is using it jam all communications traffic in the city, Batman thought. The police, the national guard, the fire department...none of them will be able to coordinate.“A, Ra’s is making his move now,” Batman said. “Use our backdoor to send orders to Black Mask and Two Face. Send them and all their men to city hall. Tell them to defend it all at all costs.” “Yes, sir…zzzz you be doing?” “I’m coming back to the cave…” “Thank goodness….” “A, fire up the Mark 2,” Batman said, violently pulling the car around. “B, is that wise? You were still in the midst of test runs when this insanity broke loose…” “Just do it, A,” Batman growled. “Riots are bound to break out with the police and national guard cut off from communications. I'm going to need something extra to pull this off. Once I have the Mark 2, I’m going to see Gordon.”
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Post by capeandcowl on Jun 11, 2008 21:52:47 GMT -5
Downtown// GPPD headquarters: If there had been a more chaotic moment in his police career, Jim Gordon couldn’t remember it. Fires and riots were spreading across the city. All communications were jammed. An international terrorist group had attacked the city and, just for gags, a lunatic dressed like Dracula had allied himself with three of the city’s most dangerous criminals to fight said terror group. He felt like he hadn’t slept in a year. He’d burned through three packs of smokes in the last three hours and snuck a shot of bourbon when no one was looking. He’d lost track of how much coffee he’d had. Fun night. “Merkel, send three officers from 4 platoon over to the Swtarz district with orders for our officers there to link up with the national guard unit three blocks over,” Gordon said, pouring over the map of the city spread out over his desk. With communications down, his office had become a war room. The only way to get information out was to physically send out officers like carrier pigeons. “Also, I need someone to get down to ladder house 1 and get a sit-rep from the fire chief…in fact, see if he can’t bring the fire chief here and we can try to co-ordinate everything through this office.” Merkel rushed from the room and Gordon sat back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. “They never talked about World War Three at police college,” he said to no one. “Now where the hell did Merkel put that bourbon?” “Is now the best time to drink?” Gordon pounced from his chair and drew his Glock. He knew at once where to point it. Crouched in the window like a gargoyle, in all his arrogant glory, was Batman. “You son of a bitch,” Gordon said. “Give me one damn reason why I shouldn’t shoot you and drag you down to cells?” “First, because you know what would happen if you pulled that trigger," Batman said. "And second, because I know how to stop this. All of it. Now. Tonight.” Gordon paused for a moment. He knew he had no chance of actually arresting Batman. Listening wouldn’t hurt. “Talk,” Gordon said, holstering his gun and walking across the room to shut and lock his office door. “And shut the damned window.” In the light of his office, Batman seemed different. Nothing Gordon could put his finger on, you understand. But something different. An air of something. A weariness. “You took the signal down,” Batman said, staying close to the window. “Didn’t see much point in keeping it up there,” Gordon said. “What you’ve done…” “Gordon….Jim,” Batman said. “There isn’t time. We can discuss our… issues later.” “Damn right we will.” Batman walked over to the map and pointed at City Hall. “Ra’s is responsible for knocking out communications. Every phone, television, computer and radio in the city won’t be able to send or receive anything. He’s going to use the mess the Joker left us to make a play for City Hall.” "How do you know that?" "Because," Batman said, almost grinning. "That's what I'd do." “Hmm,” Gordon said. “We’re stretched pretty thin and can’t react quickly. Every important record of just about anything is located in City Hall. Never mind the control hub for electricity and water…” “Exactly. Ra’s will move quickly. If he can capture and keep City Hall he’ll have effective control over the city’s pulse. It will take a tremendous effort to force him out, giving him time to regroup and lay out a new strategy while we waste our energy,” Batman said. “Time is not on our side. We need to stop him now.” Gordon looked up at Batman over the top of his glasses. “Even if we could stop him, it would take more than an hour to round up enough officers and National Guard to do the job, let alone take care of your mob allies….” “My allies are already enroute to City Hall. They will intercept the League and hold them until your men arrive,” Batman said. “You’ll round up the league, Black Mask, Two Face and their men in one dragnet.” Gordon frowned and move plastic markers on the map to different locations. Each marker represented a unit of officers. So few to do so much. “It’s possible…it means leaving only a few platoons to try and keep order elsewhere…but it’s possible.” “Take this,” Batman said, handing Gordon a small ear piece. “Oh thanks. A hearing aid. The gift ever cop want.” “It’s not a hearing aid,” Batman said. “I have a hardened communications system. It’s not prefect, but it’s cutting through some of the jamming. Use it to stay in touch.” “Fine. What are you going to do?” Gordon said, looking back down at the map of the city. “Take out Ra’s,” Batman said. “Be ready in one hour. Wait for my signal.” “What sig…” Gordon looked up and Batman was gone. A light rain was drifting into the room through an open window. “We’re going to have to talk about your manners too.”
