The "Ultimate DC Universe" RPG: Season 2.0

[SenseiofCheese]

IC:

​

Katar soars majestically through the sky. He had planned on watching over the opening of the new Cathedral in Gotham, but there was no hurry. As hard as it was to admit it, Katar had been overworking himself for the last month. With little to no sleep and constant brawls, he had assumed a burden he wondered might be too heavy for any one man to bear.
Hol's thoughts wandered to the other beings that had taken it upon themselves to protect the people. Were they like him, at all?
The Superman of Metropolis seemed to be more god than man and the woman who had assisted him in saving the Earth from the invasion showed now indication of being any less powerful. Lastly, Katar wondered if the mysterious Bat-Man of Gotham City even existed. In his time in the city, soaring high above the city-scape at day as well as at night, Katar had never gotten as much as a glimpse of the vigilante.
No sooner had he thought about these seemingly omnipotent saviors, than the memory of the evil he had encountered emerged. That's when Hawkman remembered that for every man or woman that used their gifts to catch the falling citizen, there were a hundred that would use those same powers to be the one who pushed the innocent off the ledge.

"I have to do this. It's my duty. I'm sorry, Shayera"

He was deep in thought when the screams reached him.

"Catholics, and all other Non-Believers of Gotham! I give you...GENOCIDE!"

His eyes jerking open, he saw that the cathedral was the source of the commotion.

"Huh. There's a surprise."

Katar's fist grabbed a hold of his mace, raising it menacingly in the air as he zoomed down towards the crowd pf panicked bystanders. It wasn't long before he spotted the strangely dressed man who stood suspended in mid-air. Not even a second later, Katar saw the broken corpse laying on the steps of the cathedral.
He was too late. An innocent life had been lost.

"No..."

Feeling pure rage take a hold of him, Hawkman plunged himself down toward the murderer. Little more than a blur in the sky, he called savagely..

"THIS ENDS NOW!"

 

[Apprentice]

Edit.

 

[Batman]

So after puking, and undoubtedly confusing my foe, I begin to topple forwards. I don't know why. Perhaps a combination of alcohol and being kicked by a vigilante...

Anyway, it's nearly impossible to keep my balance, and I trip over the edge of the bridge. Thinking fast - which is quite a feat for a drunken man - I swing out my cane. The question mark shape hooks onto the bridge, and I am left hanging there. My grip is incredibly loose, and I realize that I can't hold on for long.

"Well, don't just stand there!"

I stare down at the clearly intoxicated, and deluded man that's caused me stress and misery for the last few hours. He was a fool to ever have thought he could have escaped inprisonment in his current state. But now, his life hangs in the balance. A fall from this height would mean instant death, more likely even before he hit the ground.

Some sickened, deranged part of my mind wants to let him fall. But I can't. Damn it, I can't do it. Even if he did almost kill Alfred, I won't allow myself to be brought to their level because of it...

It takes little more than a reach before I've got a clear grip of his forearm. He dangles, wildly, as the air hits him, but never slips from my hand. With a strengthened pull, I lift him to my level, by his arm, and fiercely grab the collar of his jacket. But I never place him back on the bridge. I leave him hanging above the fall. And I think that starts to sink in, as sweat beads off of his brow.

"I could've let you fall,", I growl, angrily, sending the fear of god into him.

"But I didn't. Consider that something for you to remember, the next time the thought of kidnapping an innocent man enters your deranged mind."

Before he's given a chance to disembowel the rest of his lunch, I pull him onto the bridge, and drop him, hard, on his back. Police sirens echo in the distance, indicating that I was right about the blast. Turning towards the kidnapper, I advance, and grab him again, snapping a pair of titanium alloyed cuffs across his wrists. Grabbing the chain, I drag him to the nearest tower, and clip the cuffs to a railing.

The police will find him in time, if he screams loud enough. But he's learned a very important lesson, tonight. And that's all that needed to be done, on my part. Walking over to the ledge, I unhinge a grapnel from my belt, and fire, letting the line snag.

Alfred's fine. I have no reason to fear what this man is capable of. But this incident has taught me something, aswell. It's proven that I've still got a long road ahead of me, if I'm to instill true panick in the criminal underworld.

With a spread of my cape, and a leap, I leave the kidnapper, cuffed to the railing atop the bridge. From what little I know of that madman, his compulsion... maybe even his addiction, is to puzzled riddles. So as I leave, one springs into my own mind. "How many screams does it take to secure a holding cell in Arkham"?

For him, if he's lucky... one.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Rhiannon sits in the library studying her notes as Holland walks up to her. She sees him out of the corner of her eye.

Play it cool Raye...play it cool and let him make the first move and whatever you do...play dumb.

Holland says to her, "Hey Palmer name's Eric Holland we got Criminal Psych together great answer you gave today. How do you know so much about crooks?"

She looks up and says, "Oh I grew up on the streets."

Holland says, "Really? I thought your dad was the Knights QB and your mom was an author. Doesn't sound like you grew up on the streets."

Think fast Raye...think fast.

Rhiannon doesn't even blink and says, "Look growing up in the shadow of the country club at times was so phony and as long as I did nothing to embarass my family they didn't keep a close eye on me."

Holland says, "Yeah I hear you, anyway me and some of the others are getting together tomorrow night for some fun and games. You interested?"

Rhiannon says, "Sure I could use the break all of this studying is really getting real boring."

Holland says, "Great meet at Biller Hall at 10pm."

Rhiannon says, "Looking forward to it."

Holland leaves

Gee meeting after hours on the darkest corner of campus...hmmm somehting tells me that we aren't going to be toasting marshmellows and swaping ghost stories. Besides...Holland knew a little too much about my family history....this guy is more dnagerous than he lets on...need to be on my guard.

She begins reading more of her notes.

 

[Feature]

REX TYLER: HOURMAN
Season II - Part 5


Rex violently shoved the front door of his apartment open, barged inside, then just as violently slammed it shut.

He threw his jacket at the couch with all his might and was unsatisfied with the soft sound it made upon landing. He darted into the kitchen, moving like a madman, and flung open the cupboards. He picked up a stack of plates and angrily cast them down to the floor, where they erupted like ceramic fireworks.

Storming into his lab, he took a small chalkboard off the wall and snapped it over his knee, trying not to yelp from the sharp stab of pain. He went to the desk, grabbed two handfuls of notes, and threw them in the air. They whirled lazily to the floor.

Rex stood there, his chest heaving. He began to think about the mess he'd made and how he'd have to clean it. It only served to make him angrier. Burying his face in his hands, he began to cry. He sat down in his chair and put his head down on the desk, screaming furiously.

When he looked up, he saw that there was a strange package on his desk. Rex's neighbour, Mrs. Velazquez, had likely put it there. He paid her to bring in his mail everyday, since it often contained information that Bannermain Pharmaceuticals' competitors would love to swipe. He trusted Velazquez to bring the mail in because her english was terrible. She could not read his notes. Hell... it had been a battle just to iron out this arrangement with her.

This package must have came in the mail today. Rex frantically tore it open. An adult-sized halloween costume came tumbling out. Yellow and red and dark blue. Hooded. An hour glass on the chest. There was a note in the box.

A present for Bannermain Pharmaceutical's man of the hour!
Thanks for the bonus you earned us, handsome!
You'll look divine in this!
Love ya, Amy
​

Amy was a cute girl who worked at Bannermain. She and Rex had engaged in an intense flirtation for years. There was no one Rex cared for... or desired... more. But he could not let anyone into his trainwreck of a life. Not until he'd done something right. Proven himself.

Rex dropped the costume on the floor and looked at the strange notes he'd written the other night. Inspired, he quickly began to clear off his desk. He was going to make the drug. His miracle drug. He would make it, and ingest it. If it worked, he had finally done something of value! If not... his dissapointing life would end predictably.​

 

[Andy C.]

Goodbye.

Us am no Bizarro-World.

Earth no think, so us do.

Us do opposite.

Am no very hot inside space. It no been very short time since us no was pushed in from wormplace. Now us am no orbiting around blue sun, with everything to do all day.

Us am no bored.

Then us no see something going away towards us, very very slowly. Us can no sense thing in space as it no talk to nobody else.

"For the glory of Thanagar, this is the deep-space explorer Undaunted reporting in on the aberration spotted in sector 4182. We have spotted an uncharted planetoid in the sector, and are now moving in to investigate."

Them no am wanting to meet us. Us better not make good last impression, so us no send out Bizarro-World's greatest villain. Him no fix their space-thing.

"Attention, attention. There is an unidentified object approaching our vessel from the vicinity of the unknown planet. It's...it's moving inexplicably fast, and...merciful gods, it's coming right for us!"

Us no watch as Bizarro go further away from space-thing. Him no good at fixing things, so him make all Bizarros happy. Him no make these people happy too.

"Repulsor screens have failed, and evasive actions are ineffective. We've got visual...it's alive! It's a creature wearing a red cape and--"

"gOodByE."

"Gods, no! It's breached the reactor! We're all going to---"

Explosion no make everything very dark for a second. Bizarro am fix space-thing. Make friends happy.

