Post by jordan on Feb 28, 2014 10:56:50 GMT -5
Ultimate DC Comics Presents
Ultimate Batman
In
Gotham Wars
Chapter III
"The First Night Ends"
By Jordan
*
"Step away from her, Mask." My voice carries loud throughout the large office. Rather great acoustics in here, actually. I look around the room at the two guards, both tall, both daunting. Taking them on will be a challenge. Black Mask's eyes train on me, his pupils unrecognizable under the mask, the pearly white grin of the mask bearing into my soul.
"Hello, little Bat. It's been a long, long time since we last met. Have you been too afraid?" In one swift movement, I pull a Bat-Knife from my pocket and throw it as hard as I can, stabbing one of the guards in the thigh. He falls in pain.
"I'm not playing around here, Sionis."
"Who's Sionis?" He asks, general confusion in his voice. He returns his attention to the woman. His eyes stare into her very soul, stare deeper than anything ever could. "Do you know who Sionis is?" He looks around the room, stopping for just a moment to fixate on each one of us as his gaze passes by. "Because all I see is the Black Mask!" He shouts, unloading his gun in my general direction. I don't flinch. I can't show fear. I see where the barrel of his gun is aimed. I know where his bullet is going. I stand still and decisive. I see the look on his last guard's face--fear. Good. He should be afraid.
"Put the gun down, Sionis." He still has one bullet left. I can't take any chances. "Now, before this gets serious." The deep, dark black of his mask contrasts with the solid, stark white of his suit. It symbolic, showing the two different sides to this one man. He's conflicted, and I can use that to my advantage. My eyes search his large office for everything around. Where he was sitting there is a large stack of papers. Why was he drawn over them? How important are they?
"You're just adorable little Bat, you think I'll put this gun away? I'm not a pussy like he is!" I step off the windowsill and into the office. The gun is trained on the woman. I can't risk moving too fast.
"Like who, Mask?"
"You know who!" He screams at me like a child who just got spanked. It's been a long time since the last time I saw him, but something is different this time.
"You've changed, Mask. Why?"
"I didn't change, you imbecile! I grew! I became who I should always have been!" I take two quick, almost unnoticeable steps towards him and his desk. The papers say "deposit" on the top. That's the only word I can make out. "I should've always been me! But now I'm forced to be! No time to be him!" He breaks out in laughter, still holding the woman's hair.
"I've got a question for you, Mask."
"Fine, fine. But you only get one question before I blow her brains out."
"Make it two. Just for old times' sake." He nods his head, his eyes wandering around the room in an estranged gaze. "How much control does he have? Sionis."
"Not much, little Bat, not much. One. More. Question." I stare into his eyes staring back, both our souls born to the world.
"Okay, how much does he care about he company?" Not wasting even a second, I pull a kerosine dipped knife from my belt and toss it full force at the stack of papers. I turn with a swift kick and knock out the guard next to me's legs.
"No, not my empire!" This voice that comes out of Black Mask...it's different. It's more in control, more powerful, deeper. Black Mask's voice was frantic, afraid, living for the moment. Two separate voices for two separate men. The Mask scrambles towards the stack of flaming paper and attempts to put out the fire with his own body. "Not now! Look at what you've done!" He screams, tearing the mask from his face and throwing it onto the flames. "Look what you've done!" He lifts the gun, at first pointing it at the Mask but quickly turning and pointing it directly at the woman.
"No, please, please."
"Look what you've done!" His shouts are manic, powerful, and screeching. They hurt my ears.
"No!" Bang. Blood flies across the room and the woman falls dead. Her eyes go blank, her stare cold. "NO!" Now I roar. I roar with the might of a lion and the power of a tiger. I roar with the anger of my childhood and the grief of my life. In two strides, I'm just inches from him. He's out of bullets. He's manic. He's mine.
With a swift blow to his jaw, I send him spinning into the wall. Another blow breaks his nose, and one last blow to the groin drops him to the floor. Tears come from his eyes. I don't know if it's about the papers or the pain, and I don't care.
"You're done, Mask."
"It...it wasn't me...he made me!" The tears come heavier and harder. This man obviously has more problems than I thought. I spend about ten seconds and tie him up before printing off some snapshots from my small portable photo printer. I leave the snapshots on the ground next to him and pick up the mask, walking over to the window I'd come in.
At my back, the light of his office shines through, and his screams and whimpers and cries are piercing. To my front, there is endless darkness across a landscape of evil as the City of Gotham chugs through another long, endless night. This mask has been a symbol not only of my defeat, but of the plague of Gotham for far too long now. The Maronis have fallen. Black Mask has fallen. I'm coming for you next, Moxon. I stare into the abysmal eyes of the mask for only a moment longer before dropping it down the side of he building. If no one noticed me before, they'll notice me now. As the mask hits the pavement and shatters, I hear screams and see eyes turn up to me. With all my might:
"The Black Mask has fallen. City of Gotham, you are almost free. City of Gotham, it is time to take our city back!" I hear some cheer, but mostly there are blank stares. In seconds, I disappear.