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Post by capeandcowl on Jun 11, 2008 21:53:13 GMT -5
45 minutes later// City Hall: In the shadows, the ring of the coin flicking off of his knuckle was the only sound to be heard. FLINK“No, we won’t kill the first one.” FLINK“Yes, we will break the second one’s legs.” FLINK“Oh yes, we get to kill the third one. Slit his throat.” “Oh would you shut up, Dent!” hissed Black Mask. “We’re here to ambush the League not count sheep.” “We aren’t counting sheep, Roman,” Two Face said. “There will be many enemies to kill. We have to decide how to do it. The coin will tell us.” “Oh the coin. Great. You know, maybe I should get some tea leaves. Or better yet maybe we can a ouija board or a magic eight ball.” Two-face glared at Black Mask with his good eye. “Are you mocking us, Black Mask? The coin always knows what we must do.” “Mock you, Mr. half n’ half? No. Never.” Two Face flipped the coin again. Catching it in his hand, he held it away from Black Mask and glanced into his palm. “Oh yeeees.” “Yes what?” Black Mask said. “What did the coin say this time?” “Oh, we’ll show you, Mask,” he said. “When the time is right, we’ll show you.” “Uh, maybe you want to flip that again. You know, best two out of three?” “Boss?,” one of Black Mask goons said. “We’ve got five of them, maybe six approaching the main doors.” “Advanced party,” Black Mask said, sending his goon back to his observation post. “Ok, it’s show time. Batman says no one gets inside. Will your coin let you come out and play, Dent?” Two Face flipped the coin, smiled and pulled out a pair of Glocks from shoulder holster hidden under his coat. “Oh yes. We get to play.” “Well then why don’t the two of you go introduce yourself to those pajama wearing weirdos while we watch for their main group?” “We would like nothing better!”
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Post by capeandcowl on Jun 11, 2008 21:53:37 GMT -5
From: The Gotham Gazette – Online edition GANG WAR ON THE STEPS OF CITY HALL
By Mikey Fynn Gazette Staff The Greek historian Plutarch once said that extraordinary rains pretty generally fall after great battles. The gods wept for the dead, you see. Gotham could use some divine tears tonight. Gotham deserves them. The gun battle could be heard as far away from city hall as the Narrows. It could be heard over the din of fire engines scrambling to contain ongoing flames during a bizarre communications outage that apparently hit the entire city not long after a series of explosions rocked the downtown core. Both Gotham City police and fire department are refusing to comment on reports the Joker was responsible for the bombings. Although details are still sketchy, police sources confirm the fire fight began around 11:30 p.m. between the terrorist group called The League of Assassins and a strange underworld alliance led by mobsters Two Face and Black Mask. Sources close to Commission James Gordon’s organized crime task force said the league was attempting to seize city hall during the chaos of the fires, riots and communications black out. Doing so would, at least temporarily, give the group control over the city's essential records and public utilities. Exactly why Two Face and Black Mask would interfere isn’t clear at this stage. Eye witnesses say the a man “with only half a face” – undoubtedly former district attorney Harvey Dent, now 'Two Face' – opened fire on a group of “ninjas” on the front steps of city hall. Within moments, Gotham’s Liberty Plaza was filled with the sounds of gun fire. Unconfirmed reports say anywhere from 500 to 900 people were involved in the fight. At least 32 people were killed in the opening moments of the battle, plus eight bystanders in one of the worst gangland fights in the recent history. However, after some twenty minutes the shooting was interrupted by the appearance of what one witness called “a big black tank.” Eye witnesses say the vehicle was hard to see in the dark, but appears to be a military or paramilitary combat vehicle. However, the both the National Guard spokesman and the office of Commission Gordon deny it belongs to them. “This tank-thing came out of that alley over there,” said 61-year-old Simon Trent, who owns Trent Talent Agency, located two blocks from City Hall. He had been living in his office when his Bank Street apartment was destroyed in the recent bombings. “I came out when I heard the shooting to see if anyone needed help, see? And then I saw