"hEllO."


******

Bizarro wave hello to pieces of space-thing, then come back away to home. Millions of other Bizarros no cheer for him, and he no burrow down underground beneath city of Lisoportem, where he no fight for lies and injustice every day.

"bIzaRro, mE am hAtE yOu fOrevEr!" no say Lois when Bizarro tunnel under Daily Planet. Bizarro no poke head above ground to wink and sneer at her.

"bIzArRo, yOu Am bEsT fRieNd!" No say Luthor, dumbest Bizarro of them all, when Bizarro no pass by LexCorp Tower, which no reach hundreds of feet underground.

"mE nO stOp yOu tWiCe aNd foR bAd! lUtHoR nO kiLl yOu iF iT no Am fIrSt tHiNg mE do!"

Bizarro no pick up Luthor and dump him in Arkham Amusement Park, where Joker no sit and cry all day. Him then no save Mahtog City by letting criminals out. Batman no would help, but him shot dead by parents.

After easy night's work of saving disasters from city, Bizarro no head to place where him be all alone...Fortress of Big Crowd.

Here, me no can talk to Bizarro.

"us mAkE nEw fRiEnd toDaY," him no say to me, "us nO fIx sPacE-thInG liKe yOu nO sAy."

"There no be more coming soon," me no say back. "Them am want be our friends. We no should go to them planet and make them happy."

"yEs, yOu aM wRoNg. uS nO mAke sPacE fRiEndS hApPy."

No soon later, Bizarro-World begin no moving, tracing signal of space-thing to where it no come from. Us no go back through wormplace to get there slower. Us surprise space-friends, fix planet after they even known us no am there.

Us make everyone happy.

Us do opposite.

Hello.

 

[Karem-Knight]

Kandor, it was nearly sun set, and the lights of the red sun came to the capital city of the great planet, Zod admired sun sets, very much, it gave him a sense of pride that very few things could reach, especially for someone like Zod. He waited outside the balcony of his home, given to him by the council as a general of their army; all of a sudden the doorbell rang.

[FONT=&quot]“Come in.”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
Zod said, turning back to doorway and he saw his second in command, Ursa.

“Hello, General.”
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
She stood up straight, staring at her General, [FONT=&quot]“Take a seat.” [/FONT]Saying with a smile, she did so, Zod got a drink for both of them and laid them on the table, he then sat opposite her.

[FONT=&quot]“I assume you have some news for me?”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
“Yes, one of the Yon-Pol’s soldiers has clamed to be tortured, and that we massacred several soldiers in an evectional fashion.”
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
Zod took a sip of his drink and put on the table, already deciding his decision.

“Put him in isolation, make sure he’s only allowed out, once every month for half an hour for making false accusations. If any of those poor parasites want to live peacefully, they won’t say a word and be nothing except prisoners of war.”

“Another thing that comes to mind, General.”

“Oh?”

“A few councilmen have reportedly been accusing you of treating your tactics as if there was a war going on, instead of a disturbance.”

“That’s just opinion!”

“Yes, General, but. Something troubles me, there is one councilman who has a very strong opinion against you, he’s a scientist of the council, he’s very kind hearted and has made great advancements to the technology of Krypton, but some say he’s to worried about the eco-system of Krypton, his name is J…”

“Jor-El?”

“Yes, how do you know?”

“We’ve spoken before, last time was actually only a few days ago. He has a lot of nerve and doesn’t understand the importance of being a solider.”

Ursa nodded and finished her glass, Zod stared at her for a moment, the next few miniutes were in silence, till Ursa stood up and went outside, “I’m just going to go outside.”

“Very well.”

Zod waited for her to go outside and admire the view of the city, Ursa stood still outside, till her General touched her gently round the shoulder, the two then kissed, passionately.

A few hours later:

The General woke up, as Ursa left putting her cloths back on, Zod watched as she dressed,

“Ursa.”

She looked at him, “Yes, General?”

“No one, I repeat no one, can know about this.”

“I know General.”

Zod lay down as she left, she whispered goodbye as he stared outside. Jor-El, this had troubled him, he had many options, kill him? No to obvious, threaten him? No, he would report it, maybe if he just talked to the scientist, imply something, maybe he would stay away.

Zod rested his head on his hands, he had been digging himself into holes, but he had a plan up his sleeve, oh yes he did.

Looking outside, he whispered to himself;


“Soon, all of which that red sun surrounds will be mine!”

 

[Karem-Knight]

[FONT=&quot]“Jim Corrigan!”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“Repent”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“You must……….repent!”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“Repent!” “Judgement!” “Damnation!” “Purgatory!” “Darkness!” “Death!” [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“Vengeance!” “Repent!” “Forgiveness!” “Corrigan!” “Repent!” “Repent!”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“REPENT!”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
“AHH!”

I wake up in my bed, sweating, I feel hot, heartbeats going like I just ran a marathon, I catch my breath for a minute, what the **** just happened, must have had a night terror.

“ahh, Jim, What time is it?”

“Don’t worry honey, go back to bed!”

I look at the time, 3 o’clock, in 24 hours I’m going to be arriving home, nightshift today, got nothing to do for the morning, need to get a good night’s sleep, I rest my head, what the hell was that about? Felt, weird for one.

I fall right back to sleep.

Morning, ten am, Jessica already left for work, so have the kids. I head to the fridge to get some coffee, turning on the kettle and waiting for it to steam up, I look at the mirror, man I look tired, I rub my eyes.

[FONT=&quot]“Repent!”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
What the…

I look in the mirror, there’s a weird…. burning smell, shaking my head and closing my eyes I see something…green, I close them again, nothing, nothing to worry about.

The kettle ticks, getting a spoon I put the instant stuff into it, I drink it black, I like it that way.

Later:

I make my way to the office, fourth cup I’ve had today, I go into the door, I’m near the main office and see my half partner Jackie, Loeb only assigns us for some cases, we only have partnership for certain cases, Jackie works homicide, like me. He sees me, I walk over to him.

“Hey Jim!”

“Hey, Jack, how are you?”

“Not to bad, yourself?”

“Tired, Loeb put you on late shift?”

“Yeah, hey you hear about Gordon?”

“Nah, what happened?”

“The Mayor wanted him fired, so Loeb did so but all of a sudden this attorney gave them a policy that they must appoint a ****ing n**** or else they get ****ing sued.”

“Only cause of he’s ****ing skin? Then maybe they should hire another n**** just to make sure Gordon doesn’t get shot.”

“haha, Yeah.”

He finishes his cup of coffee as I do too,

“Come on, we’ve got to go that ware house.”

“What? The one you told me about yesterday?”

“Yeah, come on let’s go.”

We head outside of Central into my car.


An hour later:

We arrive at the warehouse,

“This the place?”

“Yeah, come on Jackie you know the drill!”

The sounds of our guns clicking as we put get ready, I holster mine first, so does her.

“Any idea who runs this joint?”

“Nah, probably some guy like Thorne or Zucco.”

I knock on the door, “Hello?”, no answer I nod to Jackie, he kicks the door down getting his gun out, I casually walk in.

“This is the GCPD!”


His voice echoes in the hallway, slowly he walks inside, Following him and getting my gun out I give out the signal.

“Gee, Jackie guess your gonna have to pay up!”

He stares at me with the gun and pointing it at my face,

“What the **** are you talking about?”

“Give it a rest you ****!” A voice says from behind him, Joey Provenzano, my “boss” as Zucco’s insider, along with four soldiers carrying Uzi’s.

“What the **** do you want! JIM WHAT THE **** DID YOU DO TO ME!”

“I work for Zucco and the police, and Joey hear tells me you have paid him up for something.”

“YOU DOUBLE CROSSING ****! HOW THE **** DARE YOU, I TRUSTED YOU!”

He turns desperately towards them.

“Hey hey look, I promised you guys, the money by next week!”

“It is, next week so where the **** is the money!?”

“Ok, look come on, please man…. PLEASE, don’t!”

“Finish him!” The two soldiers point their guns at Jackie.

“NO!” A hurl of gunfire massacres my one time partner and friend, Jackie Brians, I sigh as I see his corpse on the floor.

I go towards Joey, asking him,

“What do I tell, Loeb, she’s going to have my ass for this if I don’t come up with a decent excuse.”

“We’ll handle that, but if that **** Gordon asks, you connect this entirely with Thorne.”

“Of course, this is his warehouse right?”

“Yeah abounded for the day.”

Joey gets out a few hundred dollars for me and puts it on my hand.

“Now, nothing happened here, you were never at talking to anyone, and you’ve never met Joey Provenzano, got it?”

I nod, he pats me on the cheek and I chuckle, I walk out the ware house and notice a piece of glass.


I see a quick glimpse of a skeleton, and I faintly hear that noise again.

[FONT=&quot]“Repent!”

[/FONT]
I shake my head and walk away, got to lay off the drugs.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Rhiannon floats through the airvents as The Atom and sneaks out of the dorms.

She arrives at the Bilier Building a few minutes early and hides in the grass awaiting Holland's arrival.

The Atom sees him and about 5 others coming with him.

Holland's room-mate Greg is not among them...I still think that I can use him and his secret to help expose Holland. This is starting to become a very dangerous game...and if anything happens to me why do I have the feeling that most of the GCPD will blow this under the carpet? I can't count on Gordon right now...he's got his own probs.

She waits for him to pass by and then continues to follow them.

Holland says, "Now all we have to do is wait for Palmer to show up and we can get this show on the road. Remember we give her something to do as an act of good faith...and trust me she won't make it and then we pin everything on her."

This guy is a scumball...then again how tough can he really be? It's not like he's The Joker.

The Atom falls back a few feet and returns to normal size un-noticed.

Holland says, "Okay she should be here anytime now."

Rhiannon says, "Nice night for a walk boys."

Holland and company turn around somewhat startled.

Holland says, "Good one Palmer. My friends we are gathered here this evening to see if this young lady has what it takes to join the black-lances."

Rhiannon asks, "Black-lances?"

Holland replies, "It's a secret society. We are on the ground floor of making the police department more of a viable industry for those who are willing to make sacrifices for the community. It's time for us to get what we deserve, and we get it by any means at our disposal."

Rhiannon nods.

I think I am going to puke.

Holland says, "To get into our society we need a show of good faith from you."

Rhiannon asks, "And that is?"

Holland says, "Get into Everett's office. There is a copy of the state final in his desk. Get it and bring it back..do that and you're in."

Rhiannon nods and says, "All-right. Now?"

Holland says, "The sooner the better."

Rhiannon walks around the corner and looks around.

Too easy.

She changes into The Atom and floats into the air-duct system.

She enters Everett's office and returns to normal size. Rhiannon begins to open the drawer just then the office door begins to open.

Uh-Oh! This must've been what Holland was talking about.

She quickly changes into the Atom and hides in a file folder in the desk drawer she was opening at microscopic size.

A security officer and Everett walk in and they begin to look around.

Everett says, "Well looks like our anonymous tip was wrong. I don't see a single person in here"

They leave and The Atom floats out. Seeing that no one is around she returns to normal size and gets the exam.

She pushes it off under the door and she shrinks down and crawls out of the office.

Rhiannon returns to normal size and meets back with Holland and the others. They are stunned.

Rhiannon says, "Next time make it something challenging." She hands them the exam.

Holland says, "All-right you're in Palmer. We'll be in touch." They hand the exam back to her and leave.

Rhiannon takes the exam and puts it back into the office.

 

[Byrd Man]

​

"Jim?...JIM!"

My eyes snap open as Sarah shakes me awake.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to nod off, I'll be to bed in a minutes...."

"Jim, it's seven in the morning."

I adjust my glasses and see the sunshine starting to fliter through the window.

"Crap. I didn't mean to fall asleep. I was just..."

"Reading? Again."

I manage to stand up, the flies on my lap scatter on the floor. I have all the files on everyone of them, the Falcone's, the Maroni's, Thorne and Zucco, and finally Skeevers. The last time I remember, it was three and I was reading about Zucco's past...

"Just a little lite reading, hun."

"So, you haven't seen the paper yet?"

Sarah tosses me the Gazette and I stare at the title.

Muckraker Gordon crashes party at Iceberg

I re-read the article four times, each time making sure if It's real.

"You see this? 'With a glint of justice in his eyes and a shotgun in one hand, hero cop Jim Gordon shook up things last night....who wrote this?....Knox, Alex Knox. Never heard of him....."

I smile as I finally set it down. From the looks of it, I've got the press on my side now. Something not even Loeb or Cobblepot can buy. I look up at Sarah, she's got a look of worry on her face.

"I don't lke this."

"Why? I'm making this world a better place for James and Barbara..."

"But at what cost? Your life?"

I walk over to Sarah, wrapping my arms around her.

"Don't worry...it'll be okay."

Sarah starts to cry as she digs into my shoulder.

"You're not untouchable, Jim."

I stare out of the window as Sarah continues to cry.

"I know, but I can damn sure try to be."​

 

[Batman]

"My word."

That's Alfred's only reasonable response to what I told him about the previous night. Everything from the OMACs, to Brainiac, to Superman and Wonder Woman. Even my parents, which was considerably difficult to relive. To say he sounds stunned by it all would be an injustice. And to say I still haven't even fully grasped it all would be an even greater one. But it leaves me with alot of questions. And alot of... plans, that I never imagined myself making. However, they must be put aside for the time being. Gotham's still ailing, and now that I have Alfred back, I can focus all of my efforts towards my city once again.

"My sentiments exactly,", I continue, as The Batcomputer reboots it's memory files. "But I'd rather focus on the present than the past. We're going to need to make revisions here."

"Naturally.", He responds, straightening his tie on a newly pressed tuxedo. "Though, I do of course scarce to ask... what revisions had you in mind, sir?"

"Security, specifically.", I urge, making sure he realizes why I've made this decision. "There have been too many people in the past year that have discovered the true connection between Bruce Wayne and The Batman. And even though there's a certain trust to be made between us, I can't help but feel that if I allow things to be ran as they are, the kryptonian won't be the last to figure it out either."

I look back, with a serious expression.

"And considering tonight's events, that puts you in considerable risk aswell."

"If you can consider that gaudily dressed roughian to be a risk.", Alfred remarks, with a certain lightness that just hours ago, I feared I'd never experience again.

"Nevertheless, Alfred. Both of us need to be more prepared for situations of the unexpected nature, given how I operate. Which is why the two of us are going to put all of the savings funds we can towards designing a newer, customized security system for the Manor, and The Batcave."

"And I assume making improvements to what already exists lies within these plans of your's."

I raise an eyebrow. "Why do you say that?"

"Well, Master Bruce, given the chance to improve any of your equipment, you usually take it.", He answers, clearing his throat. "One nearly expects you to don a pair of tights, every month."

Remaining silent, for a moment, as I gather my thoughts, I notice Alfred becoming uneasy.

"My apologies. I do know how my sarcasm tends to bite at your nerves. I shall cease at once."

"No, Alfred,", I remark, with a smirk. "I was just thinking how good it is to have you back."

For the first time in all his years of service, I believe Alfred is actually surprised by something I have to say. To his credit, however, he does manage to fail in hiding the clear smile that comes from that remark. Something tells me that this is how he feels after I return, every night, from the streets.

A moment passes, before either of us speak again.

"Shall I prepare your equipment for another outing?", He asks. "Surely there is more buisness you have to attend to, within the city."

"It's nearly dawn. And The Batman remains ineffective during the day.", I note. "But prepare it anyway. I'll need it as early as possible for the coming evening."

"Very well. Though I detect a bit of... urgency in your tone."

My fists tighten, slightly, as a slight anger courses through my body.

"Harvey Dent. Two-Face,", I finally answer. "Gordon told me that he's been rallying a force of some of my escaped enemies. Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, and Scarecrow, among them. And every moment he's out there, with them under his command, I feel less certain of Gotham's safety."

"Making enemies out of enemies, are you, sir?"

"They're definitely obsessed. Possibly even more than I am with bringing them down,", I note. "And all the while, The Joker's whereabouts remain unknown. Part of me fears that Harvey will manage to recruit him, if he hasn't already."

The computer screen brings up the list of the Arkham Rehabilitational Institute files for the three escapees in Victor Fries, Pamela Isley, and Jonathan Crane. There has to be a better connection between them that lends them to Harvey's needs than a simple need for revenge against me. Dent is obsessed with two's. Double the motive, double the scale of the crime. And with that much force at his disposal, he has to have bigger plans for the city.

"Justice,", I muse, aloud. "Dent's also obsessed with justice, and law and order. A reprecussion of his days as a District Attorney. He fought to rid the city of it's evil, only to ironically become apart of it. That has to fit into his plan, somehow..."

"Justice is a rare thing to find, in Gotham.", Alfred states, before looking over at me. "No offense to your efforts, of course."

"None taken.", I respond, trying to think. "You may have a point, though. Law and order became all but a lost cause, when criminals like Crane and Fries began their careers. Harvey has to realize the contradiction in that, but..."

"But his motives are hard to deduce?"

"Yes. Unfortunately."

I bask in the darkness of the cave, as silence looms over us, with every grim possibility that enters my mind. I have to remain fearless... unaffected, personally, by the crimes that plague the city. But I can't help but fall to certain imaginations. Two-Face, Scarecrow, Joker... they're all enough to stir reasonable panic. But combined?

"Dammit, what is he planning?"

 

[Blacklight]

"Whatever, ya silly little hussy. You think you can take me down? Im the Black Mask, *****!" he screamed, and punched her hard in the kidneys. He stood back, watching her buckle slightly, then stepped in quickly and kicked her in the jaw. Before she could get up, he kicked her in the stomach, knocking her onto her back. He put a boot down on her chest, and leaned in close to her ear.

"This ain't no mask girl. These are scars. And you're gonna wish you had scars like mine once I'm through with you," he hissed, before kicking her hard in the face. Her head went back with a crack, and her eyes went blank. He quickly checked her pulse. She was alive. Just. He quickly picked her up, and threw her over his shoulder, like a hunter with a prize kill. He was gonna have some fun with her.

