40 The Hunt for a Bat VII
(3rd Person POV)
Batman made his way off the roof and back to the Batmobile which was waiting for him. He cut the rope of his grappling gun and began to free-fall about 50 meters. But the impact never came. Because in the last second, the cockpit of the Batmobile opened and Batman was caught by the anti-fall-damage seats he came up with. It was essentially a beneficial hover technology he played around with and added to his car because it might come in handy.
"News?", Batman asked and ALFRED answered over the screen in the Batmobile.
[Yes. There was suspicious movement at one of the galas where Decoy Bruce is currently at. Identified two people. 'Whatever'-List mercenary: Lawrence "Crusher" Crock AKA 'Sportsmaster' as well as his daughter, Jade Crock AKA 'Cheshire'.]
"Why are some nobodies causing trouble in Gotham? Tell me the location."
[Coordinates ******** ****]
"Alright let's get a move on.", Batman said and pushed the pedal to speed up the Batmobile. He really had no interest in dealing with such weaklings like those two. It seemed like Ra's was trying to cause a distraction for Lady Shiva so that she could gather more intel while he dealt with pointlessly chasing assassins all over Gotham. But Lady Shiva was dealt with, so this was not necessary.
He would talk with the Crock family and tell them that it is in their best interest to leave Gotham. There was an actually capable mercenary waiting in the Batgarage for him to interrogate.
"Open a portal BOB."
[Ok], BOB said.
A portal opened and Batman drove through it. He arrived where his decoy was at yet another gala. It was good that he had one like that, otherwise, he would be required to attend those himself. Batman jumped out of the Batmobile. BOB would hide the car and come to his location when he needed him later. This shouldn't take long for Batman.
.
Batman arrived at the Gala and used the 'perverted tech' to check the situation. It seemed that he was having a deja vu. These two amateurs were using a diversion to lure him but unlike KGBeast, they didn't make sure that everything was a deathtrap. That was just bad form. And to think that Batman even has Sportsmaster on the same list as he does Deathstroke. Things will get more hectic from now on. He can feel it. There is something in the air, this night was the opening act. Gotham will become more dangerous and he is the only thing standing between the citizens and the lunatics that make up Gotham's roster of criminals.
But Batman was ready. His mind was his greatest power and his body was coming along as well. He had contingencies for contingencies. He was still preparing but he welcomed the challenge. The villains of Gotham will tremble at the mention of his name and they will start to fear the dark.
Batman got ready. He connected to the power inside the building and turned it off. He also made sure that no power would go on until he was finished. He then made his way inside.
.
The lights inside the building where the Gala was held went out. The criminals who were just about to begin their work and take the high society hostage were surprised and confused. They weren't ready for what was coming for them. Like a ghost, Batman made his way inside and took out one goon after the other. The people began to scream in fear when they heard the shots and the shouts coming from the fighting. Although the fight is a big word, it was more accurate to compare this with a freight truck hitting a deer. The freight truck would curse, but only because of the blood on its bumper.
After a few minutes, silence returned to the hall and after some time, the lights went back on. What remained were knocked-out criminals with broken bones and the like. A young woman saw this and licked her lips unknowingly. She had been trying to get under Bruce Wayne's skin and make him take her home so that she might ... acquire some nice things. But now this happened. She couldn't stop herself and left the Gala.
"Ah."
"What's wrong?", Decoy Bruce asked.
"I don't know it's just ... I have such headaches suddenly. I'm sorry about this."
"Oh don't apologise about that. Would you like me to call you a taxi?", he asked her.
"Yes please, if it's not too much to ask."
"Not at all, Miss Kyle.", Bruce said and then left to call a taxi for her. Seeing him leave Selina watched the criminals again and smiled.
"Miau~"
.
On a roof nearby, Batman was observing the scene. He knew that this wasn't over just yet. He still had to handle the pests that set this embarrassment up. He was sure that they'd come any ti-
Batman moved his head to the side and a hockey puck flew past his head and exploded on the wall behind him. He looked in the direction the puck was coming from and saw a man wearing a hockey mask with blonde hair, holding a hockey stick. His outfit consists of a mixture of various sports attire such as football padded pants, spiked cleats, golfing gloves, and pitcher's chest guard. It looked like a joke.
[Picture]
"Ah, you dodged that one nicely. How about we try that one again? I'm Sportsmaster, nice to meet ya' Batman. Quite a cool outfit you have there. There's quite a high bounty on your head Bat, so sorry bout this, it ain't personal.", Sportsmaster said.
"..."
"He doesn't seem to want to talk to you. Maybe he is one of the silent types ... I like those.", a woman said. She had long black hair, styled in a flowing manner. She wears a form-fitting costume that emphasizes agility and combat readiness. The colour of her 'costume', if you can call it that, was green, which fit her name. She has a slender and athletic build, reflecting her agility and martial arts prowess. This was the supposed second most deadly assassin in the world after the woman Batman met earlier tonight, Cheshire.
[Picture]
Around these two, there were a number of ninjas that were clearly from the League of Assassins to help these two. Ra's seemed to remember what Batman did to him when they last saw each other. And imagine that Bruce Wayne from back then is a joke compared to Batman standing in front of these people.
"Lawrence Crock, husband to Paula Brooks Crock and father. A very competitive sportsman, aggressive and ruthless, who excelled in many sports, but not fair play. Banned from playing any sport on a professional level for injuring someone on purpose. You seemingly fell to your death, but resurfaced later, now as the costumed sports-themed joke. Threat level: None to minimal.", Batman said with a very dark and deep voice.
The others were surprised when they heard him speak and they were also surprised by what he knew about them. Cheshire laughed at that.
"Oh my, he sure knows you. What about me? What do you know about me?", she said in a sultry voice.
"Jade Nguyen, daughter of Andre Chaumont and Anna Nguyen. Unhappy childhood and sold into slavery. This trauma ultimately drove you insane. Highly skilled and ruthless assassin, known for your cunning and strategic thinking, your loyalties can be fluid, and you try to exude a seductive and enigmatic aura to throw off your male targets and opponents. Threat level: minimal to small"
.
"He knows too much. Let's get this over with. Everyone stay back, I'll take him.", Sportsmaster said. Cheshire had a thoughtful look on her face but was intrigued so she also retreated together with the other assassins. Sportsmaster approached Batman because the latter hadn't moved from his original spot.
"I see, sending your backup to fight me all on your own", Batman said and then his voice turned even deeper, "... how gutless."
"What the f*ck are you on about, you bat-themed f*ck? How is that gutless?", Sportsmaster asked. He was clearly pissed by the low opinion of him.
"Because ... suicide is the coward's way out."
Coming from Batman that was one of the coldest lines imaginable. Because as he said that, Batman's aura seemed to become darker and very threatening. It wasn't any anime-type stuff it was just the feeling he gave everyone. It was like standing in front of Darth Vader as a Stormtrooper ... you knew you were utterly f*cked.
Despite the appearance on the outside, Sportsmaster was shaking inside. He was ... scared. And utterly so. But he caught himself and snapped out of it. He had to laugh.
"Haha, what a punk you are. Let's tussle freak!", he said and attacked Batman. He took out another exploding hockey puck and shot it towards Batman. But Batman didn't dodge. He threw something towards the explosive. It was a sticky substance that looked like gum. It wrapped itself around the puck and Batman caught it with his hand. Everyone watched with bated breath.
*boom*
The explosion happened but it was as small as the fart of a fly. Batman dropped the ball and waited for Sportsmaster. But he was confused and had to shake his head to concentrate again. He took out a baseball bat and spiked baseballs. He began to run towards Batman and shot baseballs at him. But Batman didn't care about that, he simply picked them from the air and then dropped them.
When Sportsmaster arrived in front of Batman he swung his bat at him. Batman tilted his body back and let the bat fly over him. He straightened back up and punched Sportsmaster in the face. The man was so outclassed it was embarrassing. But he wouldn't give up this easily. He attacked again and swung his bat at Batman. However, it was a feint, mid-swing he changed his direction in an attempt to surprise Batman and catch him off guard. But that would never happen.
Batman blocked the bat and pulled it towards himself. Sportsmaster lost his balance and stumbled towards Batman. What awaited him there was a kick to his stomach. Batman then grabbed his head and smashed it into his knee. He took the bat in his own hands and swung it, smashing it against the man's left arm and breaking it in the process.
*Crack*
"ARGH! F*CK!"
Several shurikens flew towards Batman. He dodged and blocked them with his Batarangs.
"Surrender Batman. You can't deal with all of us. You're surrounded by some of the deadliest assassins.", Cheshire said.
"All I am surrounded by is fear ... and dead men!", Batman said and he really looked like Darth Vader at that point.
[Picture]
The ninjas began to attack him from all sides. Cheshire also began moving and tried to find the right window to strike. Batman danced his deadly dance that resulted in the mutilation of these mindless puppets. He had no sympathy with these. They weren't even really humans anymore, just mindless killing puppets. He used Hokuto Shinken to take them out. He broke bones, spines and spirits.
Cheshire attacked with her Sais. She had a lot of skill but it was nowhere near enough to face this Batman. He was ruthless. He dodged her attack and grabbed her hand. Cheshire knew this would happen and struck with her other hand, trying to pierce Batman. Batman however moved his hand and positioned her left hand in the way of her attack. Her Sai pierced her own hand and she was just about to cry out.
But Batman didn't give her that chance. He took her Sai from her and twirled it around. He then struck her throat with the butt of the Sai and made her choke. He then dropped the Sai and kicked the side of her knee. A nasty crunch was heard as the knee bent 90 degrees ... to the left.
A final right hook took her to dreamland.
.
Batman looked at the only person who was still conscious. Sportsmaster. He began to walk towards him. Sportsmaster however injured he was, didn't want to give up. He stood his ground and prepared to fight. The sports-themed mercenary tried to punch Batman. He kicked and punched but it was no use.
"There is something you should remember ...", Batman said as he began to punch Sportsmaster.
*Bam*
"... You don't ..."
*Bam*
"... f*cking ..."
*Bam*
"... mess ..."
*Bam Bam*
"... with Gotham!"
Batman then tapped Sportsmaster on the middle of his thorax and made him experience tremendous pain. The man however couldn't talk because he couldn't breathe properly. Blood was coming out of his mouth as he looked at Batman with fear.
"Goodnight"
*BAM*
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Is this getting a bit too violent? Lol as if I care about what anyone thinks. This chapter was a blast to write.