it. It drove right in the middle of all of those mobsters and started shooting." The gun fire scattered many of the combatants, with most falling to the ground wounded. However, GCPD Det. Harvey Bullock said no one was killed. “Rubber bullets,” Bullock said at the scene afterward, holding up a small black pellet. “Honest.” The black vehicle also fired several rounds of tear gas canisters, before firing what many described as a fire cracker into the air. This was an apparent signal to the GCPD riot squad and National Guard who swarmed the scene, arresting most of the combatants. Det. Bullock confirmed that Two Face and Black Mask were not arrested nor found among the dead. He would not comment on the whereabouts of The Head of the Demon, the underworld name of the rumored leader of the league. The black vehicle was last scene heading north on Finger Ave. Unconfirmed reports place it on Broadcast Hill 45 minutes later. What is known is at the time all of the major telecommunications towers were destroyed, restoring some, but not all, of the city’s electronic communications. -This story is still developing. Internet signals are intermittent due to ongoing communications problem in the city. The Gazette Online will continue to update the story as we are able. Please have patience –
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Post by capeandcowl on Jun 11, 2008 21:53:57 GMT -5
Gotham City// Kane Towers Hotel: “We must hurry, mistress, the plane is waiting,” Ubu said. Talia dismissed him with a wave. “The plane will wait for us, Ubu,” Talia said, turning away from Ubu to reload the small pistol she carried in a small holster on her hip. “We must gather up as many leaguers as we can…” A loud thump caused Talia to spin around. Ubu was a heap on the ground and a large shadow hover over him. “You won’t find many left Talia. Gordon has them. It’s over,” Batman said. “Your father is getting too easy to predict.” “The Joker forces a change in his plans, beloved,” she said, keeping her distance. “You were right. He couldn’t be controlled.” “Where is he?” Talia walked to the window and looked out. The light rain had given way to a thunder storm. She opened the window and reached out her hand, letting the rain pool in her palm. “This will help fight the fires.” “Where is your father, Talia!?” “I’m not sure,” she said, not moving. “News of your victory at City Hall drove him into a rage I have not seen since you left us, Bruce. He said he was going to salt the earth of Gotham and headed north. I am to meet him at the Beggers air field. We have plane waiting. You can still...” “uuugh…what…” Ubu groaned, pulling himself to his knees. Batman’s heel put him back down on the floor. Talia bent down and ran her hand over the back of Ubu’s head. “Was that necessary?” “Yes” Batman said, stifling a yawn. How long had it been since he slept? Or eaten? “Ra’s is going North toward Beggers? Talia, what did he take with him?” “He took one of our vehicles. They are well armed…” “Explosives?” “Of course,” she said. Batman pushed past her an pounced on the window sill. “Get out of the city Talia. The Joker is still out there. Trust me when I say he’ll be looking for you,” he said before diving out the window. He didn’t look back. Not even once.
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Post by capeandcowl on Jun 11, 2008 21:54:19 GMT -5
City Hall: Gordon didn’t bother to shelter himself from the rain as he watched the last of the mobsters and League members being loaded into paddy wagons and ambulances. His ear piece buzzed and he walked quickly to the alley behind City Hall. “How did we do?” said a voice in his ear. “As well as can be expected,” Gordon said, trying to light a soggy cigarette. “Several escaped. Too damn many. Enough to cause problems for months. Maybe years. Harvey and Roman are at large. Plus several of those terrorists. The city is going to be mess.” “It’s start, Jim.” “Go to hell, Batman,” Gordon said, throwing his smoke into the sewer. “This isn’t a start of anything good. Where are you anyway?” “Heading to Gotham Dam. We have another problem,” Batman said. “Ra’s is going to blow it.” “What?” Gordon starting running to Bullock and other officers on the other side of the square. “Are you serious? That will drown the entire north end!” “I know. I’ll be there shortly,” Batman said. “I’m on my way with back-up and I’ll send Bullock to evacuate the surrounding neighborhoods,” Gordon said. “Roger. I’ll see you there.”
