Home Invasion #4- Retribution

===Van Cleer Manor===

 

*She leads them through the corridors, unfazed by the undead Assassins. Every time one launches itself at her, it's down in seconds. They walk over a greyish puddle on the ground- the Talon's "blood," dionysium. At first too scared to speak, Sharpe swallows, and gently taps her on the shoulder*

 

Chancer- Hey. So... did Batman send you?

 

*Cass turns and nods. Sharpe sighs, relieved. "Good, good," he mutters*

 

Chancer- Are there more of you? I like your style, but there are hundreds of those things

 

Cass- Just me.

 

Chancer- ... Great.

 

*Axel is quick to elbow him in the ribs*

 

Axel- Hey, Cass is one of the best fighters in the world, and- The acid gun?

 

*Cass nods again*

 

Axel- That... I wasn't going to use it on people! ... Or the Flash! Stop staring at me. Hey-!

 

*Cass takes the gun from him and empties it onto the ground, burning a hole in the floor. Kitten whispers in Cass' ear*

 

Kitten- He was Cassie, he definitely was. Y'know full on "Fwash is gonna pay!"

 

Axel- Oh shut up. ... Where we going now?

 

*Cass stops and gestures at a pair of steel doors*

 

Cass- Bunker.

 

*Sharpe runs in immediately "Hey, they've got cartoons," he yells delightedly, sitting next to Cammy*

 

Axel- We just- We just left the bunker!

 

Cass- Go back. I have this.

 

*Axel pauses, but knowing better than to argue, slinks away*

 

Chancer- I mean, *I* believe her.

 

======

 

*Miranda stands alone, Talon bodies lying everywhere. Some, just some, stir. She grabs one, and pulls a sword to it's throat*

 

Miranda- I want to know everything.

 

Talon- You know nothing! We would die before we talk!

 

Miranda- Fine.

 

*She rams her sword through it's neck, and it splutters, before finally, dying*

 

Miranda- Anyone else?

 

*Cobb, rises from the floor*

 

Talon- There's no need for that Ms Walker. Or is it Ms Gaige? You, are a worthy opponent. You have bested twelve of the Court's greatest Talons- including myself. And as such, I will tell you everything you want to know.

You see, the Court has ruled Gotham from its- well, you'll know the rhyme I'm sure, for centuries. But, in the past five years, that has all changed. Ever since the Batman exposed us, there have been those who would seek to depose us. Each year we stood our ground, and each year we grew weaker. And then, nearly two years ago, the Secret Society of Supervillains activated a chemical weapon, here, in Gotham. They smoked us out, and we found ourselves fighting creatures we had never seen before. Their metahuman lackeys. These outsiders came to Gotham, and nearly destroyed us. So we changed our approach. We needed to take a step back and re-evaluate our position. I reached out to an old ally of ours- we *would* regain our power.

 

*Miranda pauses. "Twag... He was... Fuck's sake, he was working for you? Everything he did-"*

 

Talon- And will do? Yes. Your husband, he was the problem. So long as he tried to clean up Gotham, we could never retake the city. Twag hated him- perhaps unjustifiably so, and from the ruins of the Mirror House, he found himself a weapon, a relic of the first Injustice Society. Walker's brother. With him, we had Walker imprisoned for murder, and Twag primed to replace him, squeezing pressure on the regent, Grange, bit by bit until she too could be removed. Twag's errors in judgement killed him, and Grange stayed in power. But we got what we wanted. A mayor we could control.

 

Miranda- She's dirty?

 

Talon- Worse. She's idealistic. She wanted Gotham's Streets clean of criminals, and our partners are quite pleased with the result. Arkham City.

 

Miranda- And?

 

Talon- And what Ms Gaige?

 

Miranda- Who's that new Moth? Your leader.

 

Talon- Heh... Hehe... Our leader? That's... Amusing.

 

Miranda- I'm not joking. He threw my husband through a wall, now who is he?

 

Talon- You haven't been listening. I already told you, Assassin.

 

Miranda- No... Not him.

 

*She runs down the corridor. Cobb sits down, tired, and he patches his wound*

 

Talon- See you soon...

 

====

 

His name was Daniel "Danto" Twag. His family came to Gotham over 30 years ago. He reached out to The Falcone Crime Family in an attempt to make a name for himself, and was inducted into their inner circle. He organised hits for the Mob, which were carried out by Drury Walker and Garfield Lynns. Lynns, an pyrotechnics expert, was searching for new opportunities to test his tech. Walker was in it to support his family, though as time went on, he learned to love the spotlight. As Firefly and Killer Moth, the two eventually split from the mob to form their own gang, and caught the attention of other "C-List" criminals when they burned the GCPD down. When Lynns left, Twag tracked down an old friend of his- Ted Carson, to carry on the mantle of Firefly. His reign was short lived. With the police on the Mob's scent, and vengeful over the destruction of their Precinct, Falcone ordered Twag's death. Instead, fate had other ideas, and Twag was introduced to the Court of Owls. For ten years, he travelled the world, learning their ways, but he never forgot the men who destroyed his reputation, one day vowing to do the same.

But... Danto Twag, was dead. Drury knew this, or had guessed as much. Yet there he was. Pale, yes, but still standing. And in a Killer Moth suit no less*

 

Drury- How? How is this possible, I- ... Talon gunk, I guess. You know what, I don't care.

 

*He had dreamt of this moment, every night in Blackgate. He had wished for it every day in Arkham. Face to face with the man who had kicked him out of office, left him at the mercy of the Music Meister, stolen from him, and hurt his family. Hurt Gar. Hurt Miranda. Hurt Axel. Hurt Kitten, and Simon and Cammy. And he had hurt Norbert. The things he'd say.... The things he'd do... There was no one else he wanted to suffer more than Twag, but here he was. And he was... damaged*

 

Drury- All that time... All that pain... Look at me. Fuck, look at you. You made me half a man. I can't fight. I can't run. I... Come on, say something! Can you even hear me?

 

*He says nothing. He just... stands. Emotionless. A blade popped out of Twag's gauntlet*

 

Twag- Drury Walker. The Court of Owls has sentenced you to die.

 

Drury- I'll bet. Just... What's your name.

 

*He, maybe "it," pauses*

 

Twag- I have no name. Drury Walker. The Court of Owls have sentenced-

 

Drury- Yeah. Yeah, you do, so stop that. Your name is Danto Twag. You're a right pain in my arse, but you have a name. The other Talons remember. Don't tell me you can't.

 

*Twag's blade retracts back into it's casing. He looks confused*

 

Twag- I have no name. Drury Walker. The Court of Owls-

 

Drury- Gar Lynns. Miranda Gaige. Drury Walker. Norbert. Ringing a bell? Twag?

 

...

 

Twag- I... I have no- I'm a servant of the Court of Owls, and they have sentenced you to-

 

Drury- Black Mask. Bill Garth. Tarantula and Ono.

 

Twag- THEY HAVE SENTENCED YOU TO-!

 

Drury- Falcone. Carson. Carmen Pike and Bridget.

 

Twag- Carmen... You... Where is she?

 

Drury- Dead. You killed her. Last year.

 

Twag- No... it was... you! You made me- What do you mean last... last...

 

*Twag looks at his twisted reflection in the shards of broken glass, and recoils in horror*

 

Twag- What-? What have they done to me? They've turned me into one of *them,* a freak, a monster like Wasp.

 

*Drury looked at him, crawling about on the ground. Pity. That's what he felt. And just a little bit of anger*

 

Drury- His name is Norbert.

 

*Twag cradles himself in the corner*

 

Twag- They... took my mind... took my body... and Carmen... Carmen! They-!

 

Drury- Yeah. And... I'm sorry.

 

*Drury dropped his gun on the ground. He couldn't stomach it anymore. He'd lost his appetite for killing, any hatred he had left for Twag dissolved as he listened to his sobbing. He closed the door, and slid down it in defeat. Through the oak, he heard a gunshot, and he put his face in his hands. Miranda found him there, and, grabbing him by the shoulder, she pulled him close*

 

Miranda- That Talon said that Twag-

 

Drury- I know.

 

Miranda- God... Drury, how do you feel-?

 

...

 

Drury- Like crap.

 

*As they looked out the window, they saw at least a dozen more Talons sneaking off into the night*

 

Miranda- They're retreating. Must be too public for them. Drury... I heard you on the phone earlier.

 

Drury- I said... It said it was fudge.

 

Miranda- You're... Heh... You're a terrible lier.

 

Drury- Probably.

 

Miranda- It doesn't matter. It was about *this,* wasn't it? About the Court and Arkham?

 

Drury- No. That's just it, no it wasn't. Not entirely.

 

 

Done