Supremedalekdunn
The Dark Knight - Heir to the Demon #6
With Wayne Manor ablaze, Jim had all the evidence he needed to twist West’s arm and force an evacuation of Gotham. Though having the President of the United States deploy the national guard was not something that I expected, nor accounted for. No doubt they’ll prove useful in helping with the evacuation, but I fear they’ll also prove to be an obstacle once Ra’s makes his first move. Or worse yet, a liability.
No doubt we’ll find it out soon enough.
As I sever the last of the data feed lines to the Batcomputer, Talia begins prepping the last two Batpods in the cave. I have these things stashed in various caches all over the city in case of an emergency. You never know when someone’s going to try and steal the wheels of your Batmobile when you’re not looking. Certainly the last thing you need when you’re trying to catch a pair of thieves. Thankfully they were stupid enough to not change cars, so I was able to track them down later with relative ease.
Jason on the other hand? He was anything but. I’d have been concerned if he wasn’t. All of the best Robins are fighters, they’ll fight crime and fight you along the way. That’s why there’s only three of them. I only take the best. Maybe when all this over, and if I’m still alive, I’ll take on fourth. Assuming Tim to go his own way.
They usually do when they get to his age.
I’d like to think that I could maybe take Damian on as the next Robin. Sure he’s physically a twenty eight year old, but mentally he’s still only a child. He needs someone to show him another way. Someone to teach that there’s more to life than serving Ra’s. Though I fear that after fourteen years, he may already be too indoctrinated to be fixed. But as Mother always liked to say. No-one is beyond hope.
Hopefully that included Damian.
Hopefully I get an opportunity to find out.
Talia: Beloved?
Batman: I’m here.
Talia: We should make a move. Time is against us and it won’t be long before this side of Gotham become clogged up evacuees as well.
Batman: Evacuees. That makes it sound like we’re in World War 2 London.
Talia: Hopefully not.
Batman: Was your father there? In the war?
Talia: He may have been.
Batman: Do I want to know which side?
Talia: I think we both know what side he was on. I don’t recall the West believing in a master race inheriting the world.
Batman: Not one of their own at least.
Talia: Anyways, when did you become so interested with my father’s role in history?
Batman: I didn’t. I just needed time to transfer the cave’s proximity alerts to my suit.
Talia: You think he’ll come for Damian?
Batman: I’m almost certain. We’re going into this blind, but hopefully this will at least allow us to get a grasp of the size of at least some of their force.
Talia: Reassuring to see you haven’t forgotten anything I taught you.
Batman: Or anything your father taught me. Come on, the others will be waiting for us at the tower.
Talia: Wayne Tower?
Batman: Problem?
Talia: A bit visible, isn’t it?
Batman: The whole city is occupied trying to escape before the carnage arrives. I don’t think we have to worry about privacy.
Talia: Alright. Who are we expecting there?
Batman: Alfred, Tim, Dick and Barbra. Hopefully Lucius will be the bunker under the tower by the time we get there.
Talia: No Jason?
Batman: His comms went dark when he set off to Greene’s mansion on an assignment I gave him. At this point he’s MIA until I hear anything.
Talia: I’m sure he’ll be alright. He’s almost as stubborn as you.
I still can’t be certain whether or not Talia means that as a compliment. Whenever Alfred or Tim use it the saying is clearly intended to be interpreted in a condescending manner. But with Talia, I can’t help but feel uncertain. Part of her charm.
Batman: I hope. Time’s already against us. I could really do with what I hope he’s got so I’m not relying on just this sword.
Talia: Your gift from Wonder Woman?
Batman: From Hephaestus.
Talia: Who Wonder Woman introduced you to. What favour was it that you gave him again?
Batman: A blood sample.
Talia: An odd favour to give.
Batman: He’s a weapons forger. According to Wonder Woman, he forged her bracelets from Zeus’ shield.
Talia: Do you believe her?
Batman: I have no reason not to. When you see that shield withstand a direct punch from the strongest being on the planet, you tend to believe that there’s some truth to these claims.
Talia: Never thought I’d hear you consider magic a possibility.
Batman: Believe me. No-one’s more surprised about it than I am. Now go. Make our way to Wayne Tower.
Talia: Why? Aren’t you coming?
Batman: I am. I just need to do something first.
Talia: Which is?
I don’t respond to make clear to Talia it’s importance. She knows me too well at this point so there’s no point in trying to conceal my actions.
Talia: Oh. Okay. But the moment you’re done you come to the tower, right?
Batman: Of course.
Without saying another word, Talia revs the engine on her Batpod to life before leaving the cave. As she makes her way out of the cave, I begin to seal the rest of the exits to the cave. No going back now.
Now all I can do is try to limit the damage. The only way I know how.
Batman: Batman to Justice League.
Cyborg: Go ahead, Batman.
Batman: I’m in need of a teleport to the Watchtower. Authorisation code A-001.
Cyborg: Code accepted. Standby.
It takes but a moment for the Watchtower’s teleporter to transport me from deep with in the cave to the station’s bridge. Much to my surprise, Vic isn’t alone. Both Hal and Clark are with him as well. Rather uncommon for the night shift. Usually it’s just Vic up here by himself on monitor duty. No doubt Clark and Hal saw my video. If not, Vic’s almost certainly shown it to them by now.
Superman: Bruce! What brings you up here at this time?
Green Lantern: Having trouble sleeping? Or are you actually going to do your scheduled monitor duty for a change?
Batman: Cut the chatter. You all know the reason I’m here.
Superman: And that is?
Without even having to ask him, Vic projects the feeds from several nation news shows in front of them. All have the same breaking news.
‘Terror Threat Made Against Gotham City’
Batman: Endgame.
