effortlessly everything........

"-Perhaps I'll remind him of that night some day, remind him of the power I now hold over him... I, am the Riddler. And I just made the Joker frown." Joker finishes reading, and laughs. "Good one Eddie," he cackles, and, taking a lighter, Gar's lighter, from his pocket, he sets the green book alight, leaving nothing but the broken lock-

unsurprisingly shaped like a question mark, behind.

 

"You would not *believe* the amount of trophies I had to find to get this! Ha! Credit where credit is due, at least he's consistent."

 

The figure stirs. "Whatabout Lyyyyyyynnssssssss?"

 

"What about him! Such a curious child... and the baby too, haha! Don't you worry about a thing, my petit pois, just you remember this is an *equal* partnership. 50:50, 60:40."

 

=====The Belfry=====

 

"Get back inmates! All of you get ba-!"

 

The guard's words are cut off as a frosty cocoon covers his body, trapping him in a thin sheet of ice. Conscious, but unable to move. His mouth, is the only thing that he can still feel. Freeze holds his hand in his, and snaps it off.

 

"You have three limbs left. If you value them, you'll answer my questions."

 

The guard's eyes dart about, pleading with the spectators. Ten is about to step forward, until Needham sticks his arm out.

 

"Where, is my wife?"

 

"Your wife? Your *wife*? Do you like her? Do you looooove her? No! No, you don't." A high pitched voice echoes down the halls, and a strange red and black man skips towards them. Manic eyes peak out from behind his golden mask. Just before the guard can talk, the Pirate pushes him to the ground, and he shatters. "Who, wants *your* wife?"

 

"What is-"

 

"You don't want to fight. You don't want your wife. You'll put down your gun- all of you will put down your guns. We can all have tea, cake, fun!"

Reardon's hand twitches. He can hear the others struggling, as they lay their weapons onto the floor, and put their hands on their heads. Ten can hear Hayden's rapid breathing. He's salivating.

 

"You too. This is where you put the gun down." A challenge... Hayden enjoyed a challenge. This orange man is resisting... Impressive, no one resists the Pirate. "You don't want to fight. You want to put the gun down. We can be friends! The best of friends! Just put the gun down."

But Hayden didn't count on something. Philip Reardon is blind. No matter how many funny faces The Pirate made, he wasn't going to put the gun down.

 

Blam.

 

Hayden screams, and his hold over the others breaks. "Mr Krill! Mr Krill! They shot me!"

A disheveled looking Polka Dot Man emerges from a portal, a can of beer in his hand. "I told ya, ya shouldn't have gone the scenic route. Lads." He grabs the wounded Pirate, and the two vanish.

 

=====The Court=====

 

Deep underground, two swords clash together. One belongs to The Demon's Head- He favours a steel blade, one forged in the fires of an ancient volcano off the course of Nanda Parbat. Six hundred years on and still just as effective. The second belongs to his former student, Miranda Gaige, belonging to the people of Antiquity, the sea faring warriors she's descended from. An iron sword marked with arabic writing, that translates loosely to "Daughter of the Seas." It is the name she took on as a member of the League of Assassins.

Her strikes are less refined, more aggressive. Ra's is on the defensive, he is able to make each parry look remarkably easy. Drury, Norbert, and a legion of their enemies watch on. No one dares speak. "That should be me," Drury thinks to himself. "That should be me." She can't keep it up.

Miranda may be slowing down, but Ra's is as strong as ever. Whatever they've pumped into him, it's made him faster, more agile, and more deadly. But, Miranda's not useless either. She knows she could still win this, and sure enough, after ten minutes of grinding, Ra's holds his finger to his cheek. Blood.

He's open now. Miranda speeds up, swiping at his arms, cutting the tendons apart, next, going for the legs. It's looking like she's winning, that *they're* winning. And then his wounds start to heal.

Miranda stumbles backwards as he switches tactics, swinging his sword towards her like an animal, slashing at her feet. She's on the ground, she has but a split second to move or else- "Yes!" Drury cries. She's up. She's going to win. She's-

 

And then, Ra's Al Ghul pulls his sword from her chest. She splutters, as blood fills her lungs. Ra's bows his head, and plants his sword in the ground, marking the end of their duel. He won.

 

"Activate the device."

 

====Ace Chemicals====

 

A cold autumn wind hits his faces. The scarred side gets the worst of it, its' exposed muscle shrivells up; its' eye swells. Annoyed, Dent growls.

A mile away, the Penguin and the Black Mask scale the prison walls, battling guards they claim work for the Court of Owls. Owls that, Penguin claims, intend to blow Arkham to hell, with them in it.

Half of him wants to flee, leave Scarecrow to die. The other half, the other half actually wants to help him.

It's true, Crane may be the only one that can "fix" them. It's also true that he's a psychopath, who cares about nothing else but his experiments.

They flip their coin and the good side, the "moral" side lands up. Dammit.

Two-Face puts the coin into their breast pocket, and walks inside, the smell of fumes filling their lungs.

 

"We're evacuating, Crane. Penguin-"

 

"-Is no longer our concern. It's been a year since I first endeavoured to perfect my newest formula, and it's still-! It's still not done. Even with the Deacon's flowers, even with all of Ace Chemicals at my disposal, I still can't create a simple virus... Oh, there were days I could whip up a formula in a hour... But, those are long past. Perhaps it was Spider's bullet, perhaps it was Electrocutioner, but I'm... afraid. I'm not the man I was."

 

=====The Court=====

 

"It should've been me." Drury grabs Ra's sword, and runs at him. In seconds, Ra's disarms him, and pins him to the ground. Norbert rushes to Cobb, to try and remove him from the device, but tentacles pull him back, dragging him across the concrete. If Cypher could talk, he'd be begging his forgiveness. In two minutes, Cobb would die, and Arkham would join him.

 

"You should have stayed in your bunker, left the heroics to the Detective, but you just have to cement your legacy, don't you? Criminal, politician, "hero." All means to an end, all attempts to create a linage, to put the name "Drury Walker" in writing. I have known many of your kind, many have challenged me- none have succeeded."

 

"I'll... I'll..."

 

"Drury... Don't." Miranda smiles at him, her face bloody, colour draining from her cheeks.

 

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

 

"They've opened the gates!" What follows is a mad dash, as floods of inmates rush through the doors, through to freedom. Chuck laughs. They did it! Drury did it! And then the rumbling starts. Behind him, there's a noise. Cobb lets out a scream like no other, as hundreds are pulled down into the abyss, swallowed by the ground. "Chuck!"

 

"Rigger, move it!"

 

"What about-?" Rigger asked anxiously.

 

"I'll find them!" Chuck replies, as Rigger salutes him, and joins the others on the other side of the gates. He pulls a lever on his backpack, and a kite springs out, and he soars into the air, below, he sees the city break apart- Elliot Heights, The Iceberg Lounge, Sionis Industries, all gone. He sees people still running to the gates, knowing there's nothing he can do to save them, and knowing they're not going to make it, and he sees Ten and Needham at the base of the Belfry. He can only carry the two of them.

 

"Freeze wouldn't leave," gasps Ten. "He was in the property lockers last I saw."

 

====

 

"Nora..." Freeze places a hand on the container, and smiles. "I found you... I found you, my Sunflower." Beams and rubble fall from the ceiling... They'd be trapped here... killed, unless someone could-

 

"*Ahem* Let me help you."

 

His cell broken apart by the earthquake, Julian Day stands a free man, offering Freeze a pale hand.

 

====

 

"Tell Professor Strange he may have the Walker brother. And Ubu, I require transport out of here in five minutes."

 

"Yes, master."

 

"What about him-?" March asks.

 

Ra's looks down at Drury, in pity, almost, and relents, allowing Miranda a chance to say goodbye. "Let him mourn."

 

"I'm... It should've been me"

 

"It's not your fault. It's not *cough* I want you to promise me... Don't give up. Be good to Cammy and Kitten and Axel, tell Cammy... Tell Cammy his mommy loves him. And tell my father... Ha, well, don't tell he was right... Just look after him. He'll need it. Look after all them"

 

"Please, don't"

 

"Don't you dare give up, Drury. Don't ever give up"

 

Drury winks a teary eyed wink, and kisses her, one last time.

 

=====

 

Jonathan Crane lets out a yell. A steel girder has him trapped, the floor itself is cracking apart, and he's been separated from Dent.

 

"Two-Face! Two-Face!"

 

He lets out a whimper, as he falls through the ground. He's dead, dead with his formulas still unfinished... Dead, and leaving nothing behind. Every bone in his body breaks as he falls to the ground like a ragdoll, hundreds of meters underground. The fall... The fall should've killed him, but-

 

"Jonathan Crane. You have the ability to instill great fear."

 

A yellow ring slides onto his finger. With it, it's as though he can see it- all of it. Fear incarnate. And it's beautiful.

 

"Welcome to the Sinestro Corps."

 

=====

 

"Take them!" Chuck pleads, handing Needham and Ten over to Sionis. "Take them and get them help!"

 

Li pulls them up. At least, Chuck thinks, they're safe. Kite's running out of power, debris has damaged the motor... He offers his own hand to Roman now, urging him to take it. Hesitant at first, Sionis grabs it, then smirks.

 

"Help yourself," he grins, before letting Chuck fall.

 

=====Chinatown=====

 

Through cracked glass, the TV still blares. Already, hundreds are confirmed dead, with the body count still rising with no signs of stopping. Strange shares a smile with Bolton. The Mayor tried her best, bless her, but there are things that a simple video can't stop... Behind them, the door creaks open. Strange already knows what's about to happen. Bolton marches towards her, baton in hand.

 

"Madam Mayor this is most-"

 

Bang. A bullet hits Strange in the stomach, staining his lab coat red.

 

"Crazy bitc-!"

 

Bang. Bolton falls down. Dead.

 

"How does it feel-? Their blood... on your hands" Strange splutters. Grange throws the gun to the ground disgusted. But she knew, that so long as the Court existed, people like Hugo Strange would never face justice.

 

"It feels like this."

 

====Gotham City====

 

Noah Kuttler checks his watch, and stepping out his car, a metal-clad figure emerges.

 

"Your intel was correct."

 

Gate tuts. "200 years of history, gone."

 

Kuttler hands him the suitcase, and grimaces, gazing off into the burning skyline. "Yes, I was rather partial to the Gotham Library myself. It's all there, $50,000,000 as requested. The Society thanks you for your assistance."

 

34. In the Bible it says, “this same Jesus … shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven.” When the Lord returns, it shall be with Him riding on a white cloud, why would He become flesh? (Gospel Music Videos)

 

www.holyspiritspeaks.org/how-can-he-be-incarnated-again/

 

The Answer from God’s Word:

 

Since Jesus departed, the disciples who followed Him, and all of the saints who were saved thanks to His name, have been desperately pining for Him and awaiting Him. All those who were saved by the grace of Jesus Christ during the Age of Grace have been longing for that joyful day during the last days, when Jesus the Savior arrives on a white cloud and appears among man. Of course, this is also the collective wish of all those who accept the name of Jesus the Savior today. Throughout the universe, all those who know of the salvation of Jesus the Savior have been desperately yearning for the sudden arrival of Jesus Christ, to fulfill the words of Jesus when on earth: “I shall arrive just as I departed.” Man believes that, following the crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus went back to heaven upon a white cloud, and took His place at the Most High’s right hand. Similarly, man conceives that Jesus shall descend, again upon a white cloud (this cloud refers to the cloud that Jesus rode upon when He returned to heaven), among those who have desperately yearned for Him for thousands of years, and that He shall bear the image and clothes of the Jews. After appearing to man, He shall bestow food upon them, and cause living water to gush forth for them, and shall live among man, full of grace and love, living and real. And so on. Yet Jesus the Savior did not do this; He did the opposite of what man conceived. He did not arrive among those who had yearned for His return, and did not appear to all men while riding upon the white cloud. He has already arrived, but man does not know Him, and remains ignorant of His arrival. Man is only aimlessly awaiting Him, unaware that He has already descended upon a white cloud (the cloud which is His Spirit, His words, and His entire disposition and all that He is), and is now among a group of overcomers that He will make during the last days.

 

from “The Savior Has Already Returned Upon a ‘White Cloud’” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

 

(....)

  

… Many people may not care what I say, but I still want to tell every so-called saint who follows Jesus that, when you see Jesus descend from the heaven upon a white cloud with your own eyes, this will be the public appearance of the Sun of righteousness. Perhaps that will be a time of great excitement for you, yet you should know that the time when you witness Jesus descend from the heaven is also the time when you go down to hell to be punished. It will herald the end of God’s management plan, and will be when God rewards the good and punishes the wicked. For the judgment of God will have ended before man sees signs, when there is only the expression of truth. Those who accept the truth and do not seek signs, and thus have been purified, shall have returned before the throne of God and entered the Creator’s embrace. Only those who persist in the belief that “The Jesus who does not ride upon a white cloud is a false Christ” shall be subjected to everlasting punishment, for they only believe in the Jesus who exhibits signs, but do not acknowledge the Jesus who proclaims severe judgment and releases the true way of life. And so it can only be that Jesus deals with them when He openly returns upon a white cloud.