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Post by capeandcowl on Jun 11, 2008 21:54:39 GMT -5
Gotham Dam: The charges were laid in haste. He hadn’t time to calculate the optimal positions to demolish the entire dam. No matter. The explosions will cause enough damage the dam will collapse on its own weight. This is petty. Vindictive. Ra’s Al Ghul knows this. But he no longer cares. His agenda is in shambles and since Wayne once left his home in ruin, it seemed only fitting he return the favor. It should have worked. Everything was in place. But for that mad clown. "I should have killed the maniac when I had the chance," Ra's said to the rain and wind. He pulled his cloak about him as a defense against the rain and began to lay out the primer cord along the dam’s walk way. He takes only a moment to look at the lights from the homes a few miles away. They will be an object lesson Wayne will never forget. He doesn’t hear the high pitched whistle over the roar of the rain and thunder of the dam’s spill way pouring a crush of water into the reservoir below. He only notices with the bat shaped blade sliced the cord in his hand. Ra’s turns slowly. He knows he has no chance to blow the dam. Not with Batman still breathing. Batman stands a few meters away. He says nothing, but drops his cloak and draws a long scimitar from a scabbard on his back. Batman pulls off his cape and cowl, folding them over the walkway railing and pulls two batarangs from his utility belt. For a long heart beat they don’t move. They say nothing. There’s nothing left to say. Ra’s moves first, walking toward his former student. Bruce Wayne follows suit. Their steps quicken. Their blades held high. Somewhere on the horizon a bolt of lightning splits the sky.
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Post by capeandcowl on Jun 11, 2008 21:55:17 GMT -5
35 minutes later//Gotham Dam: The climb up the service ladders to the dam’s walkway is slick. Damned rain, Gordon says. Goddman rain. Merkel wanted him to wait until the rest of the backup got there. It’s wasn’t safe, Merkel said. “What in the hell does safe mean anymore in this town?” Gordon had said. There was no one on the walk way when he got here. But there was a story here. Gordon goes into detective mode. The rain was washing blood off the walkway and down the side of the dam’s thick concrete walls. A broken sword lay on the ground beside the shattered remains of some of Batman’s weapons. Ruined primer cord lay in a tangle heap. A broken railing was painted in blood thinning under the rain fall. Flapping in the wind, barely clinging to steel bar, was a long black cape and horned mask. Gordon looked over the edge and the gushing water from the spillway below. It was a like Niagara goddamn Falls. “Merkel,” Gordon shouted into his radio. “Get them to shut the damn spill way down. We need to dredge the reservoir!” “What for, sir” Merkel said. “What are we going to find?” Gordon shut off his radio and pulled the cape and cowl from the railing. He knew they’d find nothing.
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Post by capeandcowl on Jun 11, 2008 21:55:33 GMT -5
Epilogue 1: The jet turned slowly toward the Atlantic ocean, and from her window Talia could still see the fires burning bellow in Gotham City. Alone in the cabin but for Ubu, she could conceive of no greater failure. Her father and beloved Bruce Wayne gone. The agenda in tatters and League of Assassins scattered. She now led an organization that was a mere pigmy compared to the empire Ra’s Al Ghul commanded. “Ubu,” she said, sipping a glass of merlot. “Any word on father?” “No mistress,” he massive henchmen said. “We were unable to search the waters for his body to bring to a Lazarus pit. We were fortunate enough to get you away when we…” The lights in the cabin when dark. The unmistakable sound of a blade being drawn. Talia drew pistol from a holster on her hip. “Ubu?” Something hot and sticky slashed across her face. Blood. Ubu was certainly dead. She took a step backward, keeping her weapon pointed into the impenetrable darkness in front of her. Somewhere in the dark came a muffled sound, almost like giggling. Something cold and sharp sunk into Talia’s shoulder. She fired a round and then cursed herself for shooting on a plane in the dark. She staggered back. The lights came on. Before she could react a fist smashed into her face, and she toppled into a seat beside her, dropping her gun. “Don’t you know you you’re not supposed to stand up when the seatbelt light is on? Bad passenger! Bad passenger! HAHAHAHAH!” “Joker…” “Oh, full points for stating the obvious, your highnessness!,” the Joker said. Behind him Ubu lay still on the floor, his throat slit. “Sorry about the spray. Seems chrome dome over here was a bit juicy!” Talia noticed a sweet smell in the air. Her head started to go light. The cabin began to lose focus. “That’s it my pet, breathe deep,” the Joker said. “And don’t worry about little ol’ me. I immune to the gas. It might seem a trifle unfair, I know. But only a fool would dance with you in a fair fight! I’m crazy, but not that crazy! HAHAHA!” Talia slumped in her chair. She couldn’t think straight. Couldn’t focus. All she could see was a blurry, grinning head as pale as death hovering above her. “Besides, if you squirm too much, it will be really hard for Dr. Joker to pay you back for all the kindness you and your father showed me,” he said. “But don’t worry, this will hurt you a whole lot more than it will me.”