*
I stand solemn and alone, the darkness reaching into the depths of my heart and soul. My eyes search the endless cavern as my ears listen to the soft sounds of the falling waters, mixed with the harsh screeches of the bats. What have I done?
I watched that woman die. Her life was in my hands. She was depending on me to save her life. And I failed her. Everything I've grown into...what is the purpose if I can't save the lives and this city. Is this war more than I can handle? Is this war going to be the end of Gotham and Batman?
"Sir, I see that you're home."
"Avid observation, Alfred." My voice is cold and unaffectionate. I should talk to this man with more respect. He raised me, for god's sake.
"Are there any services that I can offer, sir?"
"Alfred, get some rest, you do enough for me already." I stare into his eyes full of discontent, just like always. I turn my back to him and begin to walk away, towards my computer. "I've taken down Black Mask, Gordon's gotten the Falcones, the Maronis are down and out without a new leader. That leaves Moxon, who is still too weak to be a contender for the war. And Zeiss. He's still got men moving in all around us, and we can't pinpoint them."
"Sir."
"I asked Gordon to set up blockades, but that doesn't seem to be enough. Zeiss struck out at a few of the upstarts about an hour ago, killing twelve."
"Sir."
"Maybe if I was to set up a twenty-four hour surveillance in the Golds, I could find their tag. I haven't been able to pinpoint a tag yet, but maybe if I could find a battle break out, I could find their tag."
"SIR!" My head snaps around to stare at Alfred, his voice and expression exuding anger, pouring out rage. His eyes are fixed on me, his fists clinched. I know he wouldn't ever try to strike me, but I also know it's definitely running through his mind right now.
"Yes, Alfred?"
"While you've been off on this unstoppable crusade night after night, your new son has been sitting in his room, crying his eyes out night in and night out. He's an orphan Bruce."
"And so was I."
"Exactly. I can do everything in my power to help him, but I can't connect with him like you, sir. You are the shinning example of taking your grief and anger and turning it into something powerful and for a good cause."
"Alfred, I don't have time--"
"What would you have done if I hadn't had time, sir? What would you have done if, after your parents were killed, you sat on your bed every night and cried. You didn't have food. You didn't have comfort. Just death and darkness."
"I did sit on my bed and cry every night, Alfred."
"But you had a guiding hand. You had someone to be there when the crying stopped, to sit down by your side and tell you to take your grief and anger and despair, and turn it into something brand new!" Silence. The whole cave echoes with his words. What if he's right? What if I should be up there with Dick right now? Have I neglected the duties my dying friend had left with me? I'm realizing his dream of defeating the families but...I'm neglecting his brother as well. How can I handle both?
"You're excused, Alfred." Without a word, Alfred turns and walks away. I'm left alone in the cavern. I know what I must do.
*
The door creaks open as I stealthily enter. Or I think that I stealthily enter. The second my head peeks around the corner, a remote comes flying at me at fifty miles and hour. I'm barely able to duck it, using the full extent of my powers, as it slams into the wall behind me and explodes. "Get the hell out, you asshole!" I finish sliding into the door quickly and don't have the time to close it before I'm forced to dodge other projectiles. Now, I stand in front of him. The twelve-year-old Richard Grayson on his bed, sobbing like I once was. I feel bad for Alfred.
"Listen, Dick, I just want to talk."
"Well I don't, so why don't you get the hell out of my room?" I walk over to him with a brisk pace.
"Do you mind if I take a seat?" Without waiting for a response, I take a seat on the bed next to him, staring him in his tear-filled eyes.
"What do you want to be when you grow up, Dick?" He doesn't answer. The only sound in the room is that of his inconsistent sobs. "Well, Dick?"
"I want to be a...a hero."
"And why do you want to be a hero?"
"So that...I can inspire people. I want to be able to inspire people like Batman does."
"Has Batman inspired you?" And it's beginning to click. This boy grew up surrounded by crime and death and didn't even know it--and now he wants to stop it.
"I just want to meet him. I want to know how he became the man he is today.
"Would you make your bed, if you got to meet him?" Dick looks up at me, his right eyebrow cocked. A smile broadens across my face.
"Yeah...sure?" His voice is confused and inquisitive. He'll never expect what's coming next. I stand up and hold out my hand.
"Come with me."
"Why?"
"Just come with me, Dick. I've got something you want to see." He takes my hand and I pull him off the bed. He's about to have the surprise of a lifetime.
