All Out War (November 1, 2016)

[Veranda Girl]

It was good to know that Helena wasn't the only new kid on the block to be interrogated. Batman's allies seemed a lot more intimidating than she imagined, that of those who ran around in the dark in bright reds, greens, and yellows. The boy was awfully grim and dim, much like how she imagined the protector of Gotham himself. Mad at the world all of the time. Had to be to deal out that much damage. She's seen first hand what being on the opposite end of Batman's fist must look like. When the assassins arrived Huntress readied her crossbow in retaliation and kept it there while they spoke their foreign gibberish, none of which she could follow and that was likely on purpose. "Can we get a translation please for the people that speak english?!" Her crossbow rattled some when waved while she raved to the two having their 'private' conversation in front of a massive meet up of highly trained, highly skilled assassins, a mecha cop, the new girl, and a wounded edgier vigilante. Perfect time to alienate everyone and it only got worse. "Oh, come on! I thought we were supposed to stick together." Helena yelled over the sirens when Robin looked back onto them...with a bit of disgust if she saw that right. "Typical kid. Can't keep them in one place for long. I'm guessing you'll be waiting for your boys in blue to come clear this place up and haul away our new friend? I, like Robin, don't intend on staying. Black Mask is still out there divvying up the city like a pie. Not that you don't know that..Unless you have a plan, I'll be on my way."  

[Nocturnal Vigilante]

The armored suit's defenses kicked into gear as all weapons were aimed towards the dark as a mysterious woman stepped out of the shadows. "Not much help to you there. No one must've thought to add that in this machine." The longer they talked their mumbo jumbo made Gordon more and more antsy. Was it friendly? Were they in good hands? He thought all was well until the child was ever so ready to up and abandon the unlikely duo, or trio for that matter in favor of his familiar. "You should see how Batman makes his exits." The commissioner commented as Robin sprung into the air via grappling hook. He was a hard kid to hold down from what he had seen being in his presence when Batman introduced the latest edition to the Robin mantle. Didn't surprise him in the slightest considering for his age, he was rather independent. A good trait to have for someone so young fighting deranged lunatics like Bane and Sionis.

A handful of green, fresh cops burst through the doors of the building only to find a mess of situation that also included an armored police commissioner, Huntress, and an injured vigilante. "GCPD, hands in the air! All of you." One of the officers shouted. It garnered a chuckle of out of James who knew what being new on the force really sounded like. The entire suit opened down the middle and allowed Gordon to step out and show that he, along with Huntress given permission, were on their side. "Stand down. All of you. Other than our new guy over there, there isn't much to report on. Someone get him back to the station along with some medical attention, as soon as possible." Two of the copies hurried over after holstering their guns to bring Azrarel into a squad car outside of the building while others took to patrolling the area for any straggler members of the crime organizations. "A long time ago, I hunted Batman down because I thought that going against the law was wrong across the board. Nowadays, I hate to admit it, but the GCPD isn't enough. You all are a necessity to this city and have helped more than you've hurt it. You don't have to worry about the secret identity thing. I can respect that and I'm sure they all can. With our numbers so divided against them all, we're going to need the right amount of strength to take back our city." Whether she was going to accept it or not, Gordon saddled up back into the suit and directed what was left of the cops remaining in the building before preparing to leave out accordingly.  

[Veranda Girl]

To tell you the truth, Huntress was starting to get pretty annoyed by all of the surprise reveals. From assassins to police, they were really going to stop or else arrows were going to start flying. Begrudgingly, Huntress tossed her hands up just as the police had said to do. Really she was waiting for Gordon to give the all clear so they wouldn't point those things in her general direction anymore. As if the last night served as any proof, the caped crusaders were not the enemy. Just as she had anticipated the Commissioner not only ordered them to lower their weapons, stepped out of the suit, but he got them to wrangle up the scarier looking fellow. He looked and sounded too injured to really interject. It would probably do him more good to comply and seek that medical assistance. "So long as we can agree on that." Huntress nodded confirming the deal to keep her secret identity under wraps. She assumed that meant no prying into her personal life to get any details. From anyone. With all the talk of sticking together, it didn't look to bother him much leaving her behind while his desperately small group of police headed back out in haste.

The handful of police left working in the precinct all settled in and found their place at their desks, recuperating from the night they were having and the nights they would continue to have. That was if they didn't stop Black Mask soon. Huntress sat in the Commissioner's office per his request and she didn't mind at all. All the wandering eyes that glanced up and down at her figure made her want to turn her staff on each and every one of them but she had the patience and self control to know when to just stay away. Her fingers clicked at a remote on the television set in the room. Every channel she swiped through kept consistent updates on the tragedy that spanned over the last few days. All of the developments with some more shocking than others. In Helena's lifetime, Gotham was never a shining ray of hope but anything would be better than what they were doing to right now. "We could really use a lucky break right about now." She sighed and smoothed out her soft black hair and sat in the dark once the television was turned off. Did Batman really abandon them all to this madness?  

[Talia Demon]

Setting her cup down as she watched Dr. Crane pace the floor before the balcony. As he expressed his feelings on a particular subject he had on mind. She could see the lust in his eyes, a bonafide personal desire. To gain someone who was in her possession. A person of value to many. This person was the door, lock and key all tied together like one happy package. So many people wanted a piece of this pie, but she would only allow so many to have a tasting at a price. "--Perhaps, if I may be so bold, there is something you have that I have wanted for far... Far too long...."
Waiting in anticipation to hear the name spill out past his lips, eagerly. "The Joker. He has a fascinating resistance to my toxin. If I were to have him as one of these promised... specimens... then the potential of my findings..." There was a part of her that really wanted the doctor to beg for the simple tasting. But knew if she had done as such, their business arrangement as partners would have fallen through. Leaning forwards, as a smile crept up along her thin painted lips.

"Done. On one condition... I get to be there. To observe first hand, all that he will endure. To witness what it will be like for the clown to be under the knife for a change." Talia's words were bound in the deal she had made with the doctor. Knowing that he was very observant that there was no backing out. Extending out her hand for Dr. Crane to take. The handshake would seal their deal. "I'll have the gentlemen who brought you here, take you to your desired location to set up shop. You will have all the medical equipment you need as well as toxins... forgive me I mean medicine to administer to your patients. And as promised, you will have the Joker delivered to you in a timely manner. I look forward to hearing from you soon, Dr. Crane." Providing the gentleman a polite nod of her head, as the men who had brought the doctor earlier appeared once more to escort him back to the car and take him to his destination.

star orphan

 

[Sonic Cry]

Nyssa was already right behind Damian when he departed the location. Prior to following, she had cued the others as the league of assassins blended in quite well with the scenery. The lone bowman who had his arrow once trained on Azrael had vanished into the darkness as if he was never there. Nyssa landed beside where he stood when she heard him inquire, "I assume you have some sort of transportation or are we travelling by foot?" Providing a short nod towards Damian, as she reached into her pocket removing a slender geode disc. As soon as the geode disc was removed a beam of light shot down from the skies targeting the object as cue for the two of them to be retrieved. A stealth helicopter appeared out of no where. No sound was made from this helicopter; this type of helicopter incorporated stealth technology to avoid detection. Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, was heavily modified for quieter operations and employing stealth technology to be less visible to radar. The door slid open as the helicopter leveled off near where Damian and Nyssa stood. Pocketing the geode, Nyssa gestured for Damian to join her as she moved quickly to get on board. This would be the safest route for them to depart this location presently, as well as allow them to reach their next destination in haste.

Erik Killmonger

 

[Nocturnal Vigilante]

Just as he had done the night Ra's' assassins attacked Gotham, Gordon overlooked the bullpen in which all of the rookie officers scrambled for something to keep busy. They tapped their foots against the hard floor nervously, their pens against the desks, and they looked uncomfortable and unnerved in every sense of the word. This was all they had left of the force they had this side of Gotham? Pitiful but he couldn't deny their bravery for even wearing the badge at all. That alone was enough to get them put down in this city. He felt as though he needed to rally them in some way, although what good would that have done considering he did the exact same thing the other night with his most trusted officers and now most of them are either missing or worse. He grazed his hand over his facial hair in contemplation trying to determine his next best move. Their mystery fellow was still just that: a mystery. He wouldn't say a word to Robin, but perhaps he might with someone who was a little less forward, or just as forward rather but in the right manner.

"Come on, you hunk of scrap metal." Gordon waved the mech suit standing idle and stationary behind him. It followed his commands like puppy learning to take directions, almost like it had some life to it but that just goes to show how advanced the tech is around that cave of Batman's. He always thought it was funny that he kept it all to himself. Never supplying the official law enforcement with any of the tools he uses in his private arsenal. Sure would make things a helluva lot easier, the suit was the proof. Gordon walked through door frames and halls while the suit squeezed it's way through areas that were far too small for it's frame. Wasn't much point in keeping it in tact anyhow. Soon enough it was going to need another renovation after getting caught in the middle of Batman's mission.

Stepping into a dimly lit and nearly empty room, Gordon left the suit to linger outside and keep anyone from interfering without his permission. Within the room was a series of medical supplies from simple pain meds to sharp tools. At the center of the room was the vigilante discovered earlier in the night. It was hard enough finding a hospital that wasn't damn near stripped by looters but luckily Gordon had one of the best doctors on speed dial. "Thank you, Ms. Thompkins for coming on such short notice. These are..difficult times, as you've noticed." Gordon started but wasn't met with an answer right away. Doctor Leslie Thompkins was hard at work determining just what to do with the masked fellow on the table.

"It's much safer here than it is out there right now, I assure you. Plus I can still do some good by patching you all up...and whoever this is?"

"Calls himself 'Azrael'. What he's doing here and why, well your guess is as good as mine. But I hope it's of a similar agenda." Gordon circled the table once giving the individual a good look over. With the mask on it was hard to tell if he was even all there to converse with but the sooner he got some answers and came to an understanding, the better. He'd rest a hand on Leslie's shoulder and nodded with his head for her to take a few steps back. "Azrael." Spoke Gordon plainly. "I figure I would follow up on the conversation you and Robin were having. Just the general stuff. I know that your name is Azrael. You say you're not with The League of Assassin's, either. Judging by the way things looked tonight, you were ready to knock someone senseless with that sword of yours." Gordon paused for a moment and bit his lip before he asked: "Are you here to help Gotham?" Gordon had been on the force for a long time and had many encounters with even shadier characters than the capes. An enemy of say Roman Sionis or Harvey Dent or Oswald Cobblepot could still be an enemy of the GCPD. Here in this situation, he hoped he was right.  

[Nightwing]

After a long days work, Sionis ordered Bane to drive him to their final destination. He drove him to a secluded area where a simple black Sudan was parked. It looked particularly ordinary which was perfect. Black Mask had a whole laundry list of plans and this was his last or apart of it to be more direct. He bid Bane farewell, releasing him for now to go do whatever it is a brute like he did when he wasn't playing the role of Sionis' security. He could have the whole night off. Sionis watched him leave before walking over to the vehicle. He walked over to the trunk and inserted the key that would unlock it. Slowly raising the hood to reveal a battered, bloodied, and sad clown who even now had been smiling. In time though, he would lose his infamous grin. Even if Sionis had to remove all of his teeth one by one just to make it happen. He re-shut the trunk's hood and casually walked over to the driver's side of the vehicle to get in. He started up the car and began driving. He drove until they were at one of Gotham's graveyards. There was already a grave dug as requested earlier by one of his minions.

He stopped the vehicle and went to the back of the vehicle again unlocking it and ordering the clown to get out. He didn't trust him far as he could look at him. He knew at a moments notice that the freak would try to lunge at him which is why he kept his favorite pistol caliber trained on him at all times with a safe distance. "Get out the damn car you ugly b*****d." he ordered. "It's people like you and Batman. You're the real reasons this city is dying. But no more. Bat's gone and soon you'll be too. Good riddance really."  

[Nightwing]

Damian had nothing else to say to Nyssa after she showed him the slender disc that called her transportation. He was silent but very observant of every detail. He wasn't about to let himself be detained as he was before. The door slid open and he entered without any caution and took his seat. At first he kept his eyes on the assassins then allowed his gaze to be settled elsewhere looking down on the vigilantes he'd leave behind and arriving squad cars to apprehend them. They were on their own now as was he.
 

[Rhyming Demon]

Azrael was appreciative for the medical attention he was receiving and even more happy he wasn’t in cuffs as such he’d answer Gordon’s questions as best as he could. “I’m here to take down Black Mask and Bane, but primarily the former.” He stated plainly and paused a moment as he grunted in pain as the Doctor worked on him. “I’m not here to spread the disease of crime in Gotham if that’s what you’re asking. So yes in a manner of speaking I am here to help, by eliminating the one causing chaos, but I’ll need to replace my armor once the nurse has finished removing the damaged parts of this one that had melded with my body.” The procedure would be unpleasant and Azrael would be thankful for the painkillers given to him, to make it less painful than if there were none.  

[Nocturnal Vigilante]

Gordon swallowed deep after realizing the man before him would answer his questions with compliance and support. None of the runaround he gave Robin earlier would have done him any good here. He stroked lightly at the hair atop his face while he spoke and took in what he said carefully. Each and every word. "Good to know that we're on the same page here." Both hands patted his slack covered legs before getting up from his seat and pacing lightly. "You said you need your armor replaced, correct?" Gordon paused for a moment, taking a good look at the fellow on the table. "How can we help?" Assisting Azrael meant they had one more ally to count on in this fight and at this point, it was better than nothing.  

[Rhyming Demon]

He looked to commissioner Gordon as he simply offered help willingly which surprised Jean-Paul. Also by then the Doctor likely had finally finished removing to piece of armor fused to his arm with minimal harm done himself. She still likely would’ve had to put some packing into his wound to ensure it healed properly. He then finally answered Gordon’s question, “I’ll need to get to the Gotham Cathedral of St. Catherine’s. Underneath it is my base of operations.” He said volunteering his information knowing his new found allies weren’t there to impede him but aid him instead. Normally he preferred to work alone, however in current circumstances these allies were his best bet in completing his mission, especially due to him not being at full capacity from his injury.  

[Nightwing]

The Black Mask had done what no other Gotham rogue had the brains or brawn to do. He single handily brought Gotham to it's knees (a lie really if you consider Demon's Revenge prior...) and Batman was long gone. He had won. And now he had the Bat's most heinous villain bloodied and moments from death. The satisfaction Sionis felt currently was indescribable. Slowly he rose his weapon to meet in between the eyes of Joker's temple. "Say goodbye, Clown." and just as he was about to put the rabid dog down for good another voice interrupted.

"Put the gun down, Mask. Lady al Ghul has use for him after all."

Black Mask turned around and his eyes were red with anger. "What?! The clown is mine!" he countered to the Heretic.

"Was. Like I said, Talia wants him alive. And she also wanted me to thank you for making all of this possible." The Heretic moved quick, so quick it would make Joker think twice about fleeing if the thought crossed his mind. He was in front of BM and had already disarmed him then sent an elbow so fierce that it appeared as if he'd bludgeoned Sionis repeatedly. Sionis was dazed but not down. His training still mattered or so he wanted to desperately believe. He went after the Heretic aiming his own punches which were parried easily.

"You are no match for me. You never were." he told the crime lord as he thrust his incredibly sized knee into the abdomen of Sionis cracking his ribs the same as he did Robin. With him leaned over, it was the perfect opportunity to end this but he refrained and simply incapacitated him. He muscled the former head honcho onto his broad shoulders and placed him in the trunk Joker once called home. Speaking of Joker, he'd glance at him rather uninterested. He didn't understand all the fuss over a sad pathetic clown and didn't care to. "Let's go. Do anything I don't like and I will make what I did to him look like a friendly spar." he sauntered over to his vehicle allowing the clown to choose where he wanted to sit.

The driver over to Arkham wasn't far. It's where he was told to drop him. As for Sionis, there were other plans set in motion.  

[Archon Thorne]

When they came for Tobias Whale, the self-titled Great White Shark, it wasn't because he was one of Gotham's most powerful crime lords. It wasn't because of his past as a fencer, a racketeer, a collector of money and crushed dreams. It wasn't because he had screwed over the lives of hundreds for his own self gain or the fact that he had been responsible for the deaths of dozens mothers and fathers. The fact of the matter was when they had come for Tobias Whale, it had simply due to his association. The company he had chosen to keep had been the death of him and he hadn't even been aware of it.

For a long time, before Sionis had claimed to take power over the Gotham Underworld, Tobias Whale had been long been part of what would have been the big four. Between Black Mask, The Penguin, Two-Face and the Great White, they had controlled almost all of Gotham. It had been a fair split and they had all profited from it. At least for a time. When Mask had made his power move, while Two-Face and Penguin had begrudgingly relinquished their authority to Mask, Tobias, the smart man that he was had done so as willingly as possible. It had been his thought in doing so, that he might earn more of Roman's favor. After all, he didn't really believe the whole thing was going to last, they rarely ever did, but when the house of cards finally came toppling down, he thought he could at least managed to stay on top of the pile.

Now as he lay propped against the wall of his personal luxury suite, battered and broken, bleeding from a dozen cuts, he realized the full error of his mistake. As his would be killer lay squatting down next to him, a duel edged knife in hand, he realized that he would never be in control. Neither he, nor Roman, nor the bloody League of Shadows, not even Batman......none of them would ever control Gotham.

"W-why?" He managed to ask , his voice trembling and laden with pain as several of his broken ribs rubbed against one another. The assailant tilted his head at the question, thinking that in his own mind that the answer had been obvious. He knelt closer towards the crime lord, his face indiscernible behind the black mask that he wore, even his eyes had been hidden by the golden lenses that obfuscated them. An antique dagger was held in his hand, ornate and beautifully carved, it was nearly a hundred years old but still retained its sharpness. It could still cut through flesh and bone with ease.

"To send a message."The man had replied, his voice cold and coming out as a rasp, as though his throat had been dried out. He did not say anything else , letting the Great White sit there, confused and trying to discern its meaning.

"A m-message? To who? What message? I can pay you whatever you want! Please. I'll deliver your message. Please! Don't kill me!" The crime lord pleaded, his voice breaking several times. He had ever been a coward when the situation had turned poor but then again, save for his time in Arkham, he had never been placed in harms way. He had always played it smart. He always kept himself distant. Always backed the winning side. But now it seemed the one he had backed did not seem to control as much as he originally thought. His panicked thoughts were cut short as a pain blossomed along his chest over his heart as the killer had begun to slowly press the knife in between his ribs. "N-no! Please!" He screamed, trying to grab onto the man's hand and stop him.

Only his assailant had been strong. Stronger than what should have been humanly possible. With ease, he continued to push the blade in deeper and deeper, watching as Tobias's struggles started to die down and the strength of his group had begun to fade away. He watched as the light fled from the Great White's eyes and his body go limp as he proceeded to plunge the dagger all the way through. He waited for the body to spasm . Once. Twice. And then it was over. He stood up, looking at what had passed as one of the underworld's elite and felt nothing but disgust. "None can claim, Gotham. For she already belongs to us." He said to the dead man before leaving.

In the assailant's wake , he had left a trail of dead bodies, the fallen guards of the Great White strewn about the hall way, their throats slashed, heads cloven, chest torn apart and stomachs disemboweled. And the Great White Shark, dead in his room with a dagger left plunged in his heart. A dagger whose blade was acid etched with designs that had been reminiscent of an , owl and whose pommel and guard designed to appear like talons.