Three hours later...


"..."

"Wakey, wakey."

"Wh...where...where am I?"

My eyes slowly opened up to find Black Mask right over my head from the side. I tried to get up and attack him, but I find my wrists tied to the end of the table i'm lying on. I tried to kick him too, but my ankles were bound as well, and my boots were gone! He had me spread eagle and shoeless. The only cover being my fishnet stockings that were visible from mid calf down where my leather pants ended.

"What are you doing? Let me g...mmph..mmmph!" Was the only noise I could make when Black Mask put a hankerchief in my mouth so I couldn't chant a spell. He slowly circles the table, and I grew nervous and scared of what he could do to me. I had no defense.

"From what I've observed about you, ****e. None of my usually painful torture methods will have any effect on you, since you could just heal yourself when you use you "magic", but you also need to concentrate and talk in order to do that, so I had an idea on how to have some fun with you after watching your magic show..."

Then he reached into his coat, and I closed my eyes in fear of what he will pull out, then I opened my eyes, and saw he had a feather.

"Let's see you do magic while you're laughing!"

Then I grew cold. That's why my boots were gone. He's gonna turn my routine into his sick way of getting revenge. He approached the end of the table, and puleed out my hankercheif befoe he started brushing the feather all over my foot. The only sound filling the room was my laughter. I couldn't concentrate long enough to chant while I was laughing from the tickling...

"HAHAHA..Stop!...Please! HAHAHAAAHHAA!"

****************************

After about an hour and a half, Black Mask stopped. I could barely breathe.

"I had fun. Did you?"

Barely having any voice, I responded, breathing heavily in between words. "You're........a............psycho........."​

"I know! Don't you love it!?!" He said with a grin. Then he picked up where he left off, and my nerves were maxed out. I couldn't take it. Eventually my eyes closed and I lost consciousness again.......

 

[Batman]

To any other soul, the sight before him would have been a horrifying, deluded, and utterly chaotic massacre of unheard of proportions. To The Joker, it was just another walk in the park. Literally.

Random citizens found themselves gunned down and murdered before anyone even realized what was going on. But as the blood flew through the air, and the piercing sounds of gunfire ricocheted into the night, anyone still crossing the grass landscape of Robinson Park eventually turned, and ran the other way. All the while, as they tried to escape the madness before them, a loud and maniacal cackle errupted from behind them.

Bursting through a large bush, just on the outskirts of the park's entrance that condemned it off from the rest of Gotham City, The Joker grinned with glee as he threw two large machine guns over his shoulder, leaped out, and began to continue firing into the air. No one knew why the madman was there at all, and why he was murdering seemingly ordinary people with no distinct connection. The truth was, however, there was none. The Joker was just having himself one hell of a time, much to the expense of a few hundred lives, if he were that lucky.

"Look, pa! I got one! I got one!", The Clown Prince bellowed with delight, as he blasted away a fleeing couple by their calves, then finished them off through the skulls in a clean shot. "And to think, it's not even wabbit season yet! HAHAHA!"

As one of his guns ran out of ammunition, fast, The Joker tossed it into the air, and threw the other one forward, into his other hand. With a sickening laugh of thrilled anticipation, The Joker fired into the air, almost as if he were letting the rest of the bystanders run for their lives. But as he advanced into the park, The Joker suddenly looked over, perplexed, as a young girl's crying echoed through the trees. Looking up, the madman couldn't help but lick his lips, at the thought of making whatever tree the kid had foolishly taken for cover to rain blood.

Firing up into the nearest tree, The Joker laughed, wildly, as leaves and pieces of broken bark flew all around him, blasted off until the tree was bare, revealing it's branches to be empty. The Joker fretted, for a small moment, in disappointment. But the cries were still there. Stalking every tree, as they grew louder, The Joker fired every so often, as he lanked through the darkness, only adding to the horror the girl felt.

"Oh, come now! You're spoiling the party, you little runt!", The Joker shouted, cheerfully annoyed, looking into each and every tree that he could. "I'll bet if you don't come down, and greet Uncle Joker like the lamb to the slaughterhouse that you are, I'll get to bump off your dear ole' mommy and daddy, first! If I didn't already!"

The Joker's manic threats were cut off, as tires screeched behind him. At the entrance of the park, two Gotham City Squad Cars came to a halt, before four officers ran in, moments later, clearly armed. They had recieved a cell phone tip about the attack from one of the fleeing survivors, and promptly responded, knowing that if they caught the madman, they'd be sure to get a promotion. What they didn't know, however, was that The Joker had fully anticipated their involvement. Seems the night brings out all the party poopers...

"FREEZE!", Sgt. Del'Otto shouted, as the officers spotted the purple clad figure looming before them. "YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT, YOU FREAKIN' SCUM!"

"Silence? Silence?! Feh!", The maniac's voice bellowed out, from all directions. "Buddy boy, you're not dealing with some carjack mugger of a loser this evening! Why, you're practically facing your own graves!"

"That's it! You're toast, you freak!", Del'Otto shouted, firing a round of bullets at the figure.

"Oooh! Oooh, god! It hurts! You got me, you... you... got... meee..."

The officers smiled, content, running into the park to collect their perp. But as they got closer to the purple coated shadow before them, they suddenly became slower in their movement, realizing that The Joker had been much shorter than any of them would've imagined. Taking out a flashlight from his belt, Del'Otto led his fellow officers to the limp body on the ground, the bullet ridden jacket draped over it. Shining the light onto the figure, Del'Otto watched as his partner bent down, and grabbed the perp's shoulder, turning him over...

Only to reveal the dead, pale, and grinning face of a seven year old little girl. The same girl that The Joker had spent so much time trying to find, moments prior. The officers gasped, in horror, as Del'Otto dropped his flashlight in shock. But the sight of the victim was nothing compared to the satisfied, spine tingling laugh that echoed afterwards.

"Oh, man, that was priceless! I actually didn't think it would work!", The Joker loitered over them, in between high pitched squeals of delight.

Before the officers could look up and fire at the man that had made fools of them all, five grenades came flying down, landing on the ground infront of their feet. The officers' eyes simultaneously widened, in fear, as the grenades rolled over, revealing a hideous sketch of a harlequined grin, painted on each one. The officers watched in horror, once more, as a figure leaped out of the tree, cackling all the way. In his hand lied a detonator, beeping low under his gloved palm.

"How does the saying go, again?", The Harlequin of Hatred asked, his eyes emitting an ever-so evil glare, as he stared down the officers from afar, upon landing. "Bombs away? No, no, too cliche. I have to do better than that. After all, it's got to be perfect, for you fine gentlemen!"

With a snap, The Joker's masked face seemed to light up, as he realized what he could say to them. Unfortunately for the officers, that light was actually the glowing coming off of the detonator's button, as The Joker slipped it out of his sleeve, and pressed it.

"I've got it! I'll just let my little toys speak for me!", He finished, before the detonator beeped a final time, and signaled a massive explosion, lighting up the park with a glow of fire and pieces of charred corpses belonging to the once brave officers infront of him.

The Joker slapped his knee, before grabbing his sides, in a delighted howl.

"Get it? Get it?! They said 'Boom'! HAHAHAHA!"

With a turn, The Joker's eyes moved to the park's entrance once more, as several more squad cars came peeling into the area. His grin wasn't wide anymore, as he felt a bout of contented hatred pass through him for the would-be fun spoilers. With an angry glare from behind his mask, The Joker pulled on his jacket, allowing a pair of magnum pistols to wriggle free from his inward pockets. Catching them as they fell, The Joker made sure to keep them hidden, to give the officer's a false sense of hope, as the inferno behind him raged on.

"Oh, dear me, I should've brought grenades for the rest of the class.", The Joker mocked, hatefully, preparing to open fire.

"God in heaven, he's a lunatic!"

Pamela Isely had never admitted to fearing anyone, since becoming Poison Ivy... particularly a man, of all people. But as the news footage of the Robinson Park massacre played infront of her, Ivy felt her lips quiver in horror, as she realized that though she herself was considered psychotic, she was nothing compared to The Joker. Pamela turned to Harvey Dent, now the scarred lunatic known as Two-Face, as he watched the footage contently, from behind his hideout's desk.

"That's putting it a little lightly, Pamela, dear,", Harvey responded, as he tossed up his metallic silver dollar coin, and caught it. "Which is all the more why he's perfect for the task at hand."

"And You Do Know Of This... Task, I Hope,", a grim voice inquired, from the other side of the room, as Harvey stared upon the visage of Mr. Freeze. "I Would Hate To Think Your Larger Scaled Plan At Hand Is Merely A Waste Of My, And Ms. Isley's Time, Mr. Dent."

"Never call me that, freak,", Two-Face growled, from the side of his mouth. "Of course I'm not wasting your time, Vic. We're just having some trouble getting there... it requires patience. But you're going to see my plans come to fruition, soon enough."

Harvey turned back to the television, contemplative, as Two-Face spoke up with reserved anger.

"If that damned clown does his part, tonight."

"And what exactly is his part tonight, Two-Face?", Pamela inquired, curiously. "Surely, there's a better point to this than the cost of a few hundred lives?"

Two-Face's one visible eyebrow shot up, at this. "You're saying that as if you give a rat's ass."

"I wasn't talking about those idiot policemen, Harvey. I was talking about the trees", Ivy mentioned, spitefully. "You know how I feel about the preservation of wildlife."

Two-Face was silent, as Harvey took over again. And they called him crazy?

"Ignorance is bliss, Pam.", Harvey stated, with a sly smirk. "But don't worry your pretty little head about it. Your plants will not have died in vain."

Harvey flipped the coin again, watching it rise into the air, and fall.

"Not if Batman takes the bait."

 

[Catman_prb]

Three hours later...


"..."

"Wakey, wakey."

"Wh...where...where am I?"

My eyes slowly opened up to find Black Mask right over my head from the side. I tried to get up and attack him, but I find my wrists tied to the end of the table i'm lying on. I tried to kick him too, but my ankles were bound as well, and my boots were gone! He had me spread eagle and shoeless. The only cover being my fishnet stockings that were visible from mid calf down where my leather pants ended.

"What are you doing? Let me g...mmph..mmmph!" Was the only noise I could make when Black Mask put a hankerchief in my mouth so I couldn't chant a spell. He slowly circles the table, and I grew nervous and scared of what he could do to me. I had no defense.

"From what I've observed about you, ****e. None of my usually painful torture methods will have any effect on you, since you could just heal yourself when you use you "magic", but you also need to concentrate and talk in order to do that, so I had an idea on how to have some fun with you after watching your magic show..."

Then he reached into his coat, and I closed my eyes in fear of what he will pull out, then I opened my eyes, and saw he had a feather.

"Let's see you do magic while you're laughing!"

Then I grew cold. That's why my boots were gone. He's gonna turn my routine into his sick way of getting revenge. He approached the end of the table, and puleed out my hankercheif befoe he started brushing the feather all over my foot. The only sound filling the room was my laughter. I couldn't concentrate long enough to chant while I was laughing from the tickling...

"HAHAHA..Stop!...Please! HAHAHAAAHHAA!"

****************************

After about an hour and a half, Black Mask stopped. I could barely breathe.

"I had fun. Did you?"

Barely having any voice, I responded, breathing heavily in between words. "You're........a............psycho........."​

"I know! Don't you love it!?!" He said with a grin. Then he picked up where he left off, and my nerves were maxed out. I couldn't take it. Eventually my eyes closed and I lost consciousness again.......

Roman walked out of his torture room, doing up the belt on his trousers, a grin playing across his burnt lips. The woman was still unconscious, and had been throughout. But that didn't make it any less fun. He walked up the winding staircase to his office and pressed the tannoy.

"Ms. Grant, please send some of my more...erm...rough...associates down into the...er...planning room and collect the young lady there. Tell them they can do what they want, but she is to be at least 10 miles away fromt he building first. The chloroform should keep her out until then. We wouldn't want to leave any accidents..." he said, mumbling slightly as he voiced his thoughts. This is what happened when someone played vigilante in his town. They ended up in the gutter, preferabley bleeding. Such as the Catman...he would have to put a stop to him;finally.

2 Hours later, Gotham Cemetary

"Mr.Blake. It took me so long to find where you were, and so many informants had to be brutally beaten. You should be proud of yourself. You almost hid from me," the Black Mask said, entering through the grand gates. Tom Blake was kneeling at a pair of gravestones grouped together.

"Get away from here. As fast as you can," Blake said menacingly. Roman laughed. It was pathetic. Rain began to splatter down in the graveyard, plastering Blakes hair to his face. Black Mask walked towards him.

"In a word: No. I plan to kill you Mr. Blake. And I plan to make your last moments, extremely painful," he said, and pulled a pistol out, pointing it at the kneeling figure. Tom looked up at him.

"I told you to call me Catman,"

"Why should I? That would mean that you were above average. And believe me Mr. Blake, you are the very definition of mediocre," Black Mask said, walking closer, pistol trained on Blake. With a roar like a lion Blake leaped up, a saw toothed knife appearing in his hand.

<BANG>

Tom Blake dropped to the muddy ground, his kneecap a mangled mess of blood. He let out a scream of a pathetically high pitch. Roman walked over and kicked him in the knee, causing another scream.

"If I did my research right Mr. Blake -and I assure you, I did- then I am right in saying that your parents left you in the desert to 'toughen you up'. You were adopted by a pack of lions, until they were killed by poachers, yes? And then you went back to your parents, and killed them...it sounds like a greek tragedy to me," Black Mask said, taking delight in his victims pain. Tom looked up, his face a final picture of defiance.

"You were Roman Sionis. Your apartment was burnt down by the combined efforts of rival gangs after you made a hit on their children. You escaped but with severe scarring. The plastic surgeons couldn't save you," he said, gasping for breath. Black Mask looked at him curiously for a second, then grabbed the saw-toothed blade from his unresisting hand, and cut the other mans middle finger off. He did it slowly, as Blake tried to summon the strength to fight him off. Eventually he gave a final tug, and the digit came free.

"Open wide," he said, punching Blake hard in the stomach, who proceeded to buckle over, and gasp for air. Roman shoved the severed finger into his mouth, forcing it down his throat. Blake was forced to either swallow, or choke. He chose the former, and promptly vomited on the gravestones he was facing.

"Ok, first thing. You just swallowed your own middle finger. How does that make you feel? Secondly, those gravestones are your parents. Did you come here looking for forgiveness? You think they'll forgive you after you kill them then chuck up on their graves? Are you dense? Thirdly and finally you don't know jack about me. My wife was cheating on me with a rival, the stupid *****. I went round shot the bastard while he was ****ing her. I then made her pay for a long,long,long time. The rivals gang caught up with me, and yeh they burnt my house down. FYI they're all dead now. And so are their families," Roman Sionis said, as Blake curled up on the floor. Black Mask picked him up by the scruff of the neck, and threw him across the graveyard.

"Ya know what I love about this place? The stupid alphabetical thing they got going. Blake to Wayne, all in order. And that's where you're going Mr. Blake. Six feet under," he said, cackling slightly. From within his large trenchcoat, he drew a fire axe. Without warning he brought it down on Blakes leg, cutting halfway through the flesh. He pulled out and cut again, this time severing it. Tom Blake screamed, and Roman Sionis kicked him in the mouth, breaking his jaw.

"Do ya wanna know why I'm doin this Blake? It's cos I can. You tried to act the hero in this town. I just want to make you hurt," he said then he walked off into the yard, towards what appeared to be the shadow of the groundskeeper. There was a bang and he walked back with a shovel. Then he dug up the grave of Richard Blake, until there was a mound of earth next to his mutilated son. He leant in and dragged up the coffin, before he cracked it open. Inside the plush case was the dusty skeleton of Blake's father, in his sunday best, grinning at the world.

Black Mask picked up the wordless Blake and stuffed him in the box before closing it, and throwing it back into the hole. There was some weak banging on the lid of the box as Roman started shovelling the dirt mound back into its place. He dabbed his fingers in some of the blood from Blake's leg and scrawled above his fathers name "Here Lies Thomas Blake, Property Of The Black Mask".

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Let's see over so far in the last few days I have cheated on exams, stolen instructors class plans, and plagarized several reports. No matter how many showers I take I feel like scum. Time for me to make my move...I sent Greg an anonymous note asking him to meet me here after hours.

Rhiannon walks over to Eric's room-mate Greg Newsome in the library.

She says, "Greg I sent you the note my name is Rhiannon Plamer I am working with Commander Everett to take out Eric and the black-lances."

Greg says, "Great another brilliant scheme from Everett. I wonder how many potentially good cops he has destroyed trying to take Eric out. Eric graduates this year and once he is out he is going to take down the GCPD."

She says, "Greg I can help you, if you work with me I can use some of my weight with the GCPD to help you. What does he have on you? I know he is blackmailing you...let me help you."

Greg is stunned and says, "How did you know about that?"

Rhiannon says, "Oh you'd be surprised at what I can do."

Greg says, "Okay about two years ago I had a relationship with Commander Everett's daughter. He never knew about our relationship she was just barely 19 and I was 23. Anyway she got pregnant and had an abortion. When I found out about Eric and his connection with the black-lances I was going to tell Everett but somehow he found out about my relationship with Kelly and the abortion. He has been holding that over me ever since depsite the fact that we broke up after the abortion. The commander finds out I'm dead and so is Kelly. I still care for her and I don't want her to get hurt."

Rhiannon says, "Boy you're in a bit of a mess. I can't make any promises right now except for one if you help me I will do whatever I can to help you and once Eric is gone I will never use this knowledge against you I swear."

Greg says, "Thank you if you help me I'll....Rhiannon look out!"

Rhiannon turns as Eric is standing behind them.

He says, "Frankly Palmer I'd worry about who is going to help you."

He pulls out a black-jack and knocks Rhiannon unconscious.

Eric looks at Greg and says, "Big Mistake big mistake."

The other Black-Lances step out and Eric says, "Get her in the trunk and bring Greg along with us. Time for the little mouse to be taken care of and for my roomie to learn that why you don't screw around with the black-lances."


To be continued

 

[Feature]

REX TYLER: HOURMAN
Season II - Part 6


Rex stared at the vial of liquid in his hand. The substance was a queer shade of light green, with a yellowish tinge. It had taken only a few hours to create, using his notes. A few problems had arisen, however...

No matter what variables Rex manipulated, he was unable to make the drug's effects last longer than an hour. It seemed that an hour was the maximum length of time the human body could endure in such a state.

Rex had designed the drug as a means of fighting of dangerous viruses. When consumed, the drug was supposed to boost the body's natural defenses, using it's own chemistry to eliminate any parasites or harmful bacteria. If it worked... it would be nothing short of a miracle. That was why Rex had affectionately called it his miracle drug... or, Miraclo.

Since college, Rex had been developing the drug. Making subtle changes, altering formulas in ways that were barely perceptible. He wanted to make sure the drug was perfect. Because it had some side-effects that could potentially be horrendous.

By boosting the body's defenses, the drug might also boost the body's other systems. It was difficult to prevent this. Rex knew that a drug that could make people faster and stronger was dangerous in the wrong hands. And with Victor Bannermain, that's exactly where the drug would be...

BLEEP BOOP BLEEP

Rex's cellphone rang. He flipped it open and pressed it to his ear, not taking his eyes off the vial of Miraclo.

"Hello?"

"Hello? Rex?"

It was Amy. The girl from Bannermain.

"Um... hi."

"Hey! It's Amy!"

"Yeah, I know."

"I'm so sorry, Rex... I just heard about... well, that Victor fired you."

"Yeah..."

"I hate that arrogant bastard! He had no right!"

"Well... you heard what happened, didn't you?"

"Um... yeah. But, come on! That drug wasn't ready for testing and he knew it!"

"It doesn't matter anymore."

Rex held the Miraclo up to the light and squinted as he examined it.

"I quit."

"You what?"

"I quit today. Told Bannermain how I felt about him."

"Jesus, Amy! You shouldn't have done that!"

"Don't make me feel bad about what I did, Rex! I'm proud of myself! It was the right thing to do!"

"Of course, but... you're out of a job!"

"True... guess I'm in the market for a sugardaddy. Know anyone who might be interested?"

Rex chucked.

"You shouldn't have quit."

"Oh crap!"

"What?"

"I totally forgot! You, uh... you didn't get anything weird in the mail today did you?"

Rex laughed.

"Well, I did get some very seductive photos of landlord, but that's to be expected."

"Oh, you're hilarious... nothing from me then?"

"Yeah, I got the costume."

"Damn. Sorry. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Before... all this..."

"Yeah..."

Silence...

"I want to come over."

Rex is speechless.

"Uh... you, uh... I don't--"

"You don't want me to come over?"

"Yes! I mean... but..."

"Why is it always like this, Rex? I like you. I really, really like you. You know that, don't you? You must!"

"Well... I guess... It's just that--"

"You like me, right? Come on, Rex... tell me you like me."

"Yeah, I... you know I do. I like you."

"So I can come over then?"

"Amy... no. Now is just not... not tonight, okay?"

"When?"

"I don't know."

"I won't wait forever, Rex. I can't."

"Look... my life is just... I can't bring someone into this mess."

"You don't have to bring me. Just don't stop me."

Rex frowns.

"I'm calling you tomorrow. I'm calling you, and we're going to go out and do something together. Like a real date. Or else."

"Or else what?"

"Or else I'm going to go out with one of those hunky movie stars who keep calling me."

"What movie stars?"

"Oh you know... there's the one from that movie with the sinking ship..."

"He's not so cute."

"I'll tell him you said so."

"Go ahead."

"I'm serious, Rex. Tomorrow. Me and you. Last chance, mister."

With that, Amy hung up. Rex opened the vial of Miraclo and drank it. Every drop.

 

[trustyside-kick]

Katar's fist grabbed a hold of his mace, raising it menacingly in the air as he zoomed down towards the crowd pf panicked bystanders. It wasn't long before he spotted the strangely dressed man who stood suspended in mid-air. Not even a second later, Katar saw the broken corpse laying on the steps of the cathedral.
He was too late. An innocent life had been lost.

"No..."

Feeling pure rage take a hold of him, Hawkman plunged himself down toward the murderer. Little more than a blur in the sky, he called savagely..

"THIS ENDS NOW!"

IC:

Brother Blood floats amazed. The shock alone is perhaps the only reason Brother Blood finds himself tackled in the air by the winged...angel? He still cannot quite register it clearly in his mind. Could this be one of the Christian God's...angels? No, that it cannot. For if it so...then the Christian God must definitely exist. But that would be blasphemy. There can only be one God, and it most certainly was that of the Church of Blood, not Christianity.

"You have done well to confuse me, winged-warrior! To find it coincidence, I surely would be a fool. Yet here you are, prancing around like some angel protecting this...abomination of a Church."

Still in the winged-warrior's grab as they continue to pummel towards a building across the street from the Cathedral, Brother Blood exerts massive force, breaking himself free. Before the winged-warrior can react, Brother Blood already is on the counter-offensive, grabbing one of his wings and swinging him through the window of the building. He lands on the window sill as the winged-warrior crashes to the floor and smiles.

"Why do you parade around like some angel? Do you...have a strong Faith?"

The thought of what he just said causes Brother Blood to become agitated and most angry.

"I would hope not. Because you would then be lost in a false Faith. There can only be one Faith, my winged friend. While normally I would be filled with joy to dispose of a non-believer, I have work to do. I cannot allow any other impurities to interfere with my goal."

 

[trustyside-kick]

OOC: Previously...

Spoiler

IC:

The battle was chaotic, but such is its nature. Only the strongest and the bravest win a battle. The Green Lantern Corps pride themselves in their bravery and willpower, but from Despero's eyes he cannot help but smile with glee as their bravery and willpower is put up against a most harsh of tests. In the sky, it is almost like watching an asteroid shower from afar as more and more Green Lantern Corps rings fly away to find a new master. The casualties are endless.

And more is to come. But not just on the Green Lantern's side. Escape, Despero must...but he does not want this battle to be decided without already knowing the winning side. Such a strong hatred Despero feels, that he kill both Manhunter and Lantern alike; hoping to even the odds somewhat. He wants to Lanterns destroyed. Yes. But by his hand. So if he can enjoy them being nearly obliterated only to barely survive, than so be it. He can care less about the Manhunters anyway. Besides, he needs to get off this ship and these intergalactic mercenaries are just the ride he was looking for.

"Kill them all! Do not slow down your attacks until you see the rings fly from their fingers! No man escapes the Manhu--zzzz!"

Despero's arm cuts through the stomach of the machine with much ease. As he pulls his arm out, he makes sure to pull all and any wires possible. These machines are like bugs, they are...just when you think you've killed them more come about.

"Menace! Face the wrath of the Manhunters!"

"The wrath of the Manhunters is but a small grain of sand compared to Despero's might."

Despero fights the remaining Manhunters of the batallion, inflicting and receiving wounds. But he cannot give up, he must make it off Oa. Growing annoyed with the damned Manhunters, Despero spots two Green Lanterns fighting a short distance. After ripping the arms off of on Manhunter clean off, and then bashing its head in, Despero's gaze becomes fixated on the two Lanterns; from their body motions as they hide behind debris it looks like they are in love. They kiss each other and fly from behind the rocks, destroying the Manhunters in their path. Two Manhunters still standing to fight make an attack at Despero, but before they can make contact, they are decintegrated by a green luminous light.

Despero smirks, wiping some of the blood from his wounds, starts to run towards a Manhunter Carrier Ship. Before he is done with his toy Lanterns, he makes them face each other, charges their rings, and has them shoot each other in the heart. Once the damage is done, he releases them of his temporary hold, and leave them to die.

"Time to flee this wretched planet. The ever powerful Great Flame awaits my arrival."

After strapping into the cockpit of the transport ship, Despero eventually figures out, through trial and error, the launch codes, and escapes into the stars in an instant. All that loops throughout his mind is the location of the Flame of Py'tar, and the glory that is to come.

IC:

Despero flies through the stars of the universe, heading to his destination. This has been much anticipated and it is all that he lives for. To fail in obtaining the Flame of Py'tar is out of the question. He cannot fail, so he shall not. Anxious and determined, he is. Soon, he will have his sweet sweet revenge.

His own people, the proud people of Kalanor thought Despero to be savage and barbaric. The very image of slaying even one of his own kind with his newfound powers are enough to cause him to embark on such a dangerous and life-threatening journey in finding the Flame of Py'tar, and then bathing in it. What will happen to him exactly, that he does not know. But it can be described as nothing more than eternal power and greatness, and that is enough for Despero.

Although, he will not shed and share his hate with only his people, but the Green Lantern Corps. At the moment, those two priorities are all that remains. Personal vendettas, they may be...but they are all that matters to Despero's mind. As to what occurs in the near future after he has succeeded in said tasks, cannot be determined at this time. His mind is so focused on first obtaining the Great Flame, that he does not find the time nor patience to plan further ahead.

"Ganthlet and the other Guardians of the Universe sought to keep me from you, my precious Fire of Burning Might...but none can falter Despero's desires. No one."

Despero enters the atmosphere a small, dwarf planet and nothing but the thoughts of glory and power engulfs his mind. Soon, he will have it all. Soon...he will be complete. And soon...he will feed is never ending appetite for revenge.

 

[Byrd Man]

​

"Hmm...I think I'll have the soup."

"Club sandwhich for me."

The waitress takes our menus and walks away. Since the other hangouts are crawling with cops in Loeb's pocket. We decided to go somewhere else for our dinner break, The Gunga Diner, it's new place that just opened up. The radio Maggie carried in sqwaks to life.

"Calling all cars. Calling all cars. 10-35 at Robinson Park. All unints requested at the scene, I repeat, all units requested at the scene!"

I grab my hat and place it back on my head, I light a cigarette as I follow Maggie out of the diner.

"So much for that soup, Cap."

Robinson Park

The squad car slides to a stop along side the other police cars.

"Captain!"

Merkel runs up to me as I open the car door.

"What's going on?"

Merkel doesn't even have to respond, as I see the carnage and chaos before me....The cigarette in my mouth falls out as I see it all.

"Joker....Merkel, call Braden. We need S.W.A.T. here ASAP."

​

 

[Spike_x1]

This is what he was always meant for; to bring ruin to those of this world who deserved it. Settling into his hotel room, Bane closed and locked the door, hung his trench coat on one of the many hangers, and sat down on the exquisitely comfortable sofa to open the case that he had placed on the coffee table in front of him. Inside of the case were a variety of scopes, the rifle barrel, shoulder guard, and a large selection of ammunition to choose from. He took a small sip of the fine wine that the hotel had set out in his room before his arrival and decided that the armor piercing rounds would be quite unnecessary for the task at hand. The Penguin may, however unlikely, prove useful at a future point in time, so Bane settled on the decision to use tranquilizer darts.

He assembled the sniper rifle quickly and skillfully before gently setting it aside and leaving the room to change into the proper attire. Gotham City was a community that was a growing example of a population being taken over by those who masqueraded in costumes to stalk the prey of the populous. When in Rome, he mused as he combed his short brown hair appropriately before sliding the mask over his face. The specialized red lenses would provide both thermal and night vision, and the utility belt that he snapped around his waist held the grappling hook, throwing knives, small firearms, spare ammunition, and several other items, should he require them. Tightening the straps around the wrists of his gloves, Bane stepped out of the master bedroom and slung the rifle over his shoulder. It was just about time to go to work.

Leaving through the window, he took to the rooftops and almost instantly mastered his secondary objective of conquering the nooks and crannies of this new urban jungle. So many rooftops, yet still, they were all so similar. He had studied maps and blueprints of the major points in Gotham City, so finding City Hall was no challenge in the least. Perching himself directly across the street, Bane laid down, set the rifle stand up, and aimed the barrel straight at the back of the Mayor, Oswald Cobblepot's, neck.

In a whisper that no one could have possibly heard, the dart stabbed itself into The Penguin's neck. The sad excuse for a man, let alone a Mayor and leader of a community, fell face-first onto his desk instantly. Not rejoicing for even an instant in this small first step towards victory, Bane continued flawlessly by taking the rifle down from its stand and firing his grappling hook to carry him to the ledge just outside of the Mayor's window. Quietly, he lifted the glass and slipped into the office. Kneeling down to the steel safe under Cobblepot's desk, Bane took a modified stethoscope from his belt and pressed its face against the surface of the safe, listening to the tumblers fall into place as he spun the dial. In moments, the safe was wide open and Bane had swiftly and silently left the scene, taking Cobblepot's ledger, with all of The Penguin's underworld contacts' names and numbers listed within.

That was ridiculously simple.

 

[Batman]

The Joker grinned, maliciously, as the park's entrance soon became a blockade, purposely meant for entrapping him and ending his long running list of fatalities within the city. What these boys in blue didn't know, however, was that it was their funeral, not his. Removing the magnums from within his pocket, The Joker aimed, and fired, riddling the air above the police officers with concentrated blasts. The metal banner, engraved with "Robinson Park - Founded 1874", abruptly squeeled, and tumbled, loosened by the Joker's bullets. As the banner came crashing down upon a nearby squad car, causing many of the officers to scatter, The Joker cackled, blowing the weapons off in triumph.

"'Gotham's finest'? And they call me The Joker! HAHAHA!", The maniac exclaimed, before tossing aside his weapons, and calmly approaching the entrance.

Many of the officers who had once blocked his way in were now gone, but there were still a few willing to try and achieve the fame and recognition of subduing Gotham's Clown Prince. It was too bad, though, that the shock of the falling sign had rendered them rather unprepared for The Joker's approach.

Unsheathing a set of knives from his jacket, The Joker tossed one, slicing the nearest officer along the throat. With a push, the madman, much to the GCPD's surprise, threw the officer over the hood of the now destroyed squad car, causing blood to seep over the Police Department logo on the side of the vehicle. The Joker spun, violently impaling another officer with a seperate blade, and knocking him into his fellow agents of lawlessness. Were anyone sure of the fact, they'd almost swear that The Joker was as cunning and ruthless in his skills as the city's grim protector. If not moreso.

"Move it, buddy boy! You're beginning to get on my preverbial nerves!", The Joker exclaimed, throwing another stabbed officer out of the way, with a vicious tug. "Some of us have things to do, you know! Places to be! People to maim! Outta the way!"

A shot rang out, piercing the side of The Joker's sleeve. Blood trickled down the maniac's coat, as The Joker turned, silent, and calculated, as if he had been insulted. There, in the midst of the bloody chaos, stood an officer, visibly terrified, yet determined to end this madness. The Joker shook off the evident pain of the wound, and calmly stepped over to him, grabbing the officer's gun wielding hand. The officer turned pale, as The Joker leaned in, slowly, and eerily, whispering into his face with the slightest hint of rancid breath.

"Why so serious?"

The officer's eyes widened, as The Joker swiftly stuck a blade through the officer's neck, and out the other side. Pulling his weapon out, he lightly shoved the officer's now deceased stature, and watched it tumble to the ground in a heap, among some of his fellow unconcious and murdered co-workers. The Joker looked to the sky, outstreched his arms, and spun, as if a dancer on a grand stage.

"Well, it's been fun, gentlemen. It really has. But alas, I really must be off. You've all been too kind.", He mocked, giving a bow. But as he stood once more, The Joker paused, realizing someone among the remaining officer's standing. "...Hold that thought."

Pulling out another handheld pistol, The Joker pointed, and fired two blank rounds, downing two of the three officers in the distance. But the one in the middle remained, per Joker's intention. As he dropped the weapon, and pulled out another knife, The Joker slowly approached a familiar face. One he had read about in the headlines, recently, for standing up to Anthony 'Fat Tony' Zucco in his own hangout. It had given The Joker quite a laugh, and oddly enough... the only motive to let the officer live, this long.

"Jamesy? Jamesy Gordon! Is that you, you old fart?!", The Joker exclaimed, within view of Gordon's reach, and vice versa. "Of course it is! Who else?! Your tired old mug has graced more headlines in the last week than people I've sliced in the last hour! Tell me, how long's it been? Weeks? Months?"

The Joker paused, realizing something.

"Oh, that's right! We've never met, have we? Well, let me do the only sensible thing and introduce myself. You see,", He continued, unsheathing the blade from the handle. "I'm going to be killing you tonight. It's kind of my thing, you see!"

 

[Byrd Man]

The Joker grinned, maliciously, as the park's entrance soon became a blockade, purposely meant for entrapping him and ending his long running list of fatalities within the city. What these boys in blue didn't know, however, was that it was their funeral, not his. Removing the magnums from within his pocket, The Joker aimed, and fired, riddling the air above the police officers with concentrated blasts. The metal banner, engraved with "Robinson Park - Founded 1874", abruptly squeeled, and tumbled, loosened by the Joker's bullets. As the banner came crashing down upon a nearby squad car, causing many of the officers to scatter, The Joker cackled, blowing the weapons off in triumph.​

"'Gotham's finest'? And they call me The Joker! HAHAHA!", The maniac exclaimed, before tossing aside his weapons, and calmly approaching the entrance.

Many of the officers who had once blocked his way in were now gone, but there were still a few willing to try and achieve the fame and recognition of subduing Gotham's Clown Prince. It was too bad, though, that the shock of the falling sign had rendered them rather unprepared for The Joker's approach.

Unsheathing a set of knives from his jacket, The Joker tossed one, slicing the nearest officer along the throat. With a push, the madman, much to the GCPD's surprise, threw the officer over the hood of the now destroyed squad car, causing blood to seep over the Police Department logo on the side of the vehicle. The Joker spun, violently impaling another officer with a seperate blade, and knocking him into his fellow agents of lawlessness. Were anyone sure of the fact, they'd almost swear that The Joker was as cunning and ruthless in his skills as the city's grim protector. If not moreso.