NEXT TIME: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD!
Ultimate Batman
In
Gotham Wars
Chapter III
"The First Night Ends"
By Jordan
*
"Step away from her, Mask." My voice carries loud throughout the large office. Rather great acoustics in here, actually. I look around the room at the two guards, both tall, both daunting. Taking them on will be a challenge. Black Mask's eyes train on me, his pupils unrecognizable under the mask, the pearly white grin of the mask bearing into my soul.
"Hello, little Bat. It's been a long, long time since we last met. Have you been too afraid?" In one swift movement, I pull a Bat-Knife from my pocket and throw it as hard as I can, stabbing one of the guards in the thigh. He falls in pain.
"I'm not playing around here, Sionis."
"Who's Sionis?" He asks, general confusion in his voice. He returns his attention to the woman. His eyes stare into her very soul, stare deeper than anything ever could. "Do you know who Sionis is?" He looks around the room, stopping for just a moment to fixate on each one of us as his gaze passes by. "Because all I see is the Black Mask!" He shouts, unloading his gun in my general direction. I don't flinch. I can't show fear. I see where the barrel of his gun is aimed. I know where his bullet is going. I stand still and decisive. I see the look on his last guard's face--fear. Good. He should be afraid.
"Put the gun down, Sionis." He still has one bullet left. I can't take any chances. "Now, before this gets serious." The deep, dark black of his mask contrasts with the solid, stark white of his suit. It symbolic, showing the two different sides to this one man. He's conflicted, and I can use that to my advantage. My eyes search his large office for everything around. Where he was sitting there is a large stack of papers. Why was he drawn over them? How important are they?
"You're just adorable little Bat, you think I'll put this gun away? I'm not a pussy like he is!" I step off the windowsill and into the office. The gun is trained on the woman. I can't risk moving too fast.
"Like who, Mask?"
"You know who!" He screams at me like a child who just got spanked. It's been a long time since the last time I saw him, but something is different this time.
"You've changed, Mask. Why?"
"I didn't change, you imbecile! I grew! I became who I should always have been!" I take two quick, almost unnoticeable steps towards him and his desk. The papers say "deposit" on the top. That's the only word I can make out. "I should've always been me! But now I'm forced to be! No time to be him!" He breaks out in laughter, still holding the woman's hair.
"I've got a question for you, Mask."
"Fine, fine. But you only get one question before I blow her brains out."
"Make it two. Just for old times' sake." He nods his head, his eyes wandering around the room in an estranged gaze. "How much control does he have? Sionis."
"Not much, little Bat, not much. One. More. Question." I stare into his eyes staring back, both our souls born to the world.
"Okay, how much does he care about he company?" Not wasting even a second, I pull a kerosine dipped knife from my belt and toss it full force at the stack of papers. I turn with a swift kick and knock out the guard next to me's legs.
"No, not my empire!" This voice that comes out of Black Mask...it's different. It's more in control, more powerful, deeper. Black Mask's voice was frantic, afraid, living for the moment. Two separate voices for two separate men. The Mask scrambles towards the stack of flaming paper and attempts to put out the fire with his own body. "Not now! Look at what you've done!" He screams, tearing the mask from his face and throwing it onto the flames. "Look what you've done!" He lifts the gun, at first pointing it at the Mask but quickly turning and pointing it directly at the woman.
"No, please, please."
"Look what you've done!" His shouts are manic, powerful, and screeching. They hurt my ears.
"No!" Bang. Blood flies across the room and the woman falls dead. Her eyes go blank, her stare cold. "NO!" Now I roar. I roar with the might of a lion and the power of a tiger. I roar with the anger of my childhood and the grief of my life. In two strides, I'm just inches from him. He's out of bullets. He's manic. He's mine.
With a swift blow to his jaw, I send him spinning into the wall. Another blow breaks his nose, and one last blow to the groin drops him to the floor. Tears come from his eyes. I don't know if it's about the papers or the pain, and I don't care.
"You're done, Mask."
"It...it wasn't me...he made me!" The tears come heavier and harder. This man obviously has more problems than I thought. I spend about ten seconds and tie him up before printing off some snapshots from my small portable photo printer. I leave the snapshots on the ground next to him and pick up the mask, walking over to the window I'd come in.
At my back, the light of his office shines through, and his screams and whimpers and cries are piercing. To my front, there is endless darkness across a landscape of evil as the City of Gotham chugs through another long, endless night. This mask has been a symbol not only of my defeat, but of the plague of Gotham for far too long now. The Maronis have fallen. Black Mask has fallen. I'm coming for you next, Moxon. I stare into the abysmal eyes of the mask for only a moment longer before dropping it down the side of he building. If no one noticed me before, they'll notice me now. As the mask hits the pavement and shatters, I hear screams and see eyes turn up to me. With all my might:
"The Black Mask has fallen. City of Gotham, you are almost free. City of Gotham, it is time to take our city back!" I hear some cheer, but mostly there are blank stares. In seconds, I disappear.
