The New Ultimate DC RPG

[Eddie Brock]

District Attorney Harvey Dent

I look up from my desk at my new assistant, Vernon Fields. He's standing sheepishly in the doorway. I can tell something's eating at him. "Yes, Vernon?"

"Judge Pratt made a decision about the Rodney Barnes confession," he croaks. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he continues, "He says it's inadmissible."

"What?!" I bark, jumping up from my chair. "On what grounds?!"

"He says that Mr. Barnes had been coerced into giving the confession. Also, the judge noted the absence of legal counsel at the time of the interrogation."

Son of a b****. I feel a sharp pain between my eyes. A man confesses to murdering a woman in cold blood, but they won't admit his confession because he was really, really upset at the time of giving it. Oh, boohoo. Sometimes, I'm just not sure our legal system delivers real justice.

Vernon ducks out of the room to answer a ringing phone, but comes back a moment later. "Mr. Dent, there's a detective here to see you."

"Send him in."
​

IC: Vic Sage

Nygma drops me off at the DA's office. I badge my way through the reception area and up to the top floor.

"Yes, sir," the secretary asks as I walk out the elevator. I smile and show my badge.

"Detective Sage, ma'am. Is the DA in?"​

I straighten my tie and brush some lint off my jacket. The detective walks into the room, and I remember him from the Thanksgiving crime scene. "Ah! Detective...Sage, isn't it?" I say warmly, extending my hand. "What can I do for the men in blue today?"

 

[Byrd Man]

​

I straighten my tie and brush some lint off my jacket. The detective walks into the room, and I remember him from the Thanksgiving crime scene. "Ah! Detective...Sage, isn't it?" I say warmly, extending my hand. "What can I do for the men in blue today?"

I shake Dent's hand and nod.

"I'm trying to get some information about Janice Porter. I'd like to get a copy of the cases she tried as ADA and maybe ask you some questions if possible. You were her co-worker and later boss, right?"

 

[Eddie Brock]

I shake Dent's hand and nod.

"I'm trying to get some information about Janice Porter. I'd like to get a copy of the cases she tried as ADA and maybe ask you some questions if possible. You were her co-worker and later boss, right?"

"That's right," I reply. "Janice was a hard worker and a good lawyer. What happened to her...it wasn't right."

I casually kick the boxes sitting on the floor next to my desk.

"These are all of Janice's casefiles. I haven't gotten around to sorting them yet, so you can feel free to take them with you. Anything that might help you catch the bastard who's doing this."

I lean back against my desk.

"So what else do you want to ask me?"

 

[Byrd Man]

"That's right," I reply. "Janice was a hard worker and a good lawyer. What happened to her...it wasn't right."

I casually kick the boxes sitting on the floor next to my desk.

"These are all of Janice's casefiles. I haven't gotten around to sorting them yet, so you can feel free to take them with you. Anything that might help you catch the bastard who's doing this."

I lean back against my desk.

"So what else do you want to ask me?"

"Anything you can tell me about Miss Porter. She didn't have much in the way of family, no boyfriend of husband. I figure the people she worked with were the closest ones in her life. Did she have any enemies, any kind of noticeable vices that you'd know about?"

I pull my notebook out of my suit pocket. The Homicide detective's No. 1 weapons: pen and paper.

 

[Eddie Brock]

"Anything you can tell me about Miss Porter. She didn't have much in the way of family, no boyfriend of husband. I figure the people she worked with were the closest ones in her life. Did she have any enemies, any kind of noticeable vices that you'd know about?"

I pull my notebook out of my suit pocket. The Homicide detective's No. 1 weapons: pen and paper.

"Enemies? She was the ADA." I give a soft laugh. We have a saying around this office: "If you're not getting shot at, you're not doing your job right." Fortunately, actual attempts on our lives are few and far between. Guess Janice was just unlucky.

Clearing my throat, I continue more seriously, "To tell the truth, Detective, I didn't know her all that well. We didn't socialize much outside of work. She seemed to lose interest in a personal relationship when she found out I was in a committed relationship. Janice always seemed to be a little...man-hungry, if you will."

 

[Byrd Man]

"Enemies? She was the ADA." I give a soft laugh. We have a saying around this office: "If you're not getting shot at, you're not doing your job right." Fortunately, actual attempts on our lives are few and far between. Guess Janice was just unlucky.

Clearing my throat, I continue more seriously, "To tell the truth, Detective, I didn't know her all that well. We didn't socialize much outside of work. She seemed to lose interest in a personal relationship when she found out I was in a committed relationship. Janice always seemed to be a little...man-hungry, if you will."

"Just as I thought. Not much there."

I look outside the office door, making sure nobody is listening in to what I'm about to say.

"I'm investigating some things periphery to the Holiday case. Tell me, honestly, do you get the feeling that Janice Porter could have been corrupt and on the take?"