"Move it, buddy boy! You're beginning to get on my preverbial nerves!", The Joker exclaimed, throwing another stabbed officer out of the way, with a vicious tug. "Some of us have things to do, you know! Places to be! People to maim! Outta the way!"

A shot rang out, piercing the side of The Joker's sleeve. Blood trickled down the maniac's coat, as The Joker turned, silent, and calculated, as if he had been insulted. There, in the midst of the bloody chaos, stood an officer, visibly terrified, yet determined to end this madness. The Joker shook off the evident pain of the wound, and calmly stepped over to him, grabbing the officer's gun wielding hand. The officer turned pale, as The Joker leaned in, slowly, and eerily, whispering into his face with the slightest hint of rancid breath.

"Why so serious?"

The officer's eyes widened, as The Joker swiftly stuck a blade through the officer's neck, and out the other side. Pulling his weapon out, he lightly shoved the officer's now deceased stature, and watched it tumble to the ground in a heap, among some of his fellow unconcious and murdered co-workers. The Joker looked to the sky, outstreched his arms, and spun, as if a dancer on a grand stage.

"Well, it's been fun, gentlemen. It really has. But alas, I really must be off. You've all been too kind.", He mocked, giving a bow. But as he stood once more, The Joker paused, realizing someone among the remaining officer's standing. "...Hold that thought."

Pulling out another handheld pistol, The Joker pointed, and fired two blank rounds, downing two of the three officers in the distance. But the one in the middle remained, per Joker's intention. As he dropped the weapon, and pulled out another knife, The Joker slowly approached a familiar face. One he had read about in the headlines, recently, for standing up to Anthony 'Fat Tony' Zucco in his own hangout. It had given The Joker quite a laugh, and oddly enough... the only motive to let the officer live, this long.

"Jamesy? Jamesy Gordon! Is that you, you old fart?!", The Joker exclaimed, within view of Gordon's reach, and vice versa. "Of course it is! Who else?! Your tired old mug has graced more headlines in the last week than people I've sliced in the last hour! Tell me, how long's it been? Weeks? Months?"

The Joker paused, realizing something.

"Oh, that's right! We've never met, have we? Well, let me do the only sensible thing and introduce myself. You see,", He continued, unsheathing the blade from the handle. "I'm going to be killing you tonight. It's kind of my thing, you see!"

I'm close enough to smell Joker's filthy stench, it's obvious the man hasn't bathed in weeks.

"You're a clown, right?"

I grab my service gun and pistol whip him hard against the face. He slightly stumbles as I level my gun at him.

"Well, clown. Laugh now."

 

[Batman]

I'm close enough to smell Joker's filthy stench, it's obvious the man hasn't bathed in weeks.

"You're a clown, right?"

I grab my service gun and pistol whip him hard against the face. He slightly stumbles as I level my gun at him.

The Joker wreathes back, in surprise, as the Captain's pistol connects to the side of his mask, slightly cracking it. The madman nearly loses his balance, as his knife slides across the pavement behind him. But even as his head spins, and his confusion grows, The Joker's fearless lust for murder and mayhem remains unaffected. Chuckling to himself, feeling the cracks in the right cheekbone of his fauxed harlequinned grin (his true grin only grew wider, by this point), the criminal turned, hearing the click of Gordon's gun.

"Well, clown. Laugh now."

The grin faded, inwardly. Obviously, Gordo wasn't up to playing along with the game. And if he wasn't in on the joke, he was going to be taken out. Permanently. With a flick of his wrist, The Joker felt tiny little pellets enter the palm of his glove. Calmly standing up, The Joker's eyes fixated on Gordon with a hateful glare, as if he understood that Gordon was serious. But the moment faded, as The Joker's eyes closed, in bliss. "If you insist, copper."

With a jerk of his arm, The Joker suddenly became bathed in light, as sparks flew from his fingertips. But before Gordon could react, the sparks grew wider... brighter. Until finally, with a series of pops, the sparks became flashes of blinding light. The Joker cackled, wildly, as Gordon shielded his eyes. Charging the Police Captain, the maniac grabbed Gordon's arm, and forced the gun out of his hand. With a sharp knee, The Joker pressed on the attack, forcing Gordon to double over, before viciously smashing him across the face.

"You know, I have to say, I'm disappointed. I had thought you were a standup guy, nay, a riot, after the stunt you pulled on Zucco.", He began, the grin returning. "I mean, hell, I'll just say it. That was utterly, absolutely priceless! HAHAHA! But you? You, I don't find as funny..."

Grabbing Gordon by the collar, The Joker peered into the cop's eyes, letting him know just how 'grateful' he was for that cheap hit, earlier.

"So let's fix that, shall we?"

 

[SenseiofCheese]

IC:

Still in the winged-warrior's grab as they continue to pummel towards a building across the street from the Cathedral, Brother Blood exerts massive force, breaking himself free. Before the winged-warrior can react, Brother Blood already is on the counter-offensive, grabbing one of his wings and swinging him through the window of the building. He lands on the window sill as the winged-warrior crashes to the floor and smiles.

"Why do you parade around like some angel? Do you...have a strong Faith?"

The thought of what he just said causes Brother Blood to become agitated and most angry.

"I would hope not. Because you would then be lost in a false Faith. There can only be one Faith, my winged friend. While normally I would be filled with joy to dispose of a non-believer, I have work to do. I cannot allow any other impurities to interfere with my goal."

Katar grunts as he picks himself up off the floor. He shakes his head and small pieces of glass fall out from under his helmet. The madman's words fade as he turns away mid-air and begins gliding away.
Katar can't help but laugh. Did that man really think it was going to be this easy?

"We're not done here, monster!"

Katar had barely finished his sentence as his mace left his hand. Seemingly flying of it's own will, the weapon finally slammed into the killer's back, sending him faltering down with an painful gasp.
Steadying himself, Katar ran toward the window and threw himself out. He flapped his wings as hard as he could, gaining immense speed. As the man in the red robes neared the pavement, Hawkman neared him. And then, moments before the murderer would be crushed against the ground, Katar caught him in his hands. But only for what seemed to be a fraction of a second, before jerking his hands back and sending the man rocketing down.
The man lay still, face down on the filthy street, as Hawkman gracefully touched down beside him. Hawkman bent down on one knee, ignoring the multitudes of people now beginning to circle the two men. He could hear and see from the corner of his eyes, cameras going off and people curiously asking each other what was going on.


"I shifted your momentum just enough so that you wouldn't be killed. But don't thank me. I did it so that the good men and women of this city wouldn't have to bother themselves with cleaning up a big red stain off the sidewalk."

Katar stood up and turned to face the crowd that had dared move a few steps closer to the scene. Still aiming his words at the man who lay gasping on the ground, but raising his voice so that all could hear, he called out

"And as for what I believe in...I believe in Gotham City. And I believe in justice."

 

[Byrd Man]

The Joker wreathes back, in surprise, as the Captain's pistol connects to the side of his mask, slightly cracking it. The madman nearly loses his balance, as his knife slides across the pavement behind him. But even as his head spins, and his confusion grows, The Joker's fearless lust for murder and mayhem remains unaffected. Chuckling to himself, feeling the cracks in the right cheekbone of his fauxed harlequinned grin (his true grin only grew wider, by this point), the criminal turned, hearing the click of Gordon's gun.

"Well, clown. Laugh now."

The grin faded, inwardly. Obviously, Gordo wasn't up to playing along with the game. And if he wasn't in on the joke, he was going to be taken out. Permanently. With a flick of his wrist, The Joker felt tiny little pellets enter the palm of his glove. Calmly standing up, The Joker's eyes fixated on Gordon with a hateful glare, as if he understood that Gordon was serious. But the moment faded, as The Joker's eyes closed, in bliss. "If you insist, copper."

With a jerk of his arm, The Joker suddenly became bathed in light, as sparks flew from his fingertips. But before Gordon could react, the sparks grew wider... brighter. Until finally, with a series of pops, the sparks became flashes of blinding light. The Joker cackled, wildly, as Gordon shielded his eyes. Charging the Police Captain, the maniac grabbed Gordon's arm, and forced the gun out of his hand. With a sharp knee, The Joker pressed on the attack, forcing Gordon to double over, before viciously smashing him across the face.

"You know, I have to say, I'm disappointed. I had thought you were a standup guy, nay, a riot, after the stunt you pulled on Zucco.", He began, the grin returning. "I mean, hell, I'll just say it. That was utterly, absolutely priceless! HAHAHA! But you? You, I don't find as funny..."

Grabbing Gordon by the collar, The Joker peered into the cop's eyes, letting him know just how 'grateful' he was for that cheap hit, earlier.

"So let's fix that, shall we?"​

I stare into Joker's eyes through my now cracked glasses, his breath smells like hot garbage and his teeth are butter yellow.

"Don't you ****ing move."

I see Maggie press her pistol hard against Joker's head, Merkel levels his gun at the madman as well.​