*
I stand solemn and alone, the darkness reaching into the depths of my heart and soul. My eyes search the endless cavern as my ears listen to the soft sounds of the falling waters, mixed with the harsh screeches of the bats. What have I done?
I watched that woman die. Her life was in my hands. She was depending on me to save her life. And I failed her. Everything I've grown into...what is the purpose if I can't save the lives and this city. Is this war more than I can handle? Is this war going to be the end of Gotham and Batman?
"Sir, I see that you're home."
"Avid observation, Alfred." My voice is cold and unaffectionate. I should talk to this man with more respect. He raised me, for god's sake.
"Are there any services that I can offer, sir?"
"Alfred, get some rest, you do enough for me already." I stare into his eyes full of discontent, just like always. I turn my back to him and begin to walk away, towards my computer. "I've taken down Black Mask, Gordon's gotten the Falcones, the Maronis are down and out without a new leader. That leaves Moxon, who is still too weak to be a contender for the war. And Zeiss. He's still got men moving in all around us, and we can't pinpoint them."
"Sir."
"I asked Gordon to set up blockades, but that doesn't seem to be enough. Zeiss struck out at a few of the upstarts about an hour ago, killing twelve."
"Sir."
"Maybe if I was to set up a twenty-four hour surveillance in the Golds, I could find their tag. I haven't been able to pinpoint a tag yet, but maybe if I could find a battle break out, I could find their tag."
"SIR!" My head snaps around to stare at Alfred, his voice and expression exuding anger, pouring out rage. His eyes are fixed on me, his fists clinched. I know he wouldn't ever try to strike me, but I also know it's definitely running through his mind right now.
"Yes, Alfred?"
"While you've been off on this unstoppable crusade night after night, your new son has been sitting in his room, crying his eyes out night in and night out. He's an orphan Bruce."
"And so was I."
"Exactly. I can do everything in my power to help him, but I can't connect with him like you, sir. You are the shinning example of taking your grief and anger and turning it into something powerful and for a good cause."
"Alfred, I don't have time--"
"What would you have done if I hadn't had time, sir? What would you have done if, after your parents were killed, you sat on your bed every night and cried. You didn't have food. You didn't have comfort. Just death and darkness."
"I did sit on my bed and cry every night, Alfred."
"But you had a guiding hand. You had someone to be there when the crying stopped, to sit down by your side and tell you to take your grief and anger and despair, and turn it into something brand new!" Silence. The whole cave echoes with his words. What if he's right? What if I should be up there with Dick right now? Have I neglected the duties my dying friend had left with me? I'm realizing his dream of defeating the families but...I'm neglecting his brother as well. How can I handle both?
"You're excused, Alfred." Without a word, Alfred turns and walks away. I'm left alone in the cavern. I know what I must do.
*
The door creaks open as I stealthily enter. Or I think that I stealthily enter. The second my head peeks around the corner, a remote comes flying at me at fifty miles and hour. I'm barely able to duck it, using the full extent of my powers, as it slams into the wall behind me and explodes. "Get the hell out, you asshole!" I finish sliding into the door quickly and don't have the time to close it before I'm forced to dodge other projectiles. Now, I stand in front of him. The twelve-year-old Richard Grayson on his bed, sobbing like I once was. I feel bad for Alfred.
"Listen, Dick, I just want to talk."
"Well I don't, so why don't you get the hell out of my room?" I walk over to him with a brisk pace.
"Do you mind if I take a seat?" Without waiting for a response, I take a seat on the bed next to him, staring him in his tear-filled eyes.
"What do you want to be when you grow up, Dick?" He doesn't answer. The only sound in the room is that of his inconsistent sobs. "Well, Dick?"
"I want to be a...a hero."
"And why do you want to be a hero?"
"So that...I can inspire people. I want to be able to inspire people like Batman does."
"Has Batman inspired you?" And it's beginning to click. This boy grew up surrounded by crime and death and didn't even know it--and now he wants to stop it.
"I just want to meet him. I want to know how he became the man he is today.
"Would you make your bed, if you got to meet him?" Dick looks up at me, his right eyebrow cocked. A smile broadens across my face.
"Yeah...sure?" His voice is confused and inquisitive. He'll never expect what's coming next. I stand up and hold out my hand.
"Come with me."
"Why?"
"Just come with me, Dick. I've got something you want to see." He takes my hand and I pull him off the bed. He's about to have the surprise of a lifetime.
NEXT TIME: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD!