Arkham Agendas #1

=====Arkham City======

 

*He's in my head. He's still in my head, taunting me. Telling me to let go, and kill Simms... I can smell him- one of my few senses not damaged, and he smells of blood and rot. Simms' is crying... something tells me I should kill him, for thinking he knows pain like mine... No, what am I thinking? It's the drug... Got to drown it out*

 

Blackfire- Not even Batman could resist my pull Philip, and you are not he. You're just a sad blind man. But join me, and you can become so much more.

 

*Simms whimpers, he's struggling, trying to get free. He's... Pathetic. Yes. Blackfire's right. He's a pathetic, disgusting man, he deserves death... He deserves... The gun feels heavier all of a sudden*

 

Ten- You're right. I am just a blind man.

 

Blackfire- Yes.

 

*It'll all be over. If I just pull the trigger*

 

Ten- These mechanical things aren't my hands, I lost those too.

 

Blackfire- You would be rewarded Philip, handsomely.

 

*But I don't care about what's easy, or not. I'm not going to satisfy this... this devil... this snake*

 

Ten- Or you could kill me. Your drugs only work when you have nothing left, and *I* have faith. You'd be better off killing me. I'm a criminal after all. That's why you would want me to kill Mr Camera, isn't it? But maybe, maybe I'm just guessing, but I don't think your followers would want you murdering a defenceless blind man. A blind man with no hands to defend himself. Is that it? God knows I'm not a

threat to you, He knows.

 

*The gun falls to the ground. Simms sniffles some more. Snot runs down his tuxedo*

 

Blackfire- What are you-?

 

*Ten removes his hands, and walks back from Blackfire.*

 

Ten- Kill me. And show your followers the truth about Deacon Blackfire

 

*They watch all three of them. Blackfire for the first time in an eternity looks unsure of himself. Ten places a handless arm around Simms*

 

Ten- Get up.

 

Blackfire- You can't defy me Philip! I see your future! Nothing but bones, and death!

 

Ten- What... what else is new.

 

*The watchers growl. "He's a fraud!" cry some. "He's a liar!"*

 

Blackfire- You... You dare? You all dare?

 

*Blackfire picks up his gun and fires. It's empty*

 

Ten- You... You didn't think I'd leave it loaded, did you? I thought you'd know.

 

Blackfire- No.

 

*"He would have shot the blind man!" "Where's his honour!" "He doesn't have any power! If he did, he wouldn't need a pistol!"*

 

Blackfire- Lies! The Ten-Eyed Demon lies!

 

Ten- Tut tut Deacon, you forget the Ninth Commandment "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour."

 

*Ten leaves, just as the mobs of Blackfire's followers leap from the balcony, atop of him*

 

Blackfire- He's the liar! I would never-

 

*But that was the last thing Philip heard from The Deacon, as the followers cries drowned him out. As he made his way through the labyrinth, Simms finally spoke*

 

Simms- You should have killed me. I would've.

 

Ten- Your life is not mine to take, and there are codes in place I will never break. For months, my principles have been tested. They've brought me pain, and agony. But, if I abandon those, I don't know what I'd have. I can't feel, I can't see. Those principles. My will. Those are the only things that have kept me going. Since the war, since Blackgate.

 

Simms- You're an idiot, then?

 

Ten- You tried to kill me over a photo. Tell me, who's really the idiot.

 

Simms- My issues are a compulsion Reardon. Yours, are just a delusion.

 

Ten- So you're not a religious man.

 

Simms- Of course not. No God would put people through this hell. No God would idly sit by while his people fought and killed each other. And, if he did, I wouldn't *want* him to exist, because he'd be an utter psycho, worse than that cultist back there.

 

Ten- Hm.

 

*Ten and Simms arrived at Elliot Heights a half hour later. Rigger and Brown were very accomodating. Rigger was quick to tell the tale of how he'd caught the Iceberg shooter all by himself. And Philip sat in a chair. He wasn't going to allow Simms words to change him. No. He was proud of who he was, and, quite frankly, he was getting rather bored of being told what to do by maniacs*

 

---------ONE WEEK LATER--------

 

====Gar's Apartment====

 

*After his wrongful imprisonment in Arkham Asylum, and for his bravery "rescuing" Hugo Strange from Killer Wasp, Gar was rewarded with a new home- he'd lost the other one the night his daughter was conceived. Drury was quick to help him settle in. Sitting across from his date, he couldn't help notice her unease*

 

Gar- I'm sorry, you seem distracted.

 

Shawna- Huh?

 

Gar- Is it Josie? I can move her if you want, it should be her bedtime anyway.

 

Shawna- No... No.. You have a lovely daughter, really, but-

 

*Here we go, Gar thought*

 

Gar- Is it the dogs? They're Rigger's.

 

Shawna- No... You, um, you don't look quite like your profile picture.

 

Gar- Ah. Yeah.

 

Shawna- What did you say the accident was? Sorry, I'm intruding.

 

Gar- No, not at all... Pyrotechnics exploded, nasty, real pretty, but nasty...

 

*Of course. This was the third date he'd had this month, and the third to leave because of his burns. Gar never insulted her ventriloquist dummy...*

 

Shawna- Sorry, I think I should go.

 

*She grabs her coat and gets up to leave, passing Drury as she leaves, puppet in hand*

 

Drury- Gar?

 

Gar- Drury.

 

Drury- Sorry, is this a bad time?

 

*Gar glances at his date, now halfway up the driveway with no signs of stopping*

 

Gar- Nah, couldn't be better.

 

Drury- Find a Foe?

 

Gar- Yeah.

 

Drury- Ah, who needs 'em! You'll find someone! I did!

 

Gar- And every day I question it... here, come in. Got you those beers ya like.

 

*Gar hands him one. A Scottish import. Drury gratefully accepts it, and takes a sip*

 

Gar- This isn't a social visit I take it?

 

Drury- Heh... How could you tell?

 

Gar- You're a terrible liar for one thing.

 

Drury- Heh, so I've been told.

 

*Gar swigs his beer, and smirks*

 

Gar- We were lucky Drury. If you weren't mayor, they'd have shipped us off already. Me. You. Miranda. Those... Talons? They're just the first sign.

 

Drury- ... I need you Gar.

 

Gar- I know. I know. I'd burn that whole stinkin' place down if I could. Place is an eyesore. Psychos everywhere.

 

Drury- And our friends?

 

Gar- They're tough Drury. Think they haven't been through worse?

 

Drury- You're right, but this is Ra's Al Ghul we're talking about! I... I need a new team. Now that the Misfits are... divided.

 

Gar- That's one way of putting it. Who have you got in mind?

 

*Drury moves uncomfortably in his seat*

 

Gar- Ah. Him. Good luck.

 

*Gar rubs his ribs, remembering the scars Drury returns a wry smile. Gar didn't get a lot of visitors these days, so he couldn't help but keep Drury around, just a little longer*

 

Gar- Hey, I shouldn't be showing you this, but the editing team put together a trailer for Billings' film. Want a look?

 

Drury- Isn't it a little early into production?

 

Gar- Don't worry, they'll fix it in post.

 

*So they watch it. From it's poor CGI, to Killer Croc's cry of "Truly Billings you are the greatest" and Scarecrow admitting to Billings "You win, you beautiful man, you win!" the two watch the trailer in full. When it's finished, Gar turns to Drury expectantly*

 

Drury- Ohhh, it's like The Room.

 

Gar- What, no it isn't! That film's like a parody or something isn't it?

 

Drury- No, no it isn't.

 

....

 

Gar- Fuck, my film's The Room...

 

====Diner. Metropolis East-Side====

 

*A young waitress walks over to the four men in the corner booth, and pours them coffee. One, is a man in his late forties, small, skinny. He's greying, and wears a pair of small half moon glasses. The next man wears a long overcoat, gloves and a round cap, which covers his peculiar skin tone and pointed ears. The third is of African decent. His hair is slicked back, and his eyes are drawn to a pair of young men fighting outside. The fourth is hunched over, he's old, dressed in what looked like a silk dressing gown. The last towers over the first. He, like the waitress is a Spanish immigrant of some description*

 

Waitress- Can I get you anything to eat sirs?

 

*The small man looks at his cohorts. " Caesar salad. No dressing. No bacon please."*

 

*The others order the house special: Soup and a steak sandwich. The big man turns to the waitress and uncharacteristically smiles, talking with her in Spanish. She laughs, glancing at Kuttler before giggling again and walking over to the register

 

Kuttler- What did you say?

 

Bane- I said, "Best give this one that bacon He could use it"

 

Kuttler- I'm on the diet.

 

Bane- You should keep your strength up.

 

*His voice turns into a deep whisper*

 

Bane- Now, tell us about Brown.

 

Kuttler- *You* already know my thoughts on the matter. His type is a liability. Him, Nygma, Answer. They can't help but talk and spew clues. And, if he *does* cut a deal, there's no telling what-

 

Bane- Brown knows nothing about *this.*

 

Adam- I side with Kuttler. He knows about our existence. Is that not enough?

 

Sinestro- I say we're wasting time with this Cluemaster. Our priorities should lie with the Saviour Agenda and the Justice League, not "Arkham City." Let Earth's government have their fun. Why, have you seen the crime reports? All the most dangerous threats are under lock and key, and the second stringers who aren't are too afraid to step out of line out of fear of joining them. It *is* impressive.

 

Bane- Too impressive.

 

Sinestro- So long as they're not interfering with *our* plans, they can do what they please. *I'm* concerned about Flannegan.

 

Adam- Are you referring to that... Ratcatcher?

 

Sinestro- Yes I am. He flew off with one of my rings Adam, and now that lunatic is out there, using it for lord knows what.

 

Bane- No. Thawne said Flannegan wasn't wearing the ring.

 

Kuttler- You talked to Thawne? When? Why wasn't I-?

 

Bane- Last year. After that New Mexico... fiasko. That was Flannegan's work. And the Beast's.

 

Faust- It's true then. He's dead!

 

Kuttler- Not so loud...

 

Bane- I'm not so sure.

 

Sinestro- We'll have to make a decision shortly if we are to search for a replacement speedster.

 

Adam- He wouldn't like to be replaced.

 

Sinestro- Then the least he could do would be to attend our meetings. Where's Ocean Master?

 

Bane- The Amazon. Someone needed to deal with it.

 

*Faust finishes his coffee

 

Faust- Bah. Speedsters. They're overrated anyhow.

 

Done