 

from “When You Behold the Spiritual Body of Jesus Will Be When God Has Made Anew Heaven and Earth” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

(Signs of the End Times | Christian Short Film "The Days of Noah Have Come") (Eastern Lightning）

 

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November 21st, 2042

 

A couple of hours after getting taken away by the Court of Owls, Batman awakens in a cell at an unknown location. Before he’s able to recover from the effects of the sedatives he got hit with and regain his strength two people dressed in black clothes, wielding sharp and gold-colored weapons, enter his cell and order him to follow them. As he struggles to stand up he notices that the exoskeleton from his suit has powered down, making it much more difficult to move around at all and leaving him in no shape to stand up against them. He complies and follows the one figure as the other one takes position behind him. After walking for a short while they end up in a long hallway, with a red carpet on the floor, expensive furniture on either side of the hall and large paintings hanging from the walls. Batman takes a look at the wall decorations and notices that every single painting features a person holding a strange owl-shaped mask in front of their face. There’s a door at the end of the hallway, guarded by two people wearing the same outfit as the ones escorting him. They open the door for them, giving way to a spacious and empty courtroom. Behind the judge’s desk stands a giant wooden statue of an owl, decorated with gold accents and lit with candles around it. On the sides of the room are several giant windows, all covered with dark red curtains which prevents any natural light from entering the place. Only Helena is sitting in the room, tied to a chair at the defendant’s table.

 

Batman gets escorted into the room and forced to sit on the chair next to Helena as he gets restrained as well. Before he can ask his daughter if she’s okay, the gates of the courtroom swing open as a group of masked individuals march into the room. They all silently take a seat on the public benches behind the two right as the jury enters the room as well, conveniently all wearing the same owl-shaped mask too. As they all sit down at the exact same time Helena begins nervously looking around her, intimidated by the situation she is now in. A door inside the giant owl statue opens, out of which a judge appears. Batman notices the judge seems to be the same person who appeared in the Wayne Tower and ordered them to come to the Court in the first place. He takes a seat, breaks the silence by slamming his hammer on the table and demands order in the courtroom, starting their trial against Batman and Robin.

 

The judge starts by telling about the Court of Owls, explaining how they have been around since Gotham was established decades ago. For years they managed to rule the city from the shadows, killing anyone who found out about their existence or opposed them using a group of specifically trained assassins called the Talons. When a certain masked vigilante began running around Gotham they didn’t see him as a threat at first. Finding that having him assassinated by the Talons would be a bit excessive they instead opted to orchestrate a series of events which would lead to a deranged serial killer by the name of Zsaz escaping from Arkham. Knowing that the Batman would take it upon himself to go after him, they hoped that he wouldn’t stand a chance against the killer and get killed while fighting him. However, they found themselves astonished as Batman managed to defeat Zsaz with ease, something they had not taken into consideration. Realizing the danger of him running around Gotham they considered ordering the Talons to murder him, but changed their mind after he coincidentally started targeting several of their opponents. The Court then decided to willingly let Batman fight the criminal world of Gotham without interfering, only stepping in if he accidentally stumbled upon them or started targeting them. All the while, the Court continued to influence the city from the shadows.

 

Roughly 5 years later, a long series of unfortunate events led to the Dark Knight retiring. With the Batman no longer being a possible threat to the Court, they decided to start spreading out their influence more while making certain their existence was kept a secret. Over the decades, dozens of wannabe vigilantes hoping to step into the footsteps of the Dark Knight started to make their way onto the streets. As rumors of a secret underground society who are secretly controlling Gotham started leaking, many of them started to seek them out and found their way right on the doorstep of the Court. In order to preserve their secret they were forced to murder everyone who stood in their way, having to cover up the assassinations to not arouse any suspicions. After decades of doing this the Court of Owls decided they could not continue covering up the disappearances of teen vigilantes, deciding to take action by making a statement by taking down the Dark Knight. Upon discovering his identity and tracking him down using the help of a deranged Edward Nigma and a frail Hugo Strange, they began orchestrating a long plot in order to get him to put on the suit again. One of the Talons assassinated Selina and left behind evidence to make him suspect the Joker, knowing this would motivate him to return to Gotham to investigate. By using a tiny improvised explosive device hidden within the playing card they hoped to detonate it while he was holding it within Arkham. However, they did not account for Batman giving the card to Joker himself, which allowed him to survive the blast and only killed the Clown Prince of Crime along with the other Arkman inmates. After so many years, they decided enough was enough; it was time to put him on trial in front of the Court of Owls for standing in their way too much.

 

Batman barely has any time to process what he just heard as the crowd and jury start shouting how they think they are guilty. There’s no way they would win a case against a kangaroo court like this; their decision was already made way before the trial started. The judge slams his hammer down again, silencing the chaos as he prepares to read his verdict. Due to being found guilty of interfering with the plans of the Court of Owls, Batman and Robin get sentenced to death at the hands of the Talons right now. The judge asks if he has anything to say about his verdict, but cuts him off right as he is about to speak up. The spectators and jury start cheering and clapping as two of the Talons walk into the courtroom, each entering on opposite sides of the room. They take their positions in front and behind the two, unsheathing their golden weapons to prepare for battle. One member of the Court gets ordered to untie the Dynamic Duo in order to make the odds more fair as the rest of the crowd prepares to watch as the Batman finally gets taken down by the Court of Owls after so many years.

 

The Talon behind Batman strikes first and stabs him in the back, but his armor prevents the blade from piercing through his skin. He manages to reactivate his exosuit and turns around, ready to fight again as he pulls out a Batarang from his belt. His enemy strikes again, aiming for the exposed skin around his mouth instead, but Batman manages to deflect it with his own weapon. He uses the opportunity to slice the Talon in the arm, although this doesn’t phase him. Batman holds his hand in front of his face and casts a glance at the spectators, seeing they are all silently toasting for their demise with expensive drinks in their hands. His short distraction gives the Talon an opportunity to successfully hit him, but Helena deflects the attack at the last moment with her own weapon stick. He compliments her for being able to stand her ground against their opponents before continuing the battle. The Talon starts attacking more and more fiercely, slowly managing to weaken Batman’s defenses while coming closer to getting a successful strike on him. He tries his best to keep up with him, but Batman slowly starts to become weaker and weaker with every attack. Right as he is about to slash the Dark Knight in the face, the leader of the Court suddenly commands the assassins to stop attacking. Unsure of what to do, the Talons lay down their weapons for a moment as they watch what their leader’s intentions are right now. He mutters something about hearing a weird noise outside as he walks towards the window and lifts up the curtains. Batman tries to get a glimpse of the outside world to locate their hideout if they manage to get out, but he soon picks up the sound outside too; he hears the loud revving of an engine in the distance slowly coming towards them, accompanied by the sound of a car horn. The crowd gathers around the window to see what the commotion is about, but quickly runs away in terror as the Batmobile crashes through the wall at full speed.

 

Pieces of debris rain down everywhere as the vehicle comes to a screeching halt right in front of Batman and Robin. Chaos ensues in the room as each member of the Court desperately tries to make their escape, terrified of the imposing black vehicle which just crashed through the wall of their hideout. The door opens as the person driving the Batmobile beeps the horn, prompting them to jump inside. Batman kicks the Talon in front of him to the ground and hits the other one in the chest with several batarangs to give them a window to escape. He and Helena jump inside the Batmobile as he takes control of the steering wheel, closing the door right before the Talons can make their way inside. He puts his boot on the gas pedal and activates the rocket booster in order to make their escape from the Court. As they are driving through the streets of Gotham early in the morning, Barbara appears on one of the screens of the console, asking if they are alright. She explains that she left the Wayne Enterprises building for a short moment to check up on her case at the GCPD, but when she returned she saw the camera footage of them getting abducted. Although it was impossible for her to track them down at first since the Court of Owls covered up almost all of their tracks, Batman reactivating his high-tech suit set off a GPS signal which allowed her to pinpoint their location. With the help of a new modification to the Batmobile she was able to remotely control the armored vehicle for a while to reach the place and to help them escape.

 

Helena sighs of relief, tired of the confrontation they just went through when she says that they must’ve escaped the Court by now. However, right after she says this the two feel something landing on the roof of the Batmobile. Before they can react, one of the Talon’s golden weapons cuts through the armored material like butter, making an opening for himself to enter the vehicle. Batman stands up from his seat and orders Helena to drive despite her not having any driving experience yet as he deals with the Talon standing in the cramped open space in the back of the Batmobile. He makes his way towards him, feeling the cold morning air cut through his skin while he begins punching his enemy. After hitting him a couple of times the Talon catches his fist inside his hand, landing a couple of strikes on his face and damaging his cowl before Batman kicks him right in the stomach. The impact of the kick makes him land hard on the cold floor of the Batmobile, but before he can recover Batman leaps on top of him and starts pounding him in the head. He stops for a short moment to charge up his exosuit for a bigger punch, but the vehicle suddenly making a sharp turn to get outside of Gotham, makes him miss the Talon and denting the floor instead. While he recovers and tries to get another punch in, the other Talon lands on the front of the car and begins damaging the engine. Helena makes a couple more sharp turns in an effort to get him off the car but all it does is make Batman lose his balance, giving him a disadvantage in the fight. As smoke begins coming from the engine Helena loses control of the vehicle, prompting Batman to abandon the fight to prevent them from going off the road. However, he is too late; before he can do anything, the Batmobile crashes through the guardrail on the ride of the road, sending them all tumbling down a hill.

 

When Helena regains consciousness, she feels herself getting dragged out of the wreckage which was once the Batmobile. Pieces of wreckage are scattered everywhere as the smell of smoke fills her nose. Once she is at a safe distance away from the wreck, she is able to properly see the damage; the Batmobile is laying upside down with a fire having erupted in the engine as several important components of the car have been damaged or broken off. Suddenly, she notices one of the Talons crawling away from the wreck. His outfit has been torn and burned, with him being unable to walk because of the crash. Batman sees him too, and begins slowly walking towards him. The Talon notices this and for the first time he hears one of them speak as he begins pleading for him to put him out of his misery. Batman stays silent for a while before telling him to go back to the Court. He wants him to relay a message to them, warning that it will take much more than this to take down Batman. They tried their best to get rid of him, and they failed. If they try this again, he won't be taken by surprise like this time and warns that he will do whatever it takes to take down the entire Court by himself. The Talon begins crying out that the Court of Owls will just murder him for this fiasco, but Batman ignores him and turns around leaving him on his own. He calls Barbara to pick them up as he puts an arm around Helena, complimenting her for what she did today as the Batmobile continues to burn down behind them.

 

Roughly a week has passed since the incident with the Court. Despite Bruce and Barbara’s best efforts, they haven't managed to track down the Court again; upon returning to the place where he was taken to to be put on trial, he only found an empty and abandoned building with all of the furniture and decorations taken away. Barbara has taken the wreckage of the Batmobile back to the Wayne Enterprises building, developing plans to rework the vehicle into something else instead of simply rebuilding it.

 

During a boring evening at the Wayne Building, the regularly scheduled tv programme gets interrupted by a newsflash; A terrorist going by the name of Bane, suspected to be the person responsible for getting a majority of Gotham addicted to Venom, has attacked the Gotham Stock Exchang. In a publicly broadcasted video he revealed to have gotten his hands on a decaying neutron bomb which is set to detonate this Christmas Eve. In his video he directly challenged the Dark Knight, saying that he is only willing to stop the bomb from exploding if he manages to defeat him. Confident that he can save Gotham once more, Bruce suits up and sets out to bring down Bane. Helena offers to join to help take him down, but Batman declines as he fears not going to him alone could have severe consequences. Without being able to use the Batmobile to get around for the time being, he climbs to the top of the building and decides to make use out of his new experimental cape glider. He leaps off the structure as he spreads out his cape, which folds out in the shape of the wings of a bat allowing him to glide to the financial district.

 

After gliding for a while, Batman lands on top of the glass roof of the Stock Exchange building giving him a good look at the situation. Right below him he can make out the figure of Bane, surrounded by several of his goons, all guarding the neutron bomb. He uses a Batarang to cut a hole into the glass to grant him access into the building. After jumping down the hole he lands right in front of Bane, quickly alerting him of his presence. This is the first time he has gotten a good look at the terrorist; before him stands a very big and muscular man, wearing a black luchador-esque mask which conceals his face. Batman catches a glimpse of a big tank filled with Venom on his back with tubes attached to it, all injected straight into his skin and mask. His goons, all having taken some of the strength-enhancing drugs as well, point their guns at the Dark Knight but Bane tells them to lower their weapons. After telling them to step back he stretches out his arms, challenging the Dark Knight to a one-on-one fight. Batman agrees, taking off his utility belt and preparing for the fight. He laughs, his voice muffled by the mask, asking himself if he will be a match to him or if he will go down as easily as his other opponents as Batman charges towards him.

 

Batman strikes first, getting in several powerful blows, but it doesn’t even seem to phase his opponent. He pauses for a short moment and tries to continue the fight, but Bane catches his hand before it can hit him. Batman hears something crack when he clenches his fist, feeling that his glove has been damaged. Before he can recover, Bane grabs him with both arms and headbutts him with a lot of force. The blow almost makes him lose his balance, but his opponent grabs him by the throat before he falls to the ground and punches him right in the face several times. Batman starts to taste blood in his mouth but is unwilling to give up so easily. He releases himself from Bane’s grip and tackles him to the ground, using all his strength to kick him in the face several times. Again, his opponent is unperturbed by his attempts to fight back, simply taking the blows without flinching. As Bane doesn't fight back Batman becomes overconfident for a moment, not noticing as his arm reaches out for his leg. He grabs a hold of it and janks it towards him, making him fall to the ground again.

 

‘’You know, I used to admire you. Hearing all about your heroics back when I was growing up motivated me to be better than I already was. But now that I am not a bright-eyed and naive child anymore, I’m finally able to see you for what you really are; A pathetic elderly man, having to rely on some high-tech suit to even attempt to compete with me!’’

 

Bane raises his fists in the air, bringing them down with full force on the chest of the Dark Knight. Although his suit absorbs most of the strike to prevent his ribs from breaking upon impact, Batman still feels the pain from his attack and notices the armor on his chest having shattered.

 

‘’Over the years, I've dreamt of being the one who would kill the legendary Batman. However, I have recently come to the conclusion that killing you would only end your agony and silence your shame.’’

 

He attempts to fight back again and gathers his strength to reply to his opponent’s comments, but Bane silences him with a nasty kick in the gut before he can do so.

 

‘’I don't think you quite know who I am. I’m not some scarecrow or a riddler. I’m not a jester or a clown! I’m not a flightless bird nor a cryogenic scientist! And most importantly, i am not some rich guy playing dress-up!’’

 

Bane begins continuously stomping Batman in the face, slowly cracking open his mask more and more with each kick. By the time his cowl has been completely destroyed Batman has been knocked unconscious, having collapsed after all of the attacks.

 

‘’ I AM BANE! AND I WILL BREAK YOU!’’

 

As his goons cheer him on, Bane picks up the defeated body of the Dark Knight and raises it over his head. He slowly spins around like he’s showing a trophy to his friends, reveling as the realization that he has become the one to truly break the Bat begins to set in. Batman regains consciousness, but only just in time to feel himself getting driven down towards the ground as he collides with Bane’s knee.

 

With one nasty snap, he quickly finds his body in anguish as his spine has completely shattered. Bane drops him to the ground and commands his henchmen to take the bombs and go away, taking the broken mask of the Dark Knight with him as a trophy before leaving himself as well. Batman tries to move, but becomes terrified when he notices that he is unable to even move. With this one attack, Bane has paralyzed the Bat.

 

Quite some time passes before someone arrives to pick up the wounded Bruce. He gets taken to the Wayne Building instead of a hospital in order to preserve his secret identity, where he gets hooked up to some medical equipment to keep him alive. As the days pass by, Gotham begins to decay more and more into chaos as the threat of a neutron bomb decimating the city gets closer. Each attempt made by the police force to disarm the explosive has led to nothing, leading to many of the city’s residents deciding to get out while they still can. Despite Bruce being in no state at all to fight back against Bane, he stubbornly refuses to leave the city as he believes his back will he recovered enough before the bomb is set to go off. Along with this he also feels personally responsible for letting this happen and does not want Gotham to fall under his watch.

 

Less than a week is now left before the bomb is set to go off. Bane had taken his bomb to the city centre, where his henchmen are guarding him all day to prevent anyone from interfering with his plan. With no sign of his spine recovering in the slightest, Helena and Barbara are urging Bruce to leave the city with them, as they know nobody else is left to stop him. Barbara is close to converting the damaged Batmobile to an airborne vehicle and tells him it could be fit to get them out of there. However, he does not want to hear any of it and keeps insisting that he can find a solution. In an old scientific report about the Venom drug he read some time ago, he noticed it stating that taking the drug can completely heal severe wounds within moments. With his mind set on this new opportunity to save Gotham he asks Barbara to get him a sample of the substance, hoping this will put him in a position to fight back again. Despite her hesitation she agrees to do so, although she warns him that this is only a short-term solution for a permanent problem for him.

 

When she returns, Bruce has removed the armor from his arms and prepared a new suit to help him control himself while under the effects of the drug. Barbara reluctantly hands him a syringe filled with Venom, but before she does so she tells him that the scientific reports he read left out some important details. It's true that taking Venom can heal severe and permanent injuries in a matter of moments, but the catch is that once the drug’s effects have worn off the injuries will just return, sometimes getting even worse as a result. Bruce tells her he is more than willing to sacrifice himself if it means that he is gonna be able to save Gotham once more as he grabs the syringe out of her hand. Before any of them can react, he slams the needle into his skin and presses the plunger down allowing the substance to enter into his bloodstream. Bruce feels the effects hitting him almost instantly, and before he knows it he finds himself able to stand on his own again. While he struggles to keep himself from succumbing to the drug’s effects he puts on a new suit; an outfit plated with a gold-colored metal and with a reinforced cowl and cape. Ready for battle, he makes his way to the newly designed Batwing to take himself to the city center to face off against Bane.

----------------------

   

The Wager..

 

…..

Prologue

“Sigh, Here goes it then, “he probably is still at that bar” …… I said with a slight hesitation, but with no whine in me voice ( for the record). I then promptly turned away and moved off , wading my way back inside…

……

The tale

Ten minutes later …

 

I finally was able to make an approach up to the long scarred oaken bar, after weaving my way amongst the countless numbers of mingling guests, all dolled up for the evening. So I guess that is why I was not quite successfully keeping my focus on the task at hand that was inadvertently before to me..

 

Finally reaching me destination, I Ordered an old fashion (with rye ) and sat down next to him and said pleasantly.” how is it going Mate?”

 

He had been studying the dance floor, but at my greeting sighed and pulled himself away to look me up an down with a rather suspicious eye.

 

I met his gaze squarely, still smiling, avoiding the impulse to stare at the lit cigarette dangling from his lip. Being a pipe man meself ,I was a wee bit opinioned when it came to sloppy cigarettes smokers, especially those who left the bloody things cheekily in their mouths at all times.

 

“Wotcher” he said, a bit snidely I thought, since I was just trying to be friendly.

“Do I know you Guv?” He quizzically added.

 

“ Sorry.” I admitted, “ Thought you looked like a bloke I knew up Manchester way.”

 

“Not from there am I , guv !” He stated rather dismissively.

 

I ploughed on… “Well, one can’t always be right, can one?”

 

“Just getting a drink” I continued,” I see yours is out, whatcha be having ?”

 

“Highball” he said smartly, and turned back away. For some reason I was not surprised at the blokes drink of choice.

 

He certainly was most interested in the goings on the ballroom dance floor! I caught the Keeps eye and indicated a refill was in order for my new found ‘mate’.

  

By then I had mine and I took a long, gloriously settling, sip. “That’s better” I sighed, a bit too deeply probably, but my new acquaintance, with full attention back on the ballroom dance floor, paid my comments no heed.

  

He hadn’t asked me name, which was fine by me, kept me from having to remember the one I would have had to ‘ave made up. Nor did I care to know this blokes name either, though I was harboring a pretty good guess that it would be a rather recognizable one, either mentopned from the telly or tomorrow’s fish and chip wrappers.

  

But I could see I had lost the chaps attention….

  

“Pretty” I said following his gaze.

  

“What ‘s pretty ?!” he stated sharply, not diverting his watchful eyes.

  

I noticed that they were a bit shifty, his eyes, like a sly, watchful fox, and that they moved with a rapid constancy. Think a young Trevor Howard with Peter Lorre’s eyes, and you have the chap to a T!

  

“The dancers, mate” I said, “this lot is dressed rather elegantly tonight!.”

  

He peeled his eyes off the dancers twirling and swishing about, and turned slowly to me, a bit scornfully , “what did you expect guv, its full dress tonight, that’s why you and I have these monkey suits on, taint it?”

  

“Indeed sir” , I said agreeably with what I hoped was a winningly sincere voice, though down deep, to meself, I felt this prig deserved anything but politeness. Still I carried on, trying to be friendly.

  

“That lass in the green is pretty” I remarked, nodding in a direction by the far corner of the floor to where a rather petite lady with black hair, prettily clad in a shiny bit of a green gown, black glasses owlishly perched on her nose, and displaying a rather nice little set of shimmering emeralds, was dancing with a bird like bloke wearin ,of all things, a scarlet red vest.

  

“Personally, I like the way her emerald jewelry sets off against her gown!”, I added whilst pointed her out…

  

He had gotten his drink, and I noticed he had half drained it in one gulp, and set it down without a kind word, like say, thank you..! He was on his way to a real bender if he kept up with that pace I thought, eyeing the two other, empty glasses, collected at his elbow on the bar top!

  

He had gone back to his eyeing of the ballroom’s inhabitants, I could see his eyes flitting about.

  

“Whasat” he finally said, “The gangly bird dancing with cock robin? Yah,I suppose so.” He snorted at his own remark.

  

Then looking at me for a long second, he continued on.. “Like her jewels do ya than mate?” he said not bothering to hide the snideness in his comment .. “ Meself, Guv, I notice more than a sweetie’s bloody jewels !” He again chuckled dryly at his presumed wit, I did not choose to join in..

  

“Occupational hazard I guess, noticing jewelery .” ,I admitted, choosing not to expound on my drinking partner’s opinion, “I own a small jewelry shoppe on the village green.” “Nothing much, but it pays one’s rent.”

  

That opened him up a bit….

“I guess than a gent like you would prattle on about jewels” “Is that what brings you alone here these evening?” “I aint seen you out dancing with anyone.” There was definitely insinuation behind his words, but, therin, laid a delicate path I dared not explore, lest my incipient plan blew up in my face.

  

I gave no reply, and after the observation was spoken, let him continue on in his dry, sniping tone that I was beginning to realize was his normal manner of speech!

  

“So you just want a bit of a peek at what you sell guv?” “ Me, I just like lookin at the whole bleedin package, iffin you get my drift !!”

  

And giving me a weaselly little grin, he nudged me with his elbow with a mirthless cackling laugh , then turned his attention raptly back onto the thronging occupants of the dance floor..

  

Spotting a possible opening, I delved into the breach. Sink or swim time.

  

“So what do you do when you are not attending these rather posh affairs?” I asked, trying to keep a wedge in our conversation. Even though the answer was pretty obvious from the blighters manner of dress, and baby smooth manicured fingers!

  

“Nuttin” he said through gritted teeth, never diverting his gaze to me, “Don’t hafta work like a regular Git, gets a small allowance from me father don’t I! Not much though, old parental gents are too cheap by half if you ask me, livin in the stone age where moneys concerned!!” He literally spat out the last few words.

  

“Shame” I sympathetically pretended to agree , “but still”, and raisin my glass, said “cheers to being able to keep a roof over one’s head.”

  

We both drained our glasses in salute and I ordered another round.

  

After we were served, my new ‘friend’ , out of the side of his mouth since his eyes were glued back on the ballroom dancers stated wryly, “You like’n them emeralds? Guv ” , and I could see his eyes were again stuck on watching the lady elegantly wearing,( in me own humble opinion), the green satin offset with her brite glittering emeralds. “A bit too mousey for my taste”, He continued, “ole 4 eyes there, still, I wouldn’t say no to admire’in what she has under that shiny dress!” And he let out another little snort at his crude witticism.

  

Crude apparently being a trademark of all this Bloke’s remarks!

  

I choose to ignore his rather rude comment, and went on, trying to remain unruffled by my new friends rather blunt outlook on the fairer sex !

  

“I admire any gemstones that I can sell my dear sir.” I said causally, delicately, “ but there are other things that I will also allow to command my interest.”

  

“ Wjats you on about then?” He asked, reluctantly taking his eyes from the dance floor and placing his attention fully back onto me, as he looked me over like he had just now noticed I was there!.

  

I remembered thinking, yeah ya bleedin prig, two free drinks and not a thank you in sight. Picked a winner here, I did! But when I spoke, my words and manner of speech did not betray any of me thoughts.

  

“Well”, I admitted rather sheepishly, “In my line of work I come across many alerts from the constabulary about ladies who have had jewels come up missing, and asked to keep an open eye out.”

  

He looked suspiciously at me.. “The bobbies ask YOU about it?” he questioned.

  

“No” I admitted, “all jewelers receive the same circulars.” “But you see, the thing that peaks my curiosity at these events is to try and catch one in action!”

  

“Catch one what guv ?” he asked quizzically.

  

“Thief !“ I announced in a ‘everyone one knows’ tone of voice’,..

  

“You see lad, a good many circulars describe how ladies lose a bit of their jewelry at functions like these from time to time. It is assumed that the expensive pieces just had bad clasps, but me, I am not so sure that is the case, for it appears to happen far too frequently in these parts!”

  

“What else would it be guv?” He asked, his sluggish curiosity, finally, peaking !

  

“Well” I said, leaning in to him rather conspiratorially, “ I have come to a conclusion that there is a fraction of thieves out there that are able to lift jewels being worn by ladies, like these being worn here tonight, without being caught in the act! And I attend functions like these on the off chance to see if my thesis is correct.”

  

“Thesis?” my rather cheeky friend asked, not getting the drift. “

  

I sighed inwardly, thinkin entirely to me self that we will be here all evening if I have to explain everything to this most likely privately schooled, but still uneducated Git! I decided to go easy on the verbage with him from now on !

  

“Theory lad, a belief that, say, our lady yonder in the green frock could possibly be parted from her emeralds by one of her dance partners, if the bloke was of the mindset to acquire them in that manner.”

“And since she wouldn’t be suspecting it, said dance partner may have an eye for her necklace, and slip the emeralds away from around her very throat without her even noticing, until he was either long gone, or the emeralds returned to her !” I explained calmly.

  

“ You sayin guv?” “ that that swarmy cock robin bloke dancin with that skrawny 4 eyed bird, may be after her necklace?”

“Rot!” he smirked , taking his eyes off of the couple and onto me , “nigh impossible to do such a thing!”

“Besides”, he continued on, “ If someone was that interested in her jewels, why not just follow her out and do a complete job of it !?”

  

“A lot more risk involved being caught doin it that way Mate, not to mention it being rather obvious that she is being robbed! No, to do it this way a thief could come away scot free with the goods without any suspicions falling upon himself.” I stated in a quite logical tone of voice.

  

“But, a bloke would have to be a rather quick fingered one, like a pickpocket wouldn’t he now?” He questioned, his eyes back on the dancing couple.

  

And have someone to practice on, I thought to meself before answering…

 

“Nay my good sir,” I assured, “I think it could be done by the most common of thieves, I bet even non-thieves like you or I could do it with some success!”

  

“Blimey mate, your still half cracked barmy for even thinking that way!”

  

He sneered, but I saw him take a long, speculative look at the green satin clad lady, being waltzed merrily along the dance floor, completely unawares that she and her nicely shimmering emeralds had become such a rather unscrupulous topic line of speculation!

  

“Ten quid lad!” I said quietly under my breath.

  

“Whots that then mate?” He perked up while addressing me quizzically, “Tenner for what?”

  

“Ten quid Says I could lift that particular lady’s pretty necklace straight away, and not be caught out in the process?”

  

He thought about it for one long minute, finishing his drink in the meantime. “Don’t know guv, Bobbies may frown upon that!”

  

I countered, trying to set the hook in deep, figuring a bit of creative lying would be in good order to ease away his concerns.

  

“Not if I don’t get caught lad, and that necklace is only a cheap imitation. She probably got it out of a cracker jack box ,and being chintzy, she wouldn’t be surprised at the clasp breaking away an it falling as she danced, if sayin she would happen to noticed my amateur attempt, would she now?”

  

I could see he was mulling something over as I spoke, as his limp cigarette was bobbing up and down still clamped in his pursed lips. It was certainly a long time coming together, this blokes imaginary skills!

  

He finally nodded towards the lady in green, happily being swished around the dance floor in all of her innocence bliss, her emeralds making a nice show of it, sparkling on like they were , just crying out to be noticed and admired, which they were, and perhaps soon that sparkling cry would be hushed by an admirer !

  

“Suppose that gangly 4 eyed bird looks gullible enough to try it out on. Probably too shy, so won’t make too much fuss when she catches you trying!” He looked at me. “ And make no mistake bloke , you will be caught… and then I wouldn’t know you from Adam ! Make it two for one guv, and you are on a bet!” He snarked..

  

And like that, the hook was set ! Though, blimey, I had seen carp from the ‘Myths’ finally taking bait with less subtly!!

  

“Capital!” I acknowledged, “I like a good challenge!”

  

I arose, straightening my jacket and tie, and looking at the lady wearing the green gown, I commented, half encouraging to meself, “You are on lad!” And marched myself off to the dance floor.

  

The current song was ending and I caught up with my quarry as she began nicely swishing her way off the dance floor.

  

I had observed she had been dancing with several different partners , making that note after she had first attracted my interest, and saw she was now, once again, alone.

  

Laying fingers gently upon a green satin clad shoulder, I gently touched her from behind. She turned and with a rather fetching demure look ,caste me a pair of questioning hazel coloured eyes. Said eyes were rather enticingly enlarged by being behind the thick lensed black glasses she was wearing.

  

“Care to dance?” I asked, with some earnest, after all ten quid is ten quid!

  

She smiled, laying upon me an aire of innocence that rather took me aback for an instance…,then said sweetly “I am a bit worn out just now sir”

  

My heart dropped down to my feet at that!

  

Seeing my disappointment, then she continued with a perked smile, placing a gloved hand to her throat and playing with the very necklace, one which decidedly, despite my earlier comments, would not have come from a crackerjack box!

  

“I be guess ‘in that I can’t see what harm one more dance could do, would it then ?”

  

She spoke with a rather soft sort of Irish brogue, that was second generation at best, but had me hooked with its lyrical lilt! “Brilliant!” I said with heartfelt meaning, and led her back to the wooden dance floor as the orchestra was getting ready to start playing again.

  

A slow dance started up and I took her in my arms, keeping a discreet, friendly distance between us.

  

We made small talk, though I avoided talking anything about jewelry. Trying to think like a thief, I was figuring in me mind that if the plan was to be carried out with success, I, and my victim, needed to stay well away off the subject of the jewels she was wearing!.

  

I did, however, manage to steal several discreet glances at her necklace, a pretty thing, thin gold chain, set with a single row of emeralds divided by small sparkly chips of diamonds. It had a loose lay around her neck, bouncing easily along their perch, which was just nicely above the girl’s tightly satin clad chest. By the manner in which the necklace was moving about, It should slip off rather easily, if I was to now be judge of such matters!

  

After a few random comments concerning the evening’s doings, I complimented her on her pretty hair.

  

Which it was, pretty I mean, strikingly black, falling softly down to her shoulders where its curled ends swayed with a most delighting motion, not to mention the long emerald earrings that kept peeking in and out as they swung merrily from her hair.

  

I removed my hand from round her waist and lifted a lock with my left hand in emphasis, taking the opened opportunity to study her necklaces clasp, and to re-set my hand upon her rather sensuous feeling back side, gently laying it nonchalantly just below her shoulder. She appeared not to notice the change.

  

She ate it up, giggling with pleasure, flicking her hair back, sending the pair of those lovely ,longish earrings sparkling alongside her enchanting face, the whole effect made even more lively with those eyeglass magnified, doe like wide eyes!

   

She was quite a vexing, most charming thing, my dance partner, and the conversation flowed easily between us. She appeared to be an absolutely sweetly trusting soul, and I, with some slight reservation, made the most of it!

  

My hand twas still rested upon her back, and I slowly allowed it to travel upwards, watching for any sign of skittishness from my dance partner.

  

But she continued on chatting away, accepting smiles from me as silent answers , which was just as well, for my mind was set on other things, and any conversation requiring me too think out an answer would have intruded on my concentration, hampering me on the way of acquiring her necklace, and winning the ten quid wager!

  

Her long satin gown felt like heaven under my fingertips, and I was beginning to become pleasantly mesmerized by the manner in which it fluidly swished and fluttered around us as we danced. I had been waiting for an opening, when I realized that the dance music was in its final chords..

  

I decided I had go for it now! So I forced out a comment about one of the blokes sitting at the bar ( far from my fellow conspirator!), her eyes sought and found the gent out, then she fetchingly giggled in agreement to my observation.

  

Meanwhile my fingers had deftly reached up to the end of the gold chain hanging down from her necklaces clasp.

  

Ever so slowly I had been pulling it down, like one would a lampshade chain, and the whole affair obligingly slithered quite willingly descended on the slick backside of the smooth surface of its’ mistresses conveniently chosen gown, soon placing the clasp in my grasping fingers.

  

At the same time I was watching the necklace with its flickering emeralds and diamonds, from the front, as her head had been turned towards the bar. I noticed how the necklace was moving up, smoothly slithering along the sleek material of her pretty gown, praying it would not catch and draw her attention! The sparkling little beauty behaved, and gave its’ unawares mistress no fair warning!!

  

We twirled around and I led her to a far corner where a group of fake trees were clustered, giving me a bit of haven from the possibility of being seen making my final move!

  

My earlier peek had showed me that I knew the type of her necklaces’ clasp, now wedged in my fingertips, and having worked on many like it, believed this one presented no problem.

  

So it twas, with surprising ease given me nervousness, the out of sight clasp nicely popped opened, leaving one end of the expensive necklace laying over her shoulder, resting like a shimmery snake in the green grass, as it laid out upon her shiny green gown.

  

Then, in quick fashion, timing it perfectly as the song ended, I bought her willingly into a friendly hug thanking her, whilst at the same moment whisked away her necklace from around the high neckline of her satin gown, smooth as sliding a melting ice cube across the surface of a piping hot griddle! It easily slipped off, then fell safely away and was securely stowed away into a tux pocket before we had fully broke apart.

  

Shamelessly I smiled into her eyes. “Thank you luv, that was rather nice of you !” I told her in all sincerity. Removing my left hand from me pocket, and delicately took her green gloved one up to shake!

  

She looked down at our hands for one brief second, and I eyed the quite glaringly empty spot where her rather fine necklace of emeralds and diamonds had until so very recently had been dangling. Could it really be that easy I thought curiously to meself over it , briefly wondering also what would be in a real thief’s mind at successfully reaching this point!

  

She looked back up and smiled winningly at me as I innocently looked into her eyes. I could a bit guiltily tell she was truly clueless as to what had just transpired. She chirped back with her rich Irish brogue…” Pleasure was all mine, to be sure, kind sir, thank ye for the quite lovely dance, but now its time for a restin of weary feet ya know.” She slipped her hand, hesitantly I thought, from mine.

  

And with that she turned and I watched for a rather few elongated seconds as she swished her way off, almost wishing to meself that at the last minute she would notice the necklaces’ absence.

  

And in me mind I imagined be given a second dance as a reward for finding her lost necklace, or perhaps something even better may come of it …!

  

But she didn’t notice and was gone, soon melting in with the crowd on the opposite fringe of the wooden dance floor. And all my imaginings evaporated with her…

  

I found me heart was pounding, and I forced meself to turn away, and head back before any undue attention was given to me, THERE standing there like a loon with the lady’s still warm necklace in me jackets’ pocket! Some thief! We hadn’t even exchanged names, which would have been a quite natural thing to do if one was trying not to appear doing anything out of the ordinary! It’s a wonder she hadn’t noticed and start to wonder… Maybe she was? And I pictured how she had played with the necklace as I had asked her to dance. Blimey, I wasn’t out of the woods yet, was I!.

  

I made me way quickly to my newly made mate at the bar , intending to collect me winnings.

  

“That was easy!” I lied as I regained my seat and took a long sip of me drink, trying to appear calm..

  

“Codswallop” He said unhappily, not bothering to reach for his billfold! “ Knew the twit was gullible, but not that stupid, she never cought on , did she now?”

  

“Apparently not.” I admitted. “ But it does prove true what I was saying earlier, and if a rank armature like me could pull it off, then just think about what a regular thief could do, rather proved me point, don’t it now!”

  

“Its not Cricket guv.” Was his response, and he drained his glass and set it down sharply

  

He singled to the Barkeep by fidgeting with his empty glass, ordering another. Just for himself, apparently buying others a drink was not in this Blokes mindset, as well as paying off his depts.!

  

“Bye the bye, what do you do now with her necklace guv?” He asked accusingly, looking down at his fresh drink. “Or are you one of them thieves…!?”

  

“Not hardly sir, I’ll turn it over to security at the door, found it just laying here on the floor don’tcha know sir…” I mimicked.

  

Then ,with a co-conspirator’s smile, I lied again.. “Like I said me lad, it’s a cheap bit of rhinestones! Otherwise I probably would have been too nervous to accomplish it!”

  

He hesitated, I could see he was stalling about something, and I rather guessed it was over paying out , on the wager he had lost, which I had hinted at!

  

Not surprisingly, he avoided my hint, by asking one of his own..“ You think anyone can do what you just did guv?”

  

“Certainly mate” I said, “Look, she hasn’t even caught on!”

  

We both looked over at the lady in green. She had reappeared, joining a group at the far end, and no one being actually aware of anything amiss, let alone her own innocent self! Though I had to admit that I found the necklace’s absence from around her throat quite a glaring concern… But I remained calm about it ! The longer she took to notice, the less likely she would connect its loss with our dance, I reasoned with meself, almost feeling into the part of a suave jewel thief one see’s acting out on the telly…!

  

Turning to my co-conspirator, I said, half to convince me self, “I tell you lad, women think their jewels are safe whilst being worn. The last thought any of em would suspect is that someone can lift their jewels off and be away..! That’s my theory on how thieves with light fingers could operate on in my humble, uneducated opinion, and manage to get away jewels for keeps, not just to win ten quid on a bet!”.

  

I could tell that something was churning about in my now, quite liquored, friend’s narrow mind.

  

He turned his eyes away from the lady in shiny green gown, .. “Okay guv, You got away with it, but would youn be willing to double your winnings that It could be done again by you, say what?”

  

“Tell you what lad” I said turning the heat up on the situation. “ Lets make it more interesting, raise the ante to fifty on you trying it yourself next, victim of your choosing, and I will double it if you come clean away?!”

  

He picked up his drink, taking thoughtful sips, still studying my face, as his mind continued churning things about… “Actually guv, 100, two to one , that how sure you are I could do it? “

  

I whistled softly under me breath for emphasis, ”That’s about all I have !” I replied, appearing a bit hesitant.

  

“Com’on Guv, a rich jeweler like yourself!” He nudged me again, and let out a snide cackle, the cigarette still dangling from a sneering lip.

  

“Anyting but rich mate, but you are on!” I pulled out my notecase and counted out £ 100 in a pile, letting him see the thick wad of notes remaining ! “ Yours I said, if you dare try and are successful!”

  

And I shook is hand, watching a rather foxy grin spread all over his weasley face ,he openly drooled over the healthy pile of pound notes, his sodden cigarette bouncing up and down quite vigorously in his pursed lips.

  

Not a good poker player, are ye lad I thought to meself, keeping my face in an easy grin that no way betrayed what I was thinking !

  

I continued on..

“Whom do you have in mind?” I asked looking around with a conspirator’s aire?”

  

Soon I spied a rather easy mark of a gangly young lass, admirably wearin a tawny coloured taffeta gown, her tightly worn frock appearing as slick an easy a material to slip away jewelry off of as the green gown my victim was wearing so winningly! And this lass was wearing a simple, longish string of polished pearls, fastened with an uncomplicated hook –in-eye clasp!

  

I nodded his attention over in her direction, drawing his eyes from the money pile! “That fetchin lass over there in brown, one with them pearls, looks to be an easy enough one, dontcha think?”

  

He shook his head no, “ Nah, I think that blokes ‘er husband , and he looks a rather nasty git!” As he said this, his now drooping eyes had sought out and been staring at someone else.

  

“There, that lass in blue near to her!” he smirked, “the one dancing with the prat in white!”

  

I looked over, and acted as if I had just noticed her, though it had been pretty obvious that she was the one my ‘friend’ had had his watchful eye on all evening. I had just wrote it down to a rather jealous infatuation of a stranger .

  

She was a diminutive lass, rather provocatively wearin a short sky brite blue dress of sleeky silk, tightly outlining her not too un eye pleasing figure.

  

She was also openly sporting a nice collection of diamonds!

  

Authentic diamonds consisting, of a rather eye catching bib like, 3 tiered blazingly rippling necklace with matching earrings and bracelet, all glittering and sparkling with priceless prickles of colourful fire as she moved about. She also was wearing a vulgarly large diamond on her pinky, but all her other fingers were bare.

  

I kept mum about her jewels being risky real, and I wished him good luck, whilst appearing somewhat doubtful he could pull it off.

  

Because, for one, mine at least obligingly had her necklace laid entirely along the collar of her gown, but this one in blue had a ruffled scooped collar, her necklace laid out above totally on the bare skin of her throat!

  

Granted the skin glistened with a bit of sweat, which may make it a bit more doable, but mine had been entirely resting upon her green gown, never touching her warm flesh with it’s cooler gems!

  

This one, I wouldn’t have picked her for a first attempt! Not even a second or third attempt. It would take a master thief ( if they actually existed) to lift away that necklace off from a girl dressed as such! And in spite of all my assurances to my drinking mate, he was no master at anything, even sober, the caddish prig..!

  

That money may be as good as mine, if I could pry his hands from it!!

  

But, in the seconds that me mind played this out, he had quickly gotten up and beelined to her, cutting in abruptly and sending her dance partner wearing the unfortunate white tux, scuttling off.

  

Subtly , not! I thought, bull in a china shop that one!

  

I watched with wonder as they danced, the smoke from his limp dangling cigarette blowing hazy smoke into her face, and she scrunched her nose unhappily each time he did so.

  

He made her dance close, and had wrapped one hand, snake like, up and around her bare shoulder, his lips whispering close in her ears. She looked rather like a skittish colt, but surprisingly appeared accepting of her unfortunate fate of a dance partner.

  

But, by Jove, despite all his cheekiness , lack of sophistication and his victims unease, the twit actually started to pull it off!

  

His hand travelled up along her backside until it reached flesh and gruffly trying to pry open her necklaces jeweled clasp.

  

I really don’t know how she never felt it.

  

But, apparently, she didn’t and before one could blink (or wince), he had the jeweled clasp worked opened and had pulled the glittering necklace of diamonds up and over her shoulder!

  

His backside was now to me, and I watched the necklace, like a shimmering waterfall, drip dangling down from his fist behind her, its glittering diamonds back-dropped nicely by the blue coloured slick material of her dress.. Surprisingly, no one else saw it in the seconds before he managed to stow it roughly away in a side jacket pocket !

  

I watched him turn her around in his arms until he was able to make eye contact with me, and I saw him give me quite the ‘thumbs up’ look of triumph.

  

He then abruptly left her ,not even botherin to finish the song even, the twit was that much in haste!

  

And in that haste to make it back to the money pile, pretty much plowed over the green gowned lass, whose purloined necklace was now residing in my pocket! I reached into that pocket and reassuringly felt that necklace with me fingers as I watched.

  

Now, so abrupt was the encounter on the dance floor, that the poor lass’s glasses were knocked off, and she stumbled against him as she bent down to retrieve them.. He pushed her unsteady figure aside, as she looked up to him for unoffered assistance, causing her to fall onto her knees. As others came to her rescue, he walked away without a backwards glance, and came over to me, smirking widely with a pouncy, self-satisfied look upon his ( rather punch able at that point ) smug face.

  

Pay it up lad he said with a rather churlish grin… and I uneasily picked up the thick pile of notes and handed it to him. Than pulling out my notecase, extracted another £ 100 and handed it over also.

  

Apparently, he had all but forgotten the tenner he owed me for my venturous efforts earlier, but I let that sleeping dog lay quiet like.

  

“Nicely done.” old chap I freely lied , “Don’t forget to turn it in, im sure the lady will eventually be a missing that pretty piece.”

  

“No worries guv, she’ll get it back in due course!” and he slapped me on the backside as he gleefully counted my £ 200 worth of pound notes, looking all the world like a crafty cat who had eaten the gilded canary!

  

He was so sure of imself during the whole endeavor that I suppose warning bells should have been going off like gangbusters , but I gave no outward sign, my demeanor remaining icy calm, not an easy trick I will say at that place and time!.

  

I Just causally rose, and shaking his greasy, sweaty palm ( the one not tightly holding me money), lied again by sayin “ Smartly played”, and in turning, Saw that the diminutive lass in blue was gone from the scene, and so also missing appeared to be my lass in green with the thick glasses.

  

“Pity.” , I said to meself, would have liked to have ad a final look over at her, and her fine green clad figure , lit under those dance floor lights one last time…!

  

So, I just continued slinking on me way, walked dispassionately off to the far side of the enormous chamber, losing me self in quick fashion back amongst the throngs of gaily dressed, well liquored, unkowin partiers!

  

I was meaning to leave the premises via a back exit with its patio that led into the hedges surrounding the gardens.

  

As I went , I passed a non-caring security type on me way.

  

I did not bother to shatter his bliss him by stopping to hand over a lady’s emerald necklace and taking the time trying to explain how It happened to be in my possession. So with a nod, I just walked casually by, a bloke with nothing to hide by all outward appearances. That was me..

  

As I went outside, I felt the fresh breeze hit me face, and I breathed it deeply in, finally feeling free of all worries.

  

The end

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Epilogue ( For clarity ) ….

  

I headed directly through the gated opening in the hedges, my final objective was reaching to the far side exit of the lengthy garden that led off to the place where my red touring auto was parked.

  

A bit of a walk, but amongst other things, I always liked my bit of exercise.

  

I made my way, slowing down a tad and admiring the flowers and rather ornate fountains that made up this hedged in, proper little English garden.

  

I had one at home behind the cottage, but nothing on this scale, just a brick path amongst some moss rose and lilies, with a rather ancient wrought iron bench overlooking a small stone built pond in its centre.

  

I found meself automatically reaching for me pipe and pouch, figuring to contemplate with a long smoke as I walked. But immediately though the better of it, time was, after all, still decidedly of the essence.

  

Soon after I reached my objective, an turned to look behind me, no one else was about! I breathed a sigh of relief, it really was over !

  

I turned and exited through the back gate,

  

Suddenly, I was made aware of the sound of a quick swish of something silky, and before I could turn about, a very feminine set of fingers gently grasped my arm. For the briefest parts of a second my mind pictures the young lass in sky blue.

  

“Ta, my love, I’m here!” a soft voice with a lilting accent whispered cheerily behind me.

  

I turned and looked again into those rapturing hazel eyes, prettily magnified by her heavy black glasses.

  

“Ta, here you are indeed !” I enthusiastically agreed, and pulled her up against me, hugging again into her sweet figure, my hands , openly this time, relishing in the splendid feel of her luxuriously soft, shimmery green satin gown, and the warm cuddling figure it encased!!

  

“Apparently, some turd stole me necklace !” she whispered playfully in my ear, “ ‘ere now! By chance would ya know who the jester is laddie?!”

  

We broke apart, and as she stood there facing me with a rather smugly coy look about her, one hand on her chest, the other playing along her gowns barren neckline. I gave her ravishing figure a quick once over before my eyes finally coming to rest once again on the empty neckline of her shiny green coloured gown.

  

“Indeed, I do “ I admitted, patting me tux outer pocket!

  

She gazed at me as I admitted my sin, a rather lusting look I knew, and melted for over oh so many times past.

  

Nice to know that feelings were still strong between us after a five year partnership before being married, and now a full 10 years strongly lost in a wedded bliss. And what a lovely bride she had been… and still is for all that matters….!

  

I think her thoughts were going on about the same lines as mine, and may have led to us being rather a bit naughty right there an then…. But!

  

But, shaking our heads clear, we both peeked back at the empty gardens, then we looked each other directly in the eyes, and chuckling out loud together , proclaimed in unison, “Let’s get going!”

  

We forthwith went to the auto, and I helped her in being seated inside our small red coloured touring convertible.

  

Once she had slithered down, pulled in the loose ends of her long green gown, and nestled into the warm black leather of the seat, I closed her door. I than promptly got in on the right, and fired up the engine into life , and pulled off, leaving the place agreeably, as they say in the olde movies, in our dust..

  

About a mile down the road I looked up in the rear mirror, no one was following, but then, really why should they?

  

“Luv, we may actually have gotten away with this one!” I said cheekily.

  

I turned to my wife and she pulled herself from deep thoughts and smiled winningly, not breaking her gaze from the curving road ahead.

  

Hush lad, don’t go an spoil this luck.” She tenderly chided.

  

Her green gloved hands, which had been clasped upon her gown’s shiny lap , opened a little and I peaked at the wild glistening of the 3 tiered bibbed necklace of quite genuine diamonds that lay nestled in her gloved palms.

  

Whistling, I asked…“I assume that these are from the gents tux pocket ?”

  

“ Quite she said, and a rather easy pick it twas !”, “ Rather a rude ‘un wasn’t he!” She added, straightening her glasses in remembrance..

  

“ Yes, most certaintly, the self-centered wealthy young twit ! I said, then added “Absolutely agree on that subject !!”

  

“It was a good plan!” I continued, “Played out just as you said it would, dearest !”

  

“Happy out!” My wife agreed, “ when you pointed out her diamonds, I knew that the spoiled missey’s necklace was the best take there by far of the jewels stinglingly being worn by any of the other ladies! And Bob’s me uncle if those weren’t her maters anyways!“

  

“ Umm I said , possibly a bit too modern a setting for her mother, maybe a filthy rich admirer behind the curtains, so to speak..?”

  

“Could be luv” she answered studying the brite necklace as it lay piled in her palm, “ but moer’in ah disgustingly rich one than filthy he would be at that !”

  

Me pretty wife went on… “But, of course the fly in the ointment, was missey’s shadowing brother watching her like a hawk from that barstool! The poor thing couldn’t enjoy herself properly, let alone wander off anywhere alone where a person like m’self could be expected to acquire a bit of them jewels in a proper fashion!!”

  

Yes I agreed, and she wasn’t drinking, and didn’t appear to be needin to use a powder room, I sighed, so it was all up to me!”

  

She looked at me, rather meekly.. “So, what better way than to have her brother take them, and obligingly deliver them to us?”

  

“ I know luv…” I replied … “ at first I was against the idea, especially since it placed me in the spot light!” . I gave her a brief glance…”You, after all my lovely one, are the actress in the family !”

  

My wife laid a hand upon my shoulder, with a gentle squeeze… “ I was knowin you could do it luv, and the gambit was well worth its outcome if successful, which so far, it has!” She said, basically apologizing for placing me in such unfamiliar waters…

  

“And it only cost did a mere 200 quid I added triumphantly, for we both knew what the value of those diamonds would mean to the year’s family income!” Letting her also know at the same time there were no hard feelings over anything.. For, as I was to admit to her later in the sanctity of our lovers tryst, it had been rather a fresh spot of thrilling fun!!

  

My wife squeezed my shoulder quite in happy fashion.. “I think we are done for the weekend my luv, perhaps we should head on towards for home now ?“

  

“What about the black tie tomorrow night at the regents’castle then Luv?” I asked half curious, referring to the rest of our plans for the outing. “Could do with a few gems other than diamonds to work with.?

“And I thought you still were a wanting the opportunity to play out the ‘Damsel in Distress’ routine we’ve been working on ?”

 

I stole over a glance as I said this, half hoping I could change her mind and be game for it.

  

She slipped her arm in mine and drawing her sweet self close to me murmuring, purposefully deepening her rich Irish brogue, purrngly said ..”I think we have done a rather good bit of business for this trip laddie!”

 

“Not often we have a big score this early! And its more’in enough laddy of mine, that we can afford to skip over the other things for now? New routines can wait, Dontcha agree wit me now m’ lad?” She ended with a hopeful beckoning sorta look , a winning weapon that most wives are quite adept at using from their wily arsenal of emotional tugs….

  

As me wife looked up into my eyes before continuing , I automatically smiled, never being one to resist that type of bait….

  

“That’s it than, I can see you agree, Darling, On Home to Badger’s Drift it is now!”

“And If you be wanint any more jewels stolen, you can continue to practice on me!” she had leaned up and over, as she whispered cheekily, her lustily breath tickling my ear as a long jeweled earring intentionally was allowed to hit me alongside a cheek.…!!!

  

“ OK, Let’s not press our luck on , correct me fine lass!” I stated in agreement…and , feeling a familiar tingling start down between me legs, responded by letting my foot push the accelerator, causing the purring old engine to rev it up and add a bit of speed to our journey!

  

I stole a glance upon the glistening gems piled up in her lap, as they rested majestically upon thier sleek bed of green. The taunting little darlings !

  

“Some nice dimonded set rings and earrings coming out of that lot, and that’s pure silver they’re setting in if I’m guessin right, when all has been said and done, we should find a right nice little nest egg ,my sweet!” I appraisingly observed.

  

“And a wee diamond bracelet for me efforts, luv?” Asked meekly the sole apple of my eye with a pleasingly euphoric grin… “ I can use it as part of the Damsel in Distress act you are so eager to get on with!” She promised eagerly to seal the deal.

 

I happily nodded my acquiesce.

 

I then heard me wife beside me exhale a long , deep breath while reaching up and pulling down the visor and glanced at herself into the mirror.

 

I than heard her say..” Have a watch for passer byes willa luv?”

 

From the corner of me eye I saw her gently lift up the diamonded necklace and fasten it around her throat, letting it dangle down whilst admiring the rather dazzling, quite eye catching results.

 

In a far off, wistful voice she said, “I guess I do now feel it’s a bit of a waste to have bothered being this dressed up for an evening and not stopping anywhere else?”

  

I felt a sudden rise as I anticipated where her thoughts may be leading upon at the moment “

  

“ Ya know mw love, we are going to be passing that muggy little bar on the wharf, the one we had a stop in on our last excursion, and…” She let her voice trail off, and I knew it was for me to continue.

  

“Care to stop in again for a final drink an our way home ?” I asked hoping I was right on the subject. “ And you can minx the natives with your finery..? Sounds like a plan me dearest!” I added, with a wholehearted voice of agreement

  

“Indeed sir, stop in for a bit of sup, a nip , then you can have a pull at your pipe and tell me how pretty I look!” She said all this whilst still watching the reflection of the diamonds in the newly acquired necklace screaming out their flickering brilliance in the mirror....

  

“A Jewel in the rough indeed you will be in there amongst the rather dicey patrons at the Poet and the Peasant Pub.” I said.

  

Brilliant she said, leaning into me, giving me an eyeful down the front of her rather perked features, now again tightly outlined the green satin gown as she grasped me arm!

  

My eyes also took in the emblazoned diamonds dripping down from her throat , my eyes winced at the brilliant fiery sparkles of the magnificent necklace! From a distance they had stood out exquisitely from around the lass in blue’s throat, but up this close they were almost too bloody dazzling !

  

I knew full well along what lines my wife was half fancifully conniving about deep in her desires… And wearing that squinty necklace out was at the center of them !!

  

I chuckled , knowing we both knew it would be a folly on, oh so many levels, to flaunt about any jewels my wife and I had managed ‘acquiring’ in such devious ways whilst out and about on our occasional jaunts we made into the publics realm for such related purposes..!”

  

But I decided to make sure by saying… “But you know my sweet , best not wear those diamonds…

  

“Righto party pooper!” she teased, “I really wasn’t planning on bragging them about….You recall why dontcha now.!”

  

Breaking away she slipped back into her seat, with a deep sigh of rememberance, before contemplating somberly with a shiver..

  

“But then, ending an evening in me pretty dress by being lured out and waylaid in a back alleyway by those thievin ruffians once in me life was enough, a second time may spoil the currant mood a bit anyhow, not to mention the loss of these pretties you worked so hard for, husband of mine!!”

  

Out of the corner of an eye I had watched her unhappily undo the fiery necklace and place it back into her smooth lap, and then, as she spoke, opening the cars glove case.

  

My wife reached in and popped open a small secret panel in the back. Pulling out a small black velvet pouch, she carefully poured the sparkling necklace inside, then placed the plump pouch back inside the hidden niche, and securely closed the secret panel. I heard her sigh unhappily as she did so….. and knew her mind was heading into a darker corner of past experiences…

  

“Tell you what me luv, how bouts I make a close copy in emerald rhinestone of that necklace and matching earrings, if you wish, and we can add it to your Damsel In Distress props, along with your new bracelet?”

  

“Oh My Good Lord Luv, would you!” she practically shrieked grasping my arm in delight. “ Then once you have ready I will show you some new ideas to the damsel routine I thought off during tonight’s adventure !!”

  

“Capital!” I said grinning , knowing I had made some rather nice pointers with me lass , and it was always a lark working the bugs out of our routines together!

  

Finally Letting go of me arm, she sighed with deep heart felt enjoyment , and nestled blithely back in the leather seat, her gown rustling its song sweetly into my ears. She turned her head smiling mischievously at me, as, reaching down beside her, she brought up her emerald necklace that I had originally held hidden in me pocket.

  

“These will do the trick just as well anyways. “ she said, looking into the mirror with a smirk as she put them back on in the position they had started out the day place there by me.. “ Shouldn’t have married a pickpocket luv, let it be a lesson to ya, she smirked as she adjusted and admired the effect glittering emeralds draped around her neck.

 

Then my wife flipped back up the vanity mirror and turned happily to face me.

  

“So tis agreed all around then! Stopping at the Poet and the Peasant pub for supper and a nipper, than its off home to the Drift we go !“ She exclaimed this merrily, and with that she happily pulled off from their perch, the owlish glasses she had been disguisedly wearing and carelessly flipped them into the back jump seat.

  

Then,reaching up into her hair , undid her matching twin emerald clips (placing them with a smirk into my now empty tux jackets pocket),and pulled off her shoulder length black wig, allowing her longish hair, the natural colour of sunset cerise, to freely cascade down from its long held ,tight bindings of a bun… The wig soon joined in with the discarded glasses.

  

Again exhaling a proper sigh of satisfaction, I heard her promise , while watching the road ahead, “Once home We can then have a proper dance in celebration!”

  

“In the garden I asked hopefully?”

  

“ Yes you turd, in the garden…then ! But I stay fully dressed in me gown, this time right lad!? It’ll still possibly be twilight and passing neighbors may well see me prancing about in nuthin but a slinky whisp of a slip if you had your way !”

  

“Not daylight forever my sweet I said with conviction, and I feel a long dance… and snifter of brandy are in order.…!”

  

“And a bit more practice lifting me necklace, after your rather amateurish attempt tonight You could use it!” she sweetly chided, her hand reaching up and squeezing my arm. “But no worries, with my training I will make a proper thief of you yet luv! Just think of the possibilities…. !”

 

I could tell her mind was going somewhere with and I just waited for it…..

 

She turned towards the passenger’s window, looking out at the passing countryside….

“Remember Luv, later that same frightful night, the blonde tart in the green and black with the randy boyfriend? I sweetly lifted her pretty bracelet, but I still remember how close I twas to that rather decadent pendent she was flaunting about in everyone’s mug that night. What I would have given to ave had the opportunity to take it away with us! But what if you could have ad a dance wit her, with my skills. That necklace would have been peeled off that sully miss’s shiny blouse with no bother atoll!”

  

“I don’t know about that, my lover, after all being a plain shoppe jeweler is quite exciting in itself, wouldn’t you agree!” I wryly retorted, teasingly…..

Than added an afterthought….

“But than again , why should you always be the one havin all the fun my lass!”

“Always the spotter and never the Grooms man probably could make one a bit of a bore “

 

I stole a grinning glance at her, and she turned to face me while playfully sticking out her tongue at me …. “

Words well-spoken my kind, thievin sir !” she then brightly teased, subtly poking me in the ribs, while giving me the most wicked of instigative winks!!

 

“We’ll have you slippin off me necklaces, bracelet , brooches and such in no time, won’t we now.!” She said britley into the mirror . She had retrieved an old camels hair brush from the autos compartment and was working on her longish red hair, bathed as it was caught the sunlight, making things ready.

  

I steadfastly put my eyes fully back on the road. “ I assume you don’t mean just slipping ‘em off while dancing?” I said mysteriously, not bothering at that time to explain the rather interestingly enticing paths of thoughts her statement had thrust in me imagination.”

 

A long ,knowingly enduring sigh, was all I received in form of an answer from my pretty lass , blissfully squirming about in the seat beside me, her long gown whispering its silken murmer!

  

We sped off, soon putting many miles between us and the soon to be quite surprised, rather mangy cigarette slobbering, empty pocketed blighter !

 

The snarky brother to the now strikingly bare necked lass in the blue silk dress , whose extravagant necklace would soon appear on a flyer announcing yet another mysterious vanishing of a ladies jewels!!! ….

  

Good riddance to ‘em, I said under me breath and turning off the main road, drove on down towards the harbor front.

 

Fini….

For now

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Always looking for fresh plots to place my characters in. If an idea comes to mind using this husband and wife team, by all means , drop a line. Or better yet, every permission given to steal them for a story and photo op of your own!

All that is asked is that any efforts be placed in our group to receive proper acknowledgements !

 

 

Photo taken by Herwart Schneider and kindly provided by him for inclusion on this page.

  

München-Riem

August 1983

 

N8416

Boeing 707-323C

20088 / 727

American Trans Air (ATA)

 

N8416 is coming in to land on Riem’s runway 07.

 

Information from flickr - thanks to Paul:

New to American Airlines as N8416 in 1968. To American Trans Air in 1982 then to Boeing in 1984. To Transbrasil as PT-TCN in 1985, leased to AeroBrasil in 1991 then to Beta Cargo as PP-BRR in 1997. Withdrawn from use at Sao Paulo-Guarulhos (GRU) in 2006 and scrapped in 2009.

 

Registration details for this airframe:

www.scramble.nl/database/civil/details/B707_646

 

This airframe as N8416A with American Airlines at SJU in March 1980:

www.airhistory.net/photo/243921/N8416A

 

N8416A with American Trans Air at PHL in April 1983:

www.flickr.com/photos/23032926@N05/5234583032

Bob Garrard’s note concerning the registration: During the early '80s ATA had 8 707s in the fleet, all but one had an "A" suffix on the registration. This should be N8416, but had the "A" applied in error. A photo taken a month later shows it correctly.

 

This airframe as PT-TCN with TransBrasil at GIG in July 1986:

www.flickr.com/photos/150730665@N08/46982409884

 

PT-TCN with AeroBrasil Cargo at SNN in 1993:

www.flickr.com/photos/shanair/39907737003

 

PT-TCN with AeroBrasil Cargo at MIA in November 1994 (later colours):

www.flickr.com/photos/guidojet/51120582787

  

This airframe as PP-BRR with BETA Cargo at POA in April 2001:

cdn.jetphotos.com/full/1/17154_1043432349.jpg

 

PP-BRR with BETA Cargo at Manaus-Eduardo Gomes in March 2006:

www.flickr.com/photos/pslg05896/31622882481

 

PP-BRR with BETA Cargo at GRU in October 2007 (later colours):

www.flickr.com/photos/88821481@N00/1646633111

 

PP-BRR still intact at GRU in December 2011:

cdn.jetphotos.com/full/4/84479_1325726382.jpg

  

Scan from Kodachrome slide.

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The steps of Trinità dei Monti and the "Barcaccia" in Piazza di Spagna which I shot on an early July morning several years ago with only one human presence who unconsciously posed for me! You rarely see it so deserted...

  

#YBS24Urban

 

Nepal - Mahalangur Himal (My Friend´s Photo)

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We will never forget him or the thousands of others murdered in Egypt for their passion for freedom and Justice.

 

On 2 February 2018, about fifty people gathered outside the Egyptian Embassy in London for a vigil to mark the second anniversary of the discovery of the horrificly mutilated corpse of Cambridge university student, Giulio Regeni, at the edge of the Cairo-Alexandria desert road in Egypt.

 

Within hours of the discovery of his body, his family knew that he must have been the victim of the most appalling sustained violence. His corpse was so terribly disfigured that his mother explained he was virtually unrecognisable. She could only identiy him from the tip of his nose.

 

But what was equally striking was the location where the body had been dumped, on one of Egypt's busiest highways close to the watchtowers of a security services base.

 

On 25th January 2016, the fifth anniversary of Egypt's 2011 uprising, a thirty year old Italian national Giulio Regeni disappeared from the streets of Cairo.

 

He was a student of one of Britain's most prestigious universities - Cambridge and was researching the crucial role of trade unions in relation to Egyptian political power and workers' rights.

 

During his research he managed to cultivate contacts with numerous key individuals within several Independent trade unions which the Egyptian government planned to make illegal. He often expressed fear to his friends that he might be detained by Egyptian authorities.

 

It was not until 3 February 2016, nine days after his disappearance, that Regeni's half-naked and battered corpse was found dumped by the roadside. His mother remarked that Giulio's disfigured face carried "all the evils of the world."

 

A senior Egyptian police official, who it was later discovered had a prior criminal record for both torture and murder, announced that Regeni had been the victim of a road traffic accident.

 

However an Italian autopsy indicated that he had been tortured to death over a period of approximately one week and had suffered over 24 bone fractures, multiple stab wounds, numerous cigarette burns and sharp razor cuts and that all his finger and toe nails had been yanked out.

 

On 21 April a Reuters correspondent reported that he had received confirmation of Regeni's arrest and detention by Egyptian security services in January from no fewer than six sources in Egypt's police and intelligence services but Egypt's Interior Minister angrily denied the report as having "no basis in truth."

 

The Regeni case is not an isolated incident - every month dozens of Egyptians, from among those who either dare to criticize the government or dare in anyway not to conform, are forcibly disappeared from their homes or from the streets and many of them either die in detention or eventually appear months later in court charged with offences, such as protesting without a license or spreading false information against the state.

 

Recent estimates put the number of political detainees in Egypt's prisons at approximately 60,000.

 

The Italian government have been infuriated by the lack of any honest attempt by the Egyptian authorities to discover and punish those responsible for Regeni's murder. Although some Italians have been disappointed by the very limited scale of Italian diplomatic and economic reprisals - they have at least gone further than the British government - withdrawing their ambassador in April 2016 for consultations and on 30 June the Italian senate voted to halt aviation supplies for Egyptian military aircraft including F-16s.

 

Meanwhile the British government has done virtually nothing - except issue a brief statement after it was embarrassed into action by an online parliamentary petition - prior to which I'm unaware of any statement on the issue by British diplomats who appear to wish to prioritize profit and trade over human rights.

 

More information about the Regeni case and the human rights crisis in Egypt can be found from

 

The Egypt Solidarity Initiative at

 

egyptsolidarityinitiative.org/

 

and also on Facebook or from Amnesty International at

 

www.amnesty.org.uk/blogs/press-release-me-let-me-go/truth...

 

Update April 2020 -. If anyone is interested in the forgotten history of British imperialism and how it impacted the lives of millions of people around the world including Egypt from the 1700s until today - I've posted over 600 short articles on the following website. roguenation.org/ including the following page where you can select from over 600 pages according to country - roguenation.org/choose-by-country

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Impossible Colour 600 Gen 3.0 test film, Impossible I-1.

Der hohe Gehalt an Ballaststoffen regt die Verdauung an. Himbeeren enthalten viel an Vitaminen der B-Gruppe sowie Vitamin C. Außerdem weisen sie die Mineralstoffe Kalium, Kalzium, Magnesium, Mangan und Eisen auf. Ihre Antioxidantien und Farbstoffe, die Flavonoide, haben gesundheitsfördernde Eigenschaften.

 

╔═.. ☀️ ...................................... ══════╗

Danke für euren Besuch !

Thanks for your visit !

Ευχαριστώ για την επίσκεψη σας !

╚══════ ....................................... ☀️ . ═╝

He's back again. To see him walking down the deer trail towards me was a unforgetable sight. It has been 2 weeks since I last saw him. I think the reason he is back is there are a lot of does ( female deer) hanging around the food plot and he is checking them out for the upcoming breeding season. To be able to take a picture of such a wild animal as this is truly Priceless. If you would like to see more pictures of Broken Ear there is a set called Albino Buck Broken Ear.

For months, this cardinal only showed up when I didn't have my 35 with me. Every time I had my camera, he fltttered about too far away, even for my telephoto lens....as if he knew. Finally, I was sneaky enough to catch him close up!

Him and me - on Portobello Beach. Fairly-early, judging by the length of our shadows

Something a bit different from me this time :)

 

Recently went to a HIM concert in Manchester with my wife, it's more her thing than mine but I don't mind tagging along as it's always an experience.

 

Anyways, along with everyone else, I had my mobile with me to try and capture some shots. As anyone whose tried this knows it's hard work trying to capture a good shot in amongst the crowd with a mobile phone! I think I got a half decent shot here though of the crowd (and silhouette of the lead singer) as the lights went down. That, coupled with the bands logo kind of makes this shit a half decent one, I think :)

Every Day!

Author unknown, 1872

 

"Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before You. Each man's life is but a breath! Selah." Psalm 39:4-5

 

"So teach us to number our days — that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom!" Psalm 90:12

 

You alone, O Lord, can teach to profit — help me to number my days aright!

 

Surely my days are few and fleeting and uncertain! Days past are gone beyond recall — and my future days I cannot number. Let me then this day, and day by day, confide in You — and look to You for the very help and grace I need.

 

Surely it is the highest wisdom to renounce self, to cleave to Christ, and to keep the great end of my being in view — "to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever." This is an object worth living for, and which may well engage all the powers of my mind.

 

Nor let me suppose that it is needful to turn aside from the occupations of my daily life to honor the God of my salvation; for He teaches me that whether I eat or drink, or whatever I do — I may do all to His glory. To this then may I apply my heart, with all diligence and constancy — constrained by the love of Him who gave Himself for me!

 

"Every day I will bless You — and I will praise Your name forever and ever!" Psalm 145:2

Visit this location at !/\/\@gi/\/@riu/\/\ in Second Life

Blake and Sharpe's Apartment, Earlier this week.

 

"Sit down, sit down!" Sharpe said quickly. Chuck entered the room, and tried very hard not to throw up, as Mayo, Rigger and Reardon entered after him. On the floor, were several opened porn magazines, dirty tissues and what looked to be a body pillow. Mayo picked up a Playboy issue from off the floor, and flicked through it casually, eyebrow raised.

 

"I see you've made yourself at home," Chuck said uncertainly, as he took a hand wipe out of his pocket, and mopped down his plastic chair.

 

"No, no, that's all Blake's stuff. Kept it exactly as he left it. Aside from the ladies that is." Sharpe gestured to the plush cushion Reardon was currently perched upon; a particularly plump pillow, identifiable as Power Girl.

 

Chuck and Rigger exchanged worried glances, before turning to face the laptop. "Why'd you bring us out here Chancer?"

 

"Yeah, if you were going to murder us, surely you've had ample time to do so," Reardon nodded.

 

"This!" Chancer grinned, as he opened up a new window on his laptop. "A while ago, Blake and Zodiac propositioned me-"

 

Chuck and Rigger both tried their best to look surprised.

 

"Not like- For a music video. Suppose they wanted my youthful know-how, because I'm under 40."

 

"I'm under 40," Rigger muttered, defeated.

 

"Yesterday," Sharpe continued, "I finished it," he said proudly, now typing something into YouTube. "He didn't leave me with much, and I had to work with what I had, but... What do you think?"

 

"I think, we should be searching for Blake," Chuck mumbled under his breath, as he noticed the thumbnail, and recognition dawned on him. "Oh god."

 

"Yeah, but, I mean- Shut up and watch," Chancer shrugged, as he pressed play, and the rest of the Misfits looked on aghast as an image of looked to be Blake, Zodiac Master and Planet Master in even tighter leotards filled the screen.

 

"Like I said, I was working with really old footage," Sharpe sighed.

 

Zodiac was first up, as he mugged the camera, and grinned feverishly:

 

"You can call me Zodiac Master

I'm something of a finger blaster

Look at my penis, it's an odd shade of blue,

It's a medical condition, but I'm here to woo!"

 

"Woo!" Blake chimed in.

 

"Human Magnet is kinda a prick, (Woo!)

From what I hear, he's a tiny dick (Woo!)

You can ditch him, if you like, (Woo!)

And if you don't, well, you might be a dyke!"

 

"Charming," Reardon muttered.

 

On the screen, all three were now singing, and making uncomfortable gestures with the instruments.

 

"(Woo!) God bless the pussy patrol.

 

(Woo!) God bless the pussy patrol

 

(Woo!) God bless the pussy patrol

 

God bless me, and the pussy patrol."

 

"Well, at least they've got a chorus?" Rigger said, somewhat optimistically, which faded as soon as Planet Master took his shirt off, and placed it atop his helmet like a hat.

 

"Woo! You can call me Norbet- Irving

How about another serving?

I love planets, my favourite's famous.

Let me just say it, I love Uranus."

 

"Innuendo, innuendo f-word

Innuendo innuendo f-word

Innuendo innuendo f-word"

 

"Call up the pussy patrol"

 

"Innuendo, innuendo f-word

Innuendo innuendo f-word

Innuendo innuendo f-word"

 

"That's why we're the pussy patrol!"

 

"Call me TB, cause I'm diseased

But that's just a metaphor, I aim to please

I'd drop the N-word, if I had the pass

But Rigga said no, and I've far too much class."

 

Chuck sighed. "That's enough."

 

Mayo looked up. "That was it?"

 

Chuck rubbed his eyes. "Well, he repeats "God bless the pussy patrol" about ten more times, and does a six minute air guitar solo, but yeah. Pretty much"

 

Chancer paused the video and turns to the group expectantly. "Pretty cool right?"

 

Reardon bows his head shamefully. "I wish I were deaf too," he muttered, defeated. "This was before the cat demon, right?"

 

"Yeah?"

 

...

 

"Then, remind me. Why do we want to save him?"

 

~

 

Slabside Penitentiary. Now.

 

As Bruce entered the prison, he passed a pair of guards being carried away on gurneys. On the ground, two paramedics were performing CPR on another officer. As he wandered down the hallway, he came to a stop at Dent's cell, and nodded, before continuing on his way.

 

"Batman," a deep voice snarled. In the adjacent cell, a man, nearly seven foot tall, was pacing around his room. Resting on his bed, a small, stuffed bear. Osito.

 

"I hear Kuttler made an appeal. Claiming that he was "strongarmed," into joining our crusade. Threatened, by us. Said that he was... instrumental in defusing our weapon. Coward... You will find I am no such fool. I am proud of what we accomplished."

 

Bruce turned to face him, and scowled. "Bane."

 

"You know, Batman, imprisoning me was the worst thing you could've done. I was forged in Peña Duro. These inmates will bend to my will just as they did, and when I'm free, I will break you," Bane smiled.

 

"I'm not here to see you," Bruce remarked, as he continued walking.

 

~

 

Butchinsky's

 

As Chuck, Reardon and Rigger enter the bar, a short, red and black suited man walks past them, his head held down. As he turns around, his eyes flash in recognition for a second, before shaking his head, and walking off into the toilets.

"Ant Man?" Chuck calls out after him, but he gets no reply. He shrugs, and continues into the main bar.

 

"Corner booth," Fiasco nods, as he gestures to the hooded figure now slurping from a wine glass. "He's been waiting for you."

 

"Hellhound, I presume?" Chuck asks, as he slides into the booth beside him. The man nods.

 

"There are few things the colour of red wine. This, is not red wine," he whispers hoarsely, as he took another sip.

 

"Creepy..." Rigger mused.

 

"It's Ribena," the man smiles, as he rests the glass to one side.

 

"Oh."

 

"Yeah," Hellhound nodded, clearly amused. "I emptied a carton in there before you arrived. Brought it from home."

 

"Yes, thank you for the income," Fiasco spat.

 

"Electro's shrinking furniture again," Rigger noted, as he pointed at a blue skinned man in the far corner, currently firing a ray gun at a barstool. Fiasco nodded, then cocked his shotgun.

 

"It's for my Dollhou- I mean, my plans of world domination!" Electro cackled mischievously, as he took the wooden stool, and ran out the door.

 

"Oh wow, you don't hear many good evil laughs these days," Hellhound mused, as he took another swig of Ribena.

 

"Honestly, I felt it was a little tacked on," Rigger shrugged. "Where's Sharpe anyway?" he asked the assembly. "Thought he was looking forward to this."

 

"He was." Reardon paused. "He said he had a... meeting with his grandfather. Which suits me fine- I don't want to spend another second around those rubber dolls."

 

"Body Pillows," Rigger corrected him.

 

...

 

"I just think we should make a distinction."

 

~

 

Gotham Waterworks. Headquarters of the Injustice Society

 

"This, gentlemen, is my nephew," their leader, a short, round man drawled, a gloved hand placed on Sharpe's shoulder

 

"Grandson-" Chancer began, as he looked at the assembly awkwardly. One of them, a hooded, reptilian figure hadn't taken it's eyes off of him since he'd arrived. Nor, by Sharpe's estimation, had it blinked.

 

"Let's not say the G-word, Montgomery, you'll make me look old," Gambler chuckled, as his grip tightened.

 

Chancer frowned. "You are old. You named me Montgomery," before turning back to the hooded creature, as though he were worried that it might strike at any moment.

 

Beneath it's hood, red reptilian eyes gleamed. And then it spoke, it's voice a calm, raspy and yet somewhat elegant sound.

 

"Tell me Montgomery, do you like muffins?" it asked, arms crossed.

 

Chancer paused. "I- Yeah, sure."

 

With the snap of his finger, a red robed figure appeared, and lay a still hot tray down in front of them. "Happy homecoming," the Dragon King rasped. "They're chocolate chip."

 

~

 

The Batcave

 

"Welcome home, Master Bruce, I trust last night's investigation proved fruitful?" Alfred asked, as Bruce stepped out of the Batwing, and marched over to the Batcomputer.

 

"In a sense. Prep the batcycle, I'm going out on patrol," he muttered.

 

"Shall I fetch Master Damian?" Alfred queried, as he rested a platter of sandwiches by his side.

 

Bruce shook his head. "No. No, I can do this alone."

 

"As you keep insisting. But, I must at least ask you to consider an early night in. After a long journey-"

 

"After a long journey, who knows what trouble's sprung up in my absence," Bruce replied, as he filed a report onto the computer.

 

"You know, it's not your fault. What happened to Mr Walker, while tragic, is-"

 

Bruce raised a tired hand. "Alfred... Please. Just give me an update on Gotham's most wanted."

 

"At once sir," Alfred replied, as he brought up a series of police reports onto the screen. "Here's something new, Reuben Pharmaceuticals was just robbed. Witnesses say that the door was ripped off it's hinges; guards were incapacitated by a flash of white light, and when the air cleared, the thief, and the chemicals were gone."

 

"What did they steal?" Bruce grimaced, as he lowered his cowl.

 

"One moment... Ten drums of... That can't be right. Rohypnol."

 

Bruce rose to his feet suddenly, and scowled. "Alfred, warn Selina. Karl Kyle's back in Gotham."

 

~

 

Butchinsky's

 

Chuck turned back to Hellhound. "We were told by a... friend of ours, that you're something of an expert in the occult."

 

"You could say that," Hellhound nodded.

 

"Well, recently, another friend of ours, was infected. By a sex demon."

 

Hellhound raised an eyebrow. "The Incubus..."

 

"It calls itself the King of Cats, we've had a few run-ins with it before, but..."

 

"But it's an immortal sex demon," Rigger interjected.

 

Chuck nodded. "Can you help us?"

 

Hellhound scratched his forehead, licked his lips and rose to his feet. "Of course I can," he said, as he placed his hand on the doorknob. "Oh," he paused. "Who did you say recommended me?"

 

Reardon frowned; Rigger looked at Chuck hesitantly.

 

"Paul Dekker."

 

Hellhound chuckled. "Paul Dekker... Good man, great kisser. Come on, gents, let's get this sexorcism started."

One of my plans for 2011 was to touch on the subject of humans. Drawing humans isn't something I have done a lot of in 2010. This is half a human. A start ... and I'm much more comfortable doing it this way! I do believe we all look like animals and in fact are we not animals anyway? Do you think you look/have the characteristics of an animal?

 

This is ::HIM:: The one I love!

Facebook l tumblr l kidkutsmedia.de l Instagram

St. Gregory Roman Catholic Church. Crown Heights, Brooklyn

Keep him away from the buffet unless you want to know what a quiche tornado looks like.

him noticing me noticing him.... ooops!

During a thunderstorm I found this little toad on the edge of a road, so I gave him a ride to cross it. He seemed to appreciate it!

 

P.s. That's my left hand: he's exactly on the proximal phalanx of the little finger. Extremely little, extremely cute toad.

 

Bufo bufo. #WhyDidTheToadCrossTheRoad

 

Rospetto trovato sul ciglio di una strada durante un temporale: in foto si trova esattamente sulla prima falange del mio mignolo, giusto per dare un'idea delle dimensioni!

Sarebbe potuto stare abbondantemente largo anche appoggiato su una moneta da 1€.

 

If you're interested in some of my photos for your website or a print:

I'm an iStock by Getty Images and Fotolia contributor: visit my Portfolio.

 

Endangered Species International:

"WHY CARE FOR AMPHIBIANS?"

 

Amphibians are one of the main links in many ecosystem food webs. Often unseen, they can be quite abundant in some habitats. In temperate and tropical regions, amphibian can exceed all other terrestrial vertebrates such as birds, mammals, and reptiles. Amphibians including their larvae are important predators of invertebrates. Removal of amphibians from particular habitat can have drastic consequence by increasing insect populations. Through metamorphosis, many species of frogs and salamanders are a link of transfer of nutrient from aquatic systems to terrestrial ones. Therefore, removing amphibians from a particular habitat can affect drastically algae communities, invertebrate populations, predator dynamics, leaf litter decompositions, and nutrient cycling.

 

Preserving amphibian diversity is an important component for living in a healthy environment.

 

www.endangeredspeciesinternational.org/amphibians6.html

 

"WHAT CAN YOU DO TO SAVE AMPHIBIANS?": www.endangeredspeciesinternational.org/amphibians7.html

 

WORLD'S AMPHIBIANS UNDER THREAT:

 

Earth is facing its largest mass extinction since the disappearance of the dinosaurs, with up to half of the world's 6,000 amphibian species in danger of extinction, conservationists warn.

 

Amphibians (frogs and toads, newts, caecilians and salamanders) are being affected by habitat loss, climate change, pollution, pesticides and introduced species, but face an even bigger threat from a deadly parasitic fungus known as amphibian chytrid.

 

"The world's most endangered frogs": www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2008/jan/09/conse...

 

EUROPE'S AMPHIBIANS AT RISK:

 

More than half of all frogs, toads and newts living in Europe could be driven to extinction within 40 years, scientists have warned. Climate change, disease and habitat destruction are taking their toll, with research showing that more than 40 species could become extinct by 2050.

 

The majority of the most threatened species live in Mediterranean regions, which are expected to become warmer and drier. Island species, such as this Mallorcan midwife toad, are especially at risk because they are unable to move to cooler climates.

 

Researchers described the bleak outlook for Europe's amphibians at a meeting of the Zoological Society of London last night. Sir David Attenborough, who was due to attend the symposium, said: "Amphibians are the lifeblood of many environments, playing key roles in the function of ecosystems, and it is both extraordinary and terrifying that in just a few decades the world could lose half of all these species."

 

www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/sep/26/wildlife.cons...

 

www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2008/sep/26/conse...

 

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Using my photos without my permission is illegal. All material may not be reproduced, copied, edited, published, transmitted or uploaded in any way.

 

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Photo taken by Herwart Schneider and kindly provided by him for inclusion on this page.

  

München-Riem

June 1975

 

TC-61

Lockheed C-130E Hercules

382-4308

Fuerza Aérea Argentina, I Brigada Aérea

 

TC-61 is parked in front ot the viewing terrace in the rain. Reported at Riem on 10 June 1975, probably the precise date of this shot. Other Argentine Air Force C-130Hs noted at Riem were TC-65 (July 1974) and TC-66 (2 October 1975 and 4 December 1975).

 

Delivered to Argentina Air Force in November 1968, this was the first Hercules to land at Marambio Air Base on Seymour Island, Antarctica on 11 April 1970. Still going strong more than half a century later, after an extensive update carried out in the late 2010s by Fabrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA) at Cordoba - Capitan Omar Gelardi (FMA / SACA) . (Source: Robert Domandl on airliners.net)

 

TC-61 with Fuerza Aérea Argentina at El Palomar (PAL / SADP) in May 2014:

imgproc.airliners.net/photos/airliners/6/1/0/2447016.jpg

 

TC-61 with Fuerza Aérea Argentina at FMA in July 2021:

imgproc.airliners.net/photos/airliners/7/1/7/6565717.jpg

  

Scan from Kodachrome slide.

January 2020:

 

It’s nearly been a year since the dimensional encounter. Now that I’ve rejoined the Flickr Fighters under various circumstances, there has been the imminent threat I’ve been facing personally:

 

Salient. The same man I was but from another dimension, much more cruel, evil and tainted. I’ve had encounters with him since then.

 

Which leads me to think that I need to strengthen my team—the black ops, which I formed in the last half of 2019, June, precisely, but it never really got any team building since I was still on long vacation till Phorus and the actual Dr Gravestein showed up.

 

Doc: “1 missed call from Jacky. You’ve got a shipment to deliver from Anchorage.”

Multi: “Hold up on that one. Tell him to send it right now—the anti-contagion samples should be here.”

Doc: “I’m at John Hopkins. My research team is available anytime. We’re going to work on the cure for the homeless in no time. Get some break, John. Some sunshine.”

Multi: “I’m worn out from the mission. I need to head back to Advent City in two days.”

Doc: “I can’t accompany you. Ask Viva. She’s your designated AI. And remember to feed the dog. I left some food a week ago.”

Multi: “Alright, thanks man.”

Doc: “I gotta hang up now. You do you. Always welcome.”

 

I sigh, staring at the ceiling after doing my quick morning workout. Life is surely busy since the formation, and since my relocation to Baltimore. Doc got a nice transfer so I guess he’s got an official job for now.

 

My company split, but I still retained some of the employees, as we built a new one again here. Thankfully going to Advent City doesn’t require that long because I’ve got the teleporters working.

 

I wake up two days later, laying on my couch after a hard night’s work, and hanging out with my dog, Sonny and my AI, Viva.

 

Doc: Jon, with the last shipment we’ll be able to help out the last batch of people. Corona is in effect and this is worse than it’s supposed to be. I have no idea how you’re gonna we’re all gonna get through this though…

Multi: “Only one can hope.”

 

***

 

Late April, 2020:

 

Three months later, I’ve been caught up with the third season of Westworld. Our work doesn’t stop like giving cures. Bailey, Doc’s 8 year old niece, was left in my care as I was her godfather. Her mother is a technician, and her job often required last shifts like her brother. Since I was available when needed, I went over to her house for the day.

 

Bailey: Uncle Jon! Can I play with Sonny and video games?

Multi: “Have you finished your work yet?”

Bailey: “Yes!”

Multi: “Okay good, I’m almost done making dinner, you can play if you want.”

 

She starts up her PS4 as I bring the food and chips near the desk. We sit down on the floor as Viva, my AI computer, helps prepare with Sonny’s food.

 

Multi: “What are we playing today? A Lego game?”

Bailey: “Yeah, the complete saga. It’s my favourite!”

Multi: “I knew you liked superhero stuff. Same like me, we’re nerds but your uncle isn’t.”

Bailey: “He doesn’t like it, I know he has powers like you…but what about me?”

Multi: “Have you talked to your mom about it?”

Bailey: “Nah, she’d kill me if she finds out…the girls at school think I’m a weirdo anyways...I don’t have much friends.”

Multi: “Well that’s fair, I don’t have much as well but you gotta take steps to becoming a superhero, right?”

Bailey: “Yup. Uncle Jon, the food was pretty good, are you gonna play as Lando?”

Multi: “Yeah sure I’ll be Lando, but just play around first—I’ll be doing some dishes.”

 

Suddenly my comm rings as the screen shows a live feed of an explosion.

 

Multi: “Viva, take care of Bailey and everything else. There’s a villain in town.”

Viva: “Yes sir, that is noted.”

Bailey: “Stay safe, uncle Jon.”

Multi: “I will.”

 

I get through the backdoor and suit up as quick as possible, before jumping on a nearby roof. My watch scans for evidence, realizing Faceglass is in town for..a rematch?

 

He stands by a gas station, using his shards to blow it up and causing a big fire. I notify Doc about the situation as well as her mother to keep it handy.

 

Multi: “Dodds, you’re really slobbering on your appetizer like that? Why are you even here anyways?”

Faceglass: “Revenge, of course. I just took town a construction building, just for the sake of trying to get approved.”

Multi: “Oh well, that’s your etiquette anyways. I like the makeup though. Looks good on you.”

Faceglass: “I…shut up, Sharp!”

 

He hates the mockery about his face, that’s why. From the facial surgery to our battles, it’s quite never-ending. He came close to injuring me once when he used sand to pierce my body, and that did hella hurt.

 

But he can’t be here for revenge. It’s either for a bank robbery, whatever his narcissistic goals take him, or Salient’s plans. I guess I do need to ask him.

 

Multi: “C’mon Dodds, just explain to me why we’re doing this pointless exchange of glass and energy.”

Faceglass: “Plain old revenge. You know me.”

Multi: “I’m sorry is that every line you use in your job interviews?”

Faceglass: “I…no, no no! Of course not. I go after for handsome people like you, because stalking’s in my blood. Thos workers didn’t agree with my face.”

Multi: “Not the most plausible excuse, honestly. You’ve forgotten the therapy sessions we did a lot together as buddies…”

Faceglass: “I’m after a person who isn’t you, okay?! Not your face, it’s your friend!”

Multi: “The doctor?”

 

He launches a barrel of shards towards me as I generate an energy shield, managing to hold it off as turn invisible, unleashing my left hand’s energy punch and slams him across the road. A woman closely stands but I nod to her scared face as she runs away.

 

Amidst the flames, I walk towards his unconscious body. He seems to be knocked out from the effort but I realize a body emerging. I grab my gun from my pocket, only to see Doc kneeling over Dodds, his eyes in grey as he places his palm on his face.

 

What is even going on?

 

Multi: “Doc? What the heck are you even doing here?”

Doc: “I teleported all the way across. Rene’s back home now, so thanks for that.”

Multi: “How’d you do that anyways?”

Doc: “What do you mean?”

Multi: “Your eyes were white…it’s like you were draining him. Normally you don’t have that power and often you use gadgets or your physician skills.”

Doc: “No idea, Jon. I didn’t drain him like Rogue did, I just touched his face and he knocked out.”

Multi: “The heck?”

Doc: “We’ll talk about this when we get home. I’ve called the authorities…”

 

**Flickr Fighters base, Advent City, New York, 12:16: P.M**

 

Viva: “Sir, it shows no vital signs of Doc’s abilities have gone haywire. Though now it has turned his right arm permanently gray.”

Multi: “Right. I think we should contact Ethereal, no?”

Viva: “That would be a good idea. Perhaps, some meditation first?”

Multi: “In a bit.”

 

I walk down the aisles of the FF’s halls, with Doc behind me.

 

Recur: “Mr Sharp! You’re back! I hope quarantine has been treating you well.”

Flex: “Welcome home again!”

Rift: “We’re glad to see you here again, Multi. And Doc as well.”

 

I am surrounded with questions and greetings as my teammates from the black ops and the main group follow me around, which until it gets to lunchtime, I hang around at the cafeteria until deciding to attend to some…recent matters.

 

Viva says he’s been having an intake of food, so that’s good. Doc’s been experimenting on himself in the labs right after we landed, so I’d be checking on him.

 

Multi: “What’s up with you having those powers anyway?”

Doc: “I don’t know, I did my own self-diagnosis…it’s been going on for weeks.”

Multi: “And you haven’t bothered to tell me while we’re saving the world? Not even to Rene? Or Bailey?”

Doc: “I know my niece is developing something, my sister doesn’t…I thought I hadn’t been in line of passing powers on like her father.”

Multi: “Isn’t he dead? What about your parents?”

Doc: “I did a DNA sweep, there’s no genes in them. I asked Bailey to give a blood sample willingly to test for it. I don’t even know what’s that power but if I had a latent jumpstart, that’s what I’m doing.”

Multi: “So you hide these secrets behind me? I’m not taking credit alone for apprehending Dodds, but your power is unstable, we don’t know. It just looked like you took his life.”

Doc: “I didn’t mean to, okay? Jon, give me a break, I’m working on it, alright? Don’t worry…”

 

***

 

I sigh as I leave the hall and go to my room to meditate. Another session with the energy realm. Ethereal says that Doc’s power was also unknown to her as she couldn’t detect it. She says it might be a healing power, even if I could try to sense his, it won’t work because it’s a different set.

 

Half an hour later I receive a new alert for a mission again, in Prague. Bummer. I run to the assembly hall for the briefing. LC says it’s a black ops thing, so I assemble Sapphire, Rong0, Mystery and Milan for the mission. Doc’s staying out so I ask Viva to keep an eye on him, as well as LC.

 

Multi: “I hope he’s staying safe though, just don’t go building extra security cameras around, Ben.”

LC: “I value everyone’s privacy, of course. But yeah, I’ll let you know if Viva and I find anything.”

Multi: “Alright, see you later.”

 

(To be continued…..)

  

(This issue is also partially dedicated to me and my godmother’s favourite Pomeranian, Sonny, who passed away a month ago on the 10th.)