 

[Eddie Brock]

"Just as I thought. Not much there."

I look outside the office door, making sure nobody is listening in to what I'm about to say.

"I'm investigating some things periphery to the Holiday case. Tell me, honestly, do you get the feeling that Janice Porter could have been corrupt and on the take?"

"No, of course not!" I reply indignantly. I can't tell if I'm so offended because I really don't believe it or because I don't want to believe it. I guess I want to remember her the way I thought she was. Though, it would explain some things. I mean, why would Holiday target Janice otherwise? Because she was the ADA? If that were the case, why didn't he come after me?

"Why? What have you found?" I ask more softly, more willing to consider that terrible possibility.

 

[Byrd Man]

"No, of course not!" I reply indignantly. I can't tell if I'm so offended because I really don't believe it or because I don't want to believe it. I guess I want to remember her the way I thought she was. Though, it would explain some things. I mean, why would Holiday target Janice otherwise? Because she was the ADA? If that were the case, why didn't he come after me?

"Why? What have you found?" I ask more softly, more willing to consider that terrible possibility.

I bite my lip, not fully sure if I can trust Dent. He got elected by promising change and bringing a new face to Gotham, but you never know about this town.

"I believe the Holiday case relates to corruption inside the department and possibly the DA's office."

The truth, or enough of it to keep Dent in the dark.

"That's all I'm willing to say at this point. Truth of the matter is we're close, or so I think. Most of Holiday's victims make sense. Mobsters, crooked police. But then Porter's a change-up to that. Why? She has to fit the pattern some kind of way. I'm just trying to find that pattern."

 

[MST3K 4ever]

"You come on inside," I say as the doors slide open. Standing the doorway with a half-eaten apple in my hand, I smile at the kid and take a big bite. "I went to Philly and got my sample. It was a nice, big, juicy face-sucker. I pulled it off at super-speed and ran it in here. The docs have it in isolation right now, waiting on your samples."

The Atom floats out of Lor's Pocket and sees two security guards approaching with the Dr. McKenzie Rhiannon's former boss.

Great it's Mac! One of the few people who ever gave me a chance here. He is going to be a great ally for this.

McKenzie stares at the trailer and then Lor and blinks twice as he looks at The Atom. He looks at her as though he is studying a rare butterfly and asks, "What's this more of those Star Creatures?"

She says, "No actually this is a trailer with two human beings inside with two still on their faces. The name's The Atom but Atom will do."

The Atom looks at the Security Guards and says, "You two I'm initiating a level 5 lockdown on those two people in the trailer get them into the iso lab with the sample Flash brought in and then activate code Alpha security protocols."

They both just stare at The Atom and she rolls her eyes and says, "All-right let's get this over with all 3 of you hold out your hands."

They all 3 look at each other and hold out their hands. The Atom floats into each palm very quickly and floats up

She says, "Get a good look and then get over the whole she is so tiny thing and move it! We've got lives in the balance! MOVE!"

The two security guards scurry off talking into their radios while Dr. McKenzie asks, "How did you know about our procedures?"

The Atom repiles, "I used to work in the satellite office in Central City and I did some liason work here."

She smirks to herself.

Well technically I did I did my internship there but I doubt Mac checks on it he has got bigger issues right now.

McKenzie nods and says, "What do you need from me?"

The Atom says, "I need you to get the miniturization chamber online. I need 2airtanks, a vid cam with audio, a 2-way headset, and some protein-iodine markers. I'll be there in about 10 minutes to make the calibrations to the chamber. If possible I need Doctors Hamilton, Steinburg, Griggs, and you in control room four for some feedback."

McKenzie replies, "On my way I'll have it ready."

He leaves and Atom says to Flash, "I need a big favor from you. The person you pulled that thing off of bring them here and get them into the chamber I need to do an analysis on them."

She looks at Lor and says, "You are about to have the toughest and most dangerous part of all. I'm not lying because Jo'nn noted these things are in telepathic link with a big one and I assume one another which means once I start poking around them there will be others coming here to defend or destroy the ones we have. You are the one who is going to buy me the time I need."

The Atom points to a line in the sidewalk and says, "No creatures get past that line. Got it?"

He nods as she floats into the building

 

[Byrd Man]

He leaves and Atom says to Flash, "I need a big favor from you. The person you pulled that thing off of bring them here and get them into the chamber I need to do an analysis on them."

In a small blur of motion, I'm back standing beside Atom.

"Done. The lady is in the iso-chamber as we speak. I'll see if I can help you hash out the biology behind these things."

Turning back to Superboy, I wink. "If you need any help, I'm a shout away."

 

[Catman_prb]

J'onn closed his eyes as he exited Earth's atmosphere. A few seconds before, there had been thinning clouds, and now...now there was blackness sprinkled with stars of brilliant white. He took a minute to take it all in. This place was suitable of his "last hurrah" as Jonah Hex would've said all those years ago. He had no idea how long he could last without oxygen; it would be a challenge to his physical nature. He was no Martian Doctor - he had no idea if it would leave permanent damage or not.

-Superman, Majestic; I have set up a telepathic field that should allow us to communicate in the vacuum of space -

J'onn sighed, a telepathic field was the thing garunteed to drain his stamina. If only they had communicators or some device. Maybe something to bare in mind for the future. If there was a future. His red eyes were drawn towards the eldritch horror just outside the Earth's gravitational field. For all he knew Sta'rro was causing havoc with the tides just by his presence.

-I suggest we move quickly. At the very least we can provide a distraction for our companions -

 

[Eddie Brock]

I bite my lip, not fully sure if I can trust Dent. He got elected by promising change and bringing a new face to Gotham, but you never know about this town.

"I believe the Holiday case relates to corruption inside the department and possibly the DA's office."

The truth, or enough of it to keep Dent in the dark.

"That's all I'm willing to say at this point. Truth of the matter is we're close, or so I think. Most of Holiday's victims make sense. Mobsters, crooked police. But then Porter's a change-up to that. Why? She has to fit the pattern some kind of way. I'm just trying to find that pattern."

Patterns. We're always looking for patterns in every aspect of our lives. I guess it's a way to bring order from disorder. But maybe life isn't that simple. Maybe things are much more random. What if there isn't a pattern? What if life is dictated by chance, dumb luck?

"You'll be hard-pressed to find corruption in my office, Detective," I say confidently. "I do all the background checks personally. I don't work with anyone I can't trust."

 

[MST3K 4ever]

In a small blur of motion, I'm back standing beside Atom.

"Done. The lady is in the iso-chamber as we speak. I'll see if I can help you hash out the biology behind these things."

Turning back to Superboy, I wink. "If you need any help, I'm a shout away."

The Atom looks at Flash and says, "In most cases I would say stay and help Lor, but if ever there was someone who could do the whole two places at once thing it's you. Not to mention he can handle himself pretty well. All-right let's go"

The Atom floats inside of Star Labs to the control room for the minaturization chamber.

Mac looks at her and says, "The equipment is in place we have the subjects in stasis lockdown so they're ready. The woman Flash brought in has been told that this is all routine follow-up and we are taking blood samples DNA the whole work-up. She's is giving Doctors Olson & Breckmeyer an interview we hope to have that done within the hour."

The Atom floats up and peers over the control panel she takes a deep breath and says, "All-right I'll feed the calculations into the computer, and by the way has anyone consider yet how to get me inside of the creature yet?"

Mac replies, "We are basing a lot of theories on it's phylum and closest known earth example. So we are thinking of shrinking your equipment first. With the power sources and other variables we can track them here and give your their co-ordinates in there. Next you enter the room and shrink down to put on the gear your breathing mask has a mic in it so we can talk to one another. Once you have it all on and are ready we will then draw you in with a bulb syringe. After that we will take you to the iso room and inject you in what appears to be the creature's mouth and we will begin our analysis from there. In theory you'll be too small for any of it's natural defenses to detect you as a threat."

The Atom replies, "Okay it all sounds plausible. Flash will be in the iso room control room as well."

Mac looks at Flash and says, "Very well. If everything is ready we will begin."

The Atom says, "Fire it up and let's go."

She floats over to Flash and says, "If anything goes wrong I'm counting on you to get out me of this."

In a matter of seconds the Atom's gear disappears and Mac says, "Okay the equipment is at section five grid four 3x 18y. We'll montior you with the electron camera"

The Atom nods and floats away into the chamber. She lands at the area given to her by Mac and says, "I'm shrinking now."

She disappears from sight and sees her equipment.

Time to get dressed for work.

She gather her equipment and says, "Okay I got my gear on I hope you all can hear me."

Mac replies, "We can Atom and we have a lock on you. Dr Griggs is on his way in with the bulb stand by."

Dr Griggs puts on a pair of slippers and leaves the control room.

Mac looks at flash and says, "Normally we wouldn't worry about shoes, but at her size normal shoes on that floor the vibrations would feel like 9.0 on the Richter Scale."

The Atom says, "It's getting very dark suddenly."

Mac replies, "Dr. Griggs is over you with the bulb he is going to work the bulb very slowly. If he goes to fast it'll feel like a catagory 5 hurricane to you. Let us know when you are in the bulb. We'll start on the count of three. 1,2,3"

The Atom stands still and then suddenly feels a pull upward and she says, "Why do I suddenly feel the urge to say the claw is master? I'm in."

Dr. Griggs walks towards the iso-room as <ac says, "All-right everyone let's go and hope LaMar doesn't trip."

Griggs is in the iso room and says, "Ready"

Mac looks around and everyone is seated at various monitors and computer terminals and says, "Atom in a few seconds you are going to feel like you have been shot out of a cannon. You are going into one of the creatures we will now proceed."

Atom replies, "Okay just...woah!"

She is now inside of one of the creatures. The Atom slides on her night vision lenses and begins filming.

She then drops two protein markers and says, "So I know where the exit is and now I'm gonna start just shooting video if you see something tell me to stop or I see something I'll say something here I go."

The Atom begins swimming along.

 

[Byrd Man]

Patterns. We're always looking for patterns in every aspect of our lives. I guess it's a way to bring order from disorder. But maybe life isn't that simple. Maybe things are much more random. What if there isn't a pattern? What if life is dictated by chance, dumb luck?

"You'll be hard-pressed to find corruption in my office, Detective," I say confidently. "I do all the background checks personally. I don't work with anyone I can't trust."

"Riiight," I say with a smirk. "In a town like this, Counselor, nobody is spotless. I'll look through Miss Porter's files and make my own conclusions."

 

[Eddie Brock]

"Riiight," I say with a smirk. "In a town like this, Counselor, nobody is spotless. I'll look through Miss Porter's files and make my own conclusions."

"By all means. Go through them with a fine-toothed comb."

I walk around behind my desk and remove my jacket, laying it over the back of my chair.

While rolling up my shirt sleeves, I add, "Well, Detective, I hope the files help you. If that'll be all, I'll be getting back to work now." I pause. "Oh, but if you happen to run into Lieutenant Akins, could you tell him Harvey Dent said hello? He's always in such bad spirits this time of year, what with his son's birthday in August."

 

[Byrd Man]

"By all means. Go through them with a fine-toothed comb."

I walk around behind my desk and remove my jacket, laying it over the back of my chair.

While rolling up my shirt sleeves, I add, "Well, Detective, I hope the files help you. If that'll be all, I'll be getting back to work now." I pause. "Oh, but if you happen to run into Lieutenant Akins, could you tell him Harvey Dent said hello? He's always in such bad spirits this time of year, what with his son's birthday in August."

I nod and pick up the box of files. Halfway out the door, I stop and turn around to look at Dent.

"Wait...what was that about Akins? His son's birthday? He lost a kid?"

 

[Eddie Brock]

I nod and pick up the box of files. Halfway out the door, I stop and turn around to look at Dent.

"Wait...what was that about Akins? His son's birthday? He lost a kid?"

He didn't know. Guess it's not something Akins likes to talk about. "Yeah, it was a real tragedy what happened," I answer solemnly. "Akins never really let it go, you know?"

 

[Byrd Man]

He didn't know. Guess it's not something Akins likes to talk about. "Yeah, it was a real tragedy what happened," I answer solemnly. "Akins never really let it go, you know?"

I can feel my heart starting to beat faster. Even though I'm in the AC, sweats starting to form on my forehead.

"What happened exactly....if you don't mind me asking."

 

[Eddie Brock]

I can feel my heart starting to beat faster. Even though I'm in the AC, sweats starting to form on my forehead.

"What happened exactly....if you don't mind me asking."

I frown. "That's the worst part. It was the day after Christmas of all days," I explain. "We had Julian Day cold on the murder charge, but there was a mistake with the paperwork." I shake my head. "We only ended up hitting him with manslaughter. Akins was crushed."

 

[Byrd Man]

I frown. "That's the worst part. It was the day after Christmas of all days," I explain. "We had Julian Day cold on the murder charge, but there was a mistake with the paperwork." I shake my head. "We only ended up hitting him with manslaughter. Akins was crushed."

My knees buckle slightly. I nearly drop the box in my hands.

"I gotta go!"

I race out the office before Dent can respond. Racing down the stairwell, I stop on the bottom floor and open up the box and start going through the cases.

******​

Gotham Public Library. Scanning obits and obits and obits. Nothing. Zero. Nadda. Day after Xmas. Match. Three dead bodies.​

Small clicks turn large clicks click all together.​

******​

I start tearing through the cases, getting all the details about Janice Porter's career. Jackpot: '96 she worked as a prosecutor in Admin Narco. She handled the White Christmas case. One of her cases a few months before was the squad's take-down of another mid-level player. The prosecution's key witness: Sergeant Michael Akins.​

******​

Gotham Central basement, records room. Personnel files on one M. Akins. In-service date: 7/12/81. Detective in Vice and Homicide late 80's, member of the Bomb Squad 90-92. Promoted to Sgt. transferred out of the Bomb Squad when it was disbanded. Transferred to....nowhere. Blank sheet from 92-97. Call it: white wash.​

******​

I jerk out my cellphone, dialing Nygma's number as fast as I can. He picks up on the second ring.​

"I found our missing Sergeant."​

"I know. Lieutenant Michael Akins. Family was murdered days after White Christmas, his entire police service record in the 90's is all but gone. He was a member of the bomb squad before they went defunct."​

It all makes sense now. Flass' fear to stay at Gotham Central, how Holiday was able to pull the protective detail off Day and know when Nygma and I were moving Flass. That conversation all those months ago. Someone with serious pull inside the department finally getting justice on something that happened almost 14 years ago.​

Michael Akins is Holiday.​

 

[Saved]

Red Hood​

Trail of Slaughter Part 1

Arkham Asylum

In the dim lobby of the asylum, Jason Todd stands in front of two lone payphones. One of the phones leans slightly to the left, hanging precariously to the wall's cracked and chipped exterior by only a few small screws. On the keypad of the remaining phone, rust marks stain the metal cover - resembling an infection on the skin of a desperately ill man. The plastic receiver it cracked, its wiring and resistors dangling out the open crevices.

Amazingly, the condition of the payphones is the least unattractive feature of the building's veneer. The burned out bulbs in the lighting fixtures hidden behind fractured glass project an eerie light. The dark shadows about the room cover the filth lining the floors, fooling the eyes into believing the grime is merely extensions of the darkness.

"Typical," Jason says in disgust. Often, he has mentioned the poor upkeep of the asylum - noting that drastic changes would do the facility good, in both the appearance of the asylum and the mission they hope to achieve. But Jason's pleas fall on deaf ears - Jeremiah Arkham rarely holds counsel with his staff, and seldom retreats from his office. Too consumed is he with his own, personal matters to deal with minor strifes like the maintenance of his family’s legacy.

Looking at the watch on his wrist, Jason notes the time – realizing his short break from his work is soon to be over. Hurriedly, Jason walks toward the slanted phone, picking up the receiver with one hand as he digs into his pocket with the other. Scrounging up the loose change he can, he inserts the metal pieces into the console, listening for the sound of clanking money. Quickly, Jason dials the number – wanting not to waste time. Soon, he hears the familiar tone as the phone rings, and he patiently waits for the other line to answer.

“Gotham Police Department,” a man answers – not with the voice Jason wishes, but with one that is not unfamiliar.
“Let me guess,” Jason begins quietly, altering his voice to that of the Red Hood . “Detective Burke is still absent?”

“You again,” the man asks gruffly. “No – out on assignment.”
“You sure he’s not hiding from me?” He says, his irritated tone ill disguised.
“Look, if you’re one of Burke’s informants, or something, shouldn’t you have his personal cell phone number?”
“He’s not ready for that kind of commitment in our relationship,” Jason jokes sharply. “Boundary issues.”
“Funny guy,” he growls. “Look, unless you’ve got information pertaining to a crime, stop calling. Next time, I won’t be so pleasant.”
“You gonna give me a speeding ticket?”
“Hnn, have a nice day.” The line cuts off, and Jason hangs the phone back on the console.

“Boy, is he helpful,” Jason says bitingly, reverting his voice back to his usual tone. “Looks like I’ll have to take a visit to Gotham Central myself…”

“Interviewing a potential case for a trial, Doctor Todd?” A voice suddenly says, startling Jason slightly. Turning around quickly, Jason sees Doctor
Jonathan Crane standing less than a foot away. As Todd stares at him intently, Crane smiles with a devilish grin. Quickly, his smile chances to a more innocent expression – one so convincing, its appearance is chilling.
“What?” Todd asks, taken off guard by Crane’s unexpected appearance.

“Pardon me for eavesdropping, but I heard you mentioning a trip to the Police Station. Hence my question – I asked if you were interrogating someone as an expert witness for an upcoming trial.”
“Oh, oh – right,” Jason says, shaking his head as he stills his mind. “No, no – actually, I was going to give them my report on Drury Walker- tell them I
think he’s best suited here for further treatment. I’ve been meaning to give them the file I’ve collected on him.”

“Ah, the Moth-man, right?”
“Killer Moth,” he corrects.
“Yes, that’s right. Hmm, didn’t you tell me awhile ago he was faking?” He asks, catching Jason in one of his lies.

“Right… well, when he broke out a few months ago during his transfer, I was pretty confident he was just trying to cheat the system. But, when he was returned to us, I interviewed him again and my personal opinion is that I was mistaken – he’s definently mentally deranged.”
“Mhh, interesting,” Crane says, drawing his words out with an unsettling hum. “I wouldn’t expect you to be the type of person to admit error – I admire that.” Crane grins widely, staring at Jason intently. Silence fills the air between them, and Jason soon grows uncomfortable.
“Heh, yeah,” he says with an uncomfortable chuckle.

“If you don’t mind me asking, what was your diagnosis?”
“Schizophrenia – he has delusions, paranoia; it’s a classic case.”
“Hmm, indeed. You’ll be needing the usual medication?”
“What?” Jason asks defensively, suspicious of Crane’s inquiry.
“For Mr. Walker,” he explains. “The usual medication for schizophrenia.”
“Oh, right. Yes, yes.” He says, wiping his forehead anxiously.

“Yes… of course. By the way, how’s your breathing?”
“Fine.”
“Good, good. Not suffocating yourself with chlorine gas lately, are you?” Crane questions in jest, referring to their prior encounter. Jason quickly remembers the night he went to Crane’s home for help after being gassed by the master thief Red X. So close was he to losing his secret identity that night – and so close was Crane to uncovering Jason’s darkest secret.

“Yeah – I’m fighting the urge,” Jason says smoothly, working his charisma as best he can.
“Haha, excellent. Well then, it’s been nice talking with you. Good luck with your trip to the station, I hope everything goes well. ”
“Yeah…thanks.”

Crane turns slowly, moving in an awkward manner, his steps heavy and wobbly. His boney figure moves beneath his loose fitting clothes like a withered scarecrow that’s lost its straw, blowing weakly in the wind. Jason keeps his eyes on him until Crane is out of sight – being more cautious than normal. Crane walks through the double doors at the back of the room, disappearing behind them as they shut with a long squeal.

“He knows,” Jason growls, spewing the words from his mouth like poison. “I can’t be stupid and pretend everything’s all right –that’s a mistake I can’t afford to make.” Jason brings his hands together in front of his waist, rubbing them violently as he tries to keep himself calm. “I’m not sure how much, or what, but Crane knows something – and I can’t be too careful – not with someone like him.” As Jason begins to patch together a web of possibilities within his mind, a strange thought comes to him. He realizes how paniced he gets around Doctor Crane - how his pulse rise and his body begins to sweat. All the symptoms of a person experiencing fear seem match the feelings Jason gets around him. Quickly, Jason dismisses it – passing it off the thought as nothing but jitters or paranoia. Merely coincidence, after all, how could he entertain a thought as ludicrous as this?

As the Red Hood, Jason is fearless – unrelenting. An unstoppable force of justice and vengeance pent up behind a red helmet and a bullet proof vest. He’s fought killers and psychopaths, come face to face with death – gone to places that could be confused for hell itself. What does he have to worry about? Why would he have reason to panic?

“Hahahaha,” Jason laughs to himself, his cocky attitude reaffirming itself within him. “Yes, Crane’s scary, alright. Almost as scary as the rent for my apartment.” Jason saunters off through the doors, making his way about the asylum with a wide grin on his face as he forgets the silly notion. Quickly, he returns his mind to the thoughts of his friend Detective Thomas Burke, hoping his strange absence is just as he’s been told – a long week on assignment, working some case that’s too secret for public ears just yet.

“If Burke’s really not there, hopefully I find something at his desk that could give me a clue to his whereabouts. I don’t care how important this case of his is, I’ve got to know what he’s found on Belseraph’s circus. Bruce won’t stall forever – if I’m going to get my shot at that freak, I’m going to have to make my move fast.” A perverse grin rises on Jason’s face, and a sinister laugh exits his lips. “Oh, haha, I can’t wait to show that clown what a real show looks like… I’ll put a smile on his face, haha – Permanently.”

 

[Catman_prb]

There was a click as the light was thrown on. Gordon walked into the apartment on his own, magnum in his steely grip.

"Boss?" a sleepy Romy Chandler asked from the doorway of the bedroom. She wore an oversized checked shirt; one that he remembered Bennet wearing during various outings.

"So it's true," the commissioner said finally.

"What's true? Boss it's 1 am," Romy said, rubbing her head and walking over to the drinks cabinet. She pours herself a whiskey. Gordon almost smiled from nostalgia. He'd given her the vintage bottle for Christmas.

"You and Bennet," he said simply. The gun was still there, an ever present weight in his hand.

Romy frowned, shrugged, but the glass was shaking.

"We're just sleeping together. It's not business," she said, hiding a tremor in her voice.

"I told you that you had to end it," he said softly, an almost paternal smile on his face "But you abused my sentimentality,"

"Boss, it wasn't like that-" she started.

"******** IT WASN'T" Gordon screamed, spit flying from his mouth "Bradley spilled everything before we torched him. He was only hard boiled up to a point it seemed,"

"I didn't mean for it to end up this way Boss...I'll sort it out," Romy whispered, putting the glass tumbler down carefully, so as not to break it.

"You were like a daughter to me," Gordon said "But you've compromised everything! And now I've got to wander round, cleaning up loose ends like some common crook,"

"I love him!" she blurted out. Gordon flinched, gripping the gun tighter. He gestured for her to move into the bedroom. She backed away, towards her queen sized bed.

"I wish you hadn't said that. Marcus couldn't come he was so broken up. So I have to do this. You realise how hard this is on me? I love you like you're my own! But for this city...the things I do for this city," Gordon whispered, almost to himself.

"Boss!"

BLAM



"I'm sorry,"

 

[Byrd Man]

Sage and I: In Interrogation Room #2 for privacy, cameras and recorders off. The facts of the Holiday case in front of of us.

"Michael Akins is Holiday."

"I just can't believe it. Of all the ****** CO's I've had, Akins is a great boss. He seems to really care."

"And I'm sure Himmler was a great boss. Take your kids to work day at the death camps, casual Fridays for the stormtroopers."

"Why these people? From Thanksgiving to the 4th of July. Nine murders."

"Julian Day is the easiest to figure out. He killed Akins' son. Flass was in on the whole scam the Narco unit was running."

"Right. Porter was their DA liaison. She tried their cases. She was either in on it, or just looked the other way. O'Hara was the CO. You said he turned a blind eye to their dirty dealing. Just as long as he got his cut on their profits."

"The three mob guys make sense. Sol, Maroni, and Falcone. Gordon's boys worked for the mob pretty much, making sure they controlled the city's drug supply."

"Jack Grogan and Hamilton Hill. Those are the two I'm sketchy on."

*******

Nygma shrugs and starts to gather the files off the table.

"I don't care right now. We need to work up an arrest warrant on Akins."

Finally, something in my head from awhile back clicks....

The pictures.
​

I glance around the office. Essen has all kinds of press clippings about her police career. Photos of her and all her old units accompany the newspaper clips. One picture with Mayor Loeb, another with a bunch of uniformed police, Essen in the middle of them, another picture with Gordon, Flass, O'Hara, Atkins, and John Grayson.

I turn my flashlight towards a photo of four men and one woman smiling.
There's a small note written at the bottom.

ADMIN NARCOTICS - CLASS OF '96 "The Rough Riders"

I recognize most of the faces in the photo. O'Hara is in the center, surrounded by Commissioner Gordon, Colonel Flass, the IA commander. Next to Gordon is a woman I recognize, but can't place right away. Beside Flass is John Grayson.
​

I quickly explain the two group photos I saw, explaining that I saw the photo at O'Hara's house the day of the murder instead of the night after it.

"Why two copies?"

"Maybe O'Hara had Akins photoshopped out? After the mess that happened, he only had painful association for our killer."

"With all the paper work and that photo, does it give us PC to prove Akins has been white-washing his record and that he's the missing sergeant informants say was part of the group?"
​

Nygma looks up suddenly from a sheet of paper. He stuffs the files under his arm and yanks open the interrogation room door.

"Later. We need to go now!"

"What's wrong?"

"I know who his next target is. Gordon and Essen."

"Of course. Who else is left?"

"But I know when he's going to strike."

He shoves the paper he was reading into my hands. It's a printed copy of the Gazette's obits page. James Akins, Holiday's son. Murdered on December 26th, 1996. Born on August 4th, 1988.

I look down at my watch. 11:30 PM.

Just a half hour until August 3rd becomes the 4th.

"We need to get to Gordon's house now."

Nygma starts running down the hallway. I chase after, blowing past other detectives who watch on with confused looks. I chase him down the stairs and out into the parking garage. He's already opening the door to his unmarked car when I catch up.

"What about backup?"

"This is our case, Sage. We're bringing it in. It's now or never."

I check my watch again.

11:35 PM.

Twenty-five minutes left.

"Let's do it."
​

 

[Eddie Brock]

SELINA KYLE

I wake up on the couch, a cold glass of orange juice staring me down. Guess I crashed late last night. Rubbing the kink in my neck as I sit up straight, I'm forced to squint as a result of the early Gotham morning sun flooding the room. I pick up the OJ and nearly down half the glass in one gulp.

"I see you share Mr. Wayne's poor sleeping habits."

Alfred's voice startles me at first, and I turn around to see him standing at the far end of the room.

"How's the orange juice?" he asks kindly. "It's fresh-squeezed."

"Wonderful." I tip the glass back and finish the rest of it. Putting the glass back down on the table, I ask, "How about a cup of coffee?"

Alfred smiles. "Of course. Cream and sugar?"

"Just cream, no sugar." Alfred nods and disappears into the kitchen. I continue to rub my sore neck. If I had known I was going to crash, I would've taken Wayne up on his offer for a guest bed.

Speaking of Wayne, I look over at the door to his study. It's still closed. Allowing my curiosity to get the better of me, I tiptoe across the room and try the doorknob. Still locked. What the Hell?

"I suspect that Mr. Wayne, like you, didn't get back to bed last night," Alfred announces. Being caught in the act of sneaking around, I flinch, but Alfred doesn't seem to notice or mind. He carries a steaming cup of coffee to me before explaining, "He's something of a workaholic when the mood strikes. I'm always insisting that he keeps more decent hours."

I nearly burn myself on my first sip of coffee, and when Alfred turns his back, I look at the door to the study again. Something here doesn't smell right. What is Wayne doing behind closed doors all night? I don't know how, but I need to find a way into that study. I have to know what he's up to.