The Dark Knight - Heir to the Demon #6
With Wayne Manor ablaze, Jim had all the evidence he needed to twist West’s arm and force an evacuation of Gotham. Though having the President of the United States deploy the national guard was not something that I expected, nor accounted for. No doubt they’ll prove useful in helping with the evacuation, but I fear they’ll also prove to be an obstacle once Ra’s makes his first move. Or worse yet, a liability.
No doubt we’ll find it out soon enough.
As I sever the last of the data feed lines to the Batcomputer, Talia begins prepping the last two Batpods in the cave. I have these things stashed in various caches all over the city in case of an emergency. You never know when someone’s going to try and steal the wheels of your Batmobile when you’re not looking. Certainly the last thing you need when you’re trying to catch a pair of thieves. Thankfully they were stupid enough to not change cars, so I was able to track them down later with relative ease.
Jason on the other hand? He was anything but. I’d have been concerned if he wasn’t. All of the best Robins are fighters, they’ll fight crime and fight you along the way. That’s why there’s only three of them. I only take the best. Maybe when all this over, and if I’m still alive, I’ll take on fourth. Assuming Tim to go his own way.
They usually do when they get to his age.
I’d like to think that I could maybe take Damian on as the next Robin. Sure he’s physically a twenty eight year old, but mentally he’s still only a child. He needs someone to show him another way. Someone to teach that there’s more to life than serving Ra’s. Though I fear that after fourteen years, he may already be too indoctrinated to be fixed. But as Mother always liked to say. No-one is beyond hope.
Hopefully that included Damian.
Hopefully I get an opportunity to find out.
Talia: Beloved?
Batman: I’m here.
Talia: We should make a move. Time is against us and it won’t be long before this side of Gotham become clogged up evacuees as well.
Batman: Evacuees. That makes it sound like we’re in World War 2 London.
Talia: Hopefully not.
Batman: Was your father there? In the war?
Talia: He may have been.
Batman: Do I want to know which side?
Talia: I think we both know what side he was on. I don’t recall the West believing in a master race inheriting the world.
Batman: Not one of their own at least.
Talia: Anyways, when did you become so interested with my father’s role in history?
Batman: I didn’t. I just needed time to transfer the cave’s proximity alerts to my suit.
Talia: You think he’ll come for Damian?
Batman: I’m almost certain. We’re going into this blind, but hopefully this will at least allow us to get a grasp of the size of at least some of their force.
Talia: Reassuring to see you haven’t forgotten anything I taught you.
Batman: Or anything your father taught me. Come on, the others will be waiting for us at the tower.
Talia: Wayne Tower?
Batman: Problem?
Talia: A bit visible, isn’t it?
Batman: The whole city is occupied trying to escape before the carnage arrives. I don’t think we have to worry about privacy.
Talia: Alright. Who are we expecting there?
Batman: Alfred, Tim, Dick and Barbra. Hopefully Lucius will be the bunker under the tower by the time we get there.
Talia: No Jason?
Batman: His comms went dark when he set off to Greene’s mansion on an assignment I gave him. At this point he’s MIA until I hear anything.
Talia: I’m sure he’ll be alright. He’s almost as stubborn as you.
I still can’t be certain whether or not Talia means that as a compliment. Whenever Alfred or Tim use it the saying is clearly intended to be interpreted in a condescending manner. But with Talia, I can’t help but feel uncertain. Part of her charm.
Batman: I hope. Time’s already against us. I could really do with what I hope he’s got so I’m not relying on just this sword.
Talia: Your gift from Wonder Woman?
Batman: From Hephaestus.
Talia: Who Wonder Woman introduced you to. What favour was it that you gave him again?
Batman: A blood sample.
Talia: An odd favour to give.
Batman: He’s a weapons forger. According to Wonder Woman, he forged her bracelets from Zeus’ shield.
Talia: Do you believe her?
Batman: I have no reason not to. When you see that shield withstand a direct punch from the strongest being on the planet, you tend to believe that there’s some truth to these claims.
Talia: Never thought I’d hear you consider magic a possibility.
Batman: Believe me. No-one’s more surprised about it than I am. Now go. Make our way to Wayne Tower.
Talia: Why? Aren’t you coming?
Batman: I am. I just need to do something first.
Talia: Which is?
I don’t respond to make clear to Talia it’s importance. She knows me too well at this point so there’s no point in trying to conceal my actions.
Talia: Oh. Okay. But the moment you’re done you come to the tower, right?
Batman: Of course.
Without saying another word, Talia revs the engine on her Batpod to life before leaving the cave. As she makes her way out of the cave, I begin to seal the rest of the exits to the cave. No going back now.
Now all I can do is try to limit the damage. The only way I know how.
Batman: Batman to Justice League.
Cyborg: Go ahead, Batman.
Batman: I’m in need of a teleport to the Watchtower. Authorisation code A-001.
Cyborg: Code accepted. Standby.
It takes but a moment for the Watchtower’s teleporter to transport me from deep with in the cave to the station’s bridge. Much to my surprise, Vic isn’t alone. Both Hal and Clark are with him as well. Rather uncommon for the night shift. Usually it’s just Vic up here by himself on monitor duty. No doubt Clark and Hal saw my video. If not, Vic’s almost certainly shown it to them by now.
Superman: Bruce! What brings you up here at this time?
Green Lantern: Having trouble sleeping? Or are you actually going to do your scheduled monitor duty for a change?
Batman: Cut the chatter. You all know the reason I’m here.
Superman: And that is?
Without even having to ask him, Vic projects the feeds from several nation news shows in front of them. All have the same breaking news.
‘Terror Threat Made Against Gotham City’
Batman: Endgame.