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Post by capeandcowl on Jun 11, 2008 21:55:48 GMT -5
Epilogue 2:
More than 24 hours later//The Cave: Alfred had put Tim to bed and retired to the mansion’s library. The police had left. Everything that needed to be done was done. Dick Grayson sat alone in the cave. Slumped in a leather chair before one of the cave’s computer screens, Dick’s hand trembled. He couldn’t do it. To press that button, to play whatever was on that disk, would be to admit the truth. Batman was dead. “It’s always better to face up to an ugly truth than live with a sublime lie, Dick.” Isn’t that what he always said? Dick pushed the play button. The screen flickered to life. There sat Bruce Wayne. He was in costume, but had pulled off the cowl. He looked tired. Worn out. Deep bands of black rested under his eyes. Next to the black of his costume, Bruce’s skin looked as pale as the Joker’s. “Ahem,” he said. “Uh, hi Dick.” “Hi, Bruce,” Grayson said, leaning back in his chair. “I’ve made one of these videos for you at least once a year since…well, since you first came down into the cave. You remember those days, Dick? I’ve been thinking about them a lot lately. Despite the madness we faced, those were good times, weren’t they?. Happy really…not like now. Now things are…well…. “Things are bad. Which is why I am making this now. You see, I’ve always known two things Dick. One, that Gotham will always need a Batman. And two, I probably won’t always be that Batman. Some night, in some grimy alley, some lucky punk is going to get a lucky shot and I’ll be dead before I hit the ground. When you were a boy, I didn’t want that to happen without you knowing….without saying some things that need to be said. “Dick, I know I’m not…easy to get along with. I know I do things to you, to Alfred that…well, that hurt you. Against that I can only say,” Bruce looked down for a moment and cleared this throat. “Damn it. Against that I can only say that you’re the single best thing my life has never known Dick. Sometimes, I think you were the only thing I’ve done right. I need you know….” Bruce looked down again and took a deep breath. “It’s ok, Bruce,” Dick said in a hushed voice. “It’s ok. I know.” “If I must make a full confession to you, it feels like so much has been falling into chaos lately. Jason coming back. Vicki in a coma. Now my city is burning to the ground because I couldn’t stop the Joker. And Ra’s…. Maybe…I don’t know, Dick, maybe my time has come.” Bruce slouched and for the first time in Dick’s life Bruce Wayne looked old. He looked frail. He looked human. “If my career has reached a crisis, then I can’t see any greater end to it than putting a stop to Ra’s al Ghul. And if he puts a stop me to, and he very likely will, then I have to ask something of you. Maybe I have no right to. You have your own life in New York. That’s why I chose not to insist you return to Gotham when this conflict started. But like I said, Dick, Gotham needs a Batman. Especially now. I need you to be that Batman.” “Bruce….I can’t…” “Yes you can,” Bruce said, grinning a bit. Damn you, Bruce, Dick thought. You always knew what was going on in my head. “You’re ready. You’ve been ready for a long time. The cave is yours.” Dick shook his head and frowned. Giving the image on the video screen the look he always gave Bruce to let him know he was serious. He used to joke to Alfred it was his “anti-Batman, Batman face.” It never did impress Bruce much. “I can’t Bruce. Damn it! I won’t!” “Controlling interest in Wayne Enterprises is yours, but Lucius Fox will run the place as CEO and president. You can trust him Dick. He knows more about Batman than you’re aware. “You can also turn to Jim Gordon – although getting him to trust a Batman again won’t be easy. But he’ll need you, even if he doesn’t believe it yet. “Alfred has all the access codes to my secret files. Study them. Especially my files on the Justice League. They can be your greatest allies, Dick, but a group with that much power needs to be held in check. If the time comes, don’t hesitate. Take them out.” “You just don’t stop, do you Bruce,” Dick said, almost laughing. Almost. “Most of all….hell, Dick, you know this job. You’ve been doing it since you were boy. Anything I had to teach you, you learned a long time ago. If can ask only one other thing of you it’s that you be a better Batman than I was. Be a better man that I was. Don’t make my mistakes…. “Sir, the Mark 2 is ready,” came Alfred’s voice in the background. “Ok, Alfred, I’ll be right there…It’s time Dick. Time to put an end to all of this. I know you’re going to blame yourself. You’re going to wish you had come to Gotham sooner. Don’t. This is going to end the only way it could, son. I’m so very proud you. Prouder than any father ever could be….” The screen turned to black. Dick Grayson wept.
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Post by Admin on Jun 12, 2008 6:45:16 GMT -5
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