***

After breakfast - a fresh omelet prepared by Wayne's kitchen staff - I go for an early morning run. I'm not familiar with this part of town. I'm used to something a bit shadier. I must say, though, that despite my resentment for the upper class's opulence, I could see myself enjoying a life of luxury. In many ways, I've earned it after everything I've endured.

Deciding to cut through a park nearby Wayne Towers, I force myself to slow down when there's rustling in the bushes ahead of me. Without my service pistol, I feel exposed. I've slowed myself to a walk when a homeless man scrambles out of the bushes onto the path ahead of me. But I only notice one thing.

The star-shaped thing attached to his face.

"Star'ro."

He doesn't seem to notice me, so I slowly back up. Suddenly, his head snaps, and he glares at me from behind the thing on his face.

"Destroy."

I may not have understood the first thing he said, but that much was clear.

Moving inhumanly, the man races down the path towards me. I turn on my heels and begin to run, but I can hear him pursuing me the whole way. I turn a corner sharply, breaking off the path and running underneath a footbridge. On the other side of the bridge, there's another person with one of those star-things.

"Conquer. Destroy."

I cut back up the hill, now with two pursuers. I can see Wayne Towers above the treeline. Glancing over my shoulder, I only see the second man following me. Moments later, something grabs my shoulder. Acting on reflex, I deliver a sharp elbow right into the heart of the star-shaped attachment on the first man's face. He stumbles back, and I keep running.

I make it back to Wayne Towers in one piece, but I've picked up three more chasers. I slip into the elevator and press the button for the penthouse. With a chance to finally catch my breath, I finally get around to wondering what the Hell just happened. What were those things attached to their faces? What or who is "Star'ro?"

"Miss Beaumont?"

Alfred looks at me with concern from the other side of the open elevator doors.

"You look like you've seen a ghost."

I step out of the elevator, still breathing heavily. "These men started chasing me," I explain.

Alfred frowns. "The ones with the stars on their faces?"

My head shoots up. "Yes! How did you know?"

Alfred motions to the window. Holding my side, I walk over to it, taking a good look down at the city. Much to my horror, a small crowd has gathered at the foot of Wayne Towers. All of them have a star on their face.

Suddenly, with a low rumble, the elevator starts descending. Alfred and I both glance over in that direction. The little LED display above the door reads "G." We watch petrified as the numbers start climbing.

"Do you have your service pistol, Miss Beaumont?"

I nod.

"I suggest you get it."
​

 

[Byrd Man]

The Atom replies, "Okay it all sounds plausible. Flash will be in the iso room control room as well."

Mac looks at Flash and says, "Very well. If everything is ready we will begin."

The Atom says, "Fire it up and let's go."

She floats over to Flash and says, "If anything goes wrong I'm counting on you to get out me of this."

In a matter of seconds the Atom's gear disappears and Mac says, "Okay the equipment is at section five grid four 3x 18y. We'll montior you with the electron camera"

The Atom nods and floats away into the chamber. She lands at the area given to her by Mac and says, "I'm shrinking now."

She disappears from sight and sees her equipment.

Time to get dressed for work.

She gather her equipment and says, "Okay I got my gear on I hope you all can hear me."

Mac replies, "We can Atom and we have a lock on you. Dr Griggs is on his way in with the bulb stand by."

Dr Griggs puts on a pair of slippers and leaves the control room.

Mac looks at flash and says, "Normally we wouldn't worry about shoes, but at her size normal shoes on that floor the vibrations would feel like 9.0 on the Richter Scale."

The Atom says, "It's getting very dark suddenly."

Mac replies, "Dr. Griggs is over you with the bulb he is going to work the bulb very slowly. If he goes to fast it'll feel like a catagory 5 hurricane to you. Let us know when you are in the bulb. We'll start on the count of three. 1,2,3"

The Atom stands still and then suddenly feels a pull upward and she says, "Why do I suddenly feel the urge to say the claw is master? I'm in."

Dr. Griggs walks towards the iso-room as <ac says, "All-right everyone let's go and hope LaMar doesn't trip."

Griggs is in the iso room and says, "Ready"

Mac looks around and everyone is seated at various monitors and computer terminals and says, "Atom in a few seconds you are going to feel like you have been shot out of a cannon. You are going into one of the creatures we will now proceed."

Atom replies, "Okay just...woah!"

She is now inside of one of the creatures. The Atom slides on her night vision lenses and begins filming.

She then drops two protein markers and says, "So I know where the exit is and now I'm gonna start just shooting video if you see something tell me to stop or I see something I'll say something here I go."

The Atom begins swimming along.

Seconds tick by slowly, even slower than usual for me. Superboy is outside trying to fend off anyone who comes our way. Atom is floating through an alien monster, the size of Captain Cold's penis. Yep, it's that small. Why do you think he's so angry?

After an unbearable five minutes, I turn towards the other doctors.

"Any word from her? I'm going to go check on Superboy. Be right back."