Post by jordan on Dec 12, 2013 23:11:14 GMT -5
Ultimate Batman
Issue #3.ULT
Gotham Wars: A Prologue
"A War Is Coming"
By Jordan
*
Jim Corrigan; The Night After the Last
"Do you hear that in the wind? It's like a howling." Why is he talking. Why can't he just shut the hell up? I don't want to talk right now. Tonight is just too important. I'm about to commit suicide.
Last night...or was it the night before? Either way, I've made a deal with the Bat, Gotham City's self-appointed guardian angel. He has this new thing, some kind of plan, to take all of the Five Families down at once. He said he needed my help. He said if I helped him, I'd never have to kill again. And that would be a dream come true.
And now I'm standing here, next to a man they call Twelve-Finger Tony, which doesn't even make since cause he's missing two fingers. We were standing in silence until the damned wind started to blow, and he had to talk I don't wanna talk.
I'm supposed to be spreading a rumor--that the Head of the Maroni has fallen and they're without leadership. The other four families will rush to take their territory and men. I don't know why the Bat wants me to do this, but he does. Does he want to start war? Does he want to watch the gangs tear themselves apart?
"Yeah. Howling. We ain't had wolves in Gotham since the flood, Tony."
"Yeah, but still, it's ominous." Here's my opening.
"Maybe it means a storm is coming."
"Like the flood?"
"Worse."
"What storm could be worse than the flood?"
"A shitstorm." Tony starts laughing. He thinks this is funny.
"Ah man, Corrigan, you get me. Really though, I think something big's going to happen."
"War."
"What do you mean, 'war'?" A look of confusion captures his features. I refuse to meet his gaze. I'm to afraid he'll see my fear.
"I heard that the Maroni Head fell. If they are headless, what's to stop the other families from moving in on them?"
"Wait, the Maronis finally fell?"
"'S what I heard."
"Did you tell Lex?"
"I don't report to Lew anymore, Tony. I'm Zeiss's guy."
"Why Zeiss, Corrigan?"
"It's simple, he's the only family head who ain't in Gotham. I never gotta see him."
"Ah man, you lucky."
"You should get going now." Confusing grabs his features once more.
"How come?"
"Cause that sitstorm I told you about is coming."
*
Catwoman; Maroni Territory
The easiest snatch of my life! It seriously has never been easier to steal ten thousand dollars in jewels! I can't believe it! I brought my claws and everything! Does that mean this is a trap? I hope it isn't!
I land on the roof of a nearby building, my breasts caught in my tight leather suit. I like to shock the fellas when they see me robbing them. Gives me a chance to get away! I look around into the complete and utter darkness. No one. Not a one. I wonder where the Maroni Family is tonight? Usually they're around these parts. Whatever! I got my jewels! Now I just need to get to my fence.
I look in my bag to take inventory. Yep, fourteen priceless jewels--everywhere from emerald to diamond and back. Yay me! But then I hear something move behind me. Goddamnit. I knew it couldn't be this easy. There's always gotta be someone getting in my way, right? The cops, the mob, the people I rob. I'm just happy I've never run into--
"Hello, 'Catwoman.' How are you tonight?" There he is. Just standing in front of me. Over six feet tall. He's a giant. He's muscular, he's fast, and his voice is deep. If I weren't in the middle of probably fighting for my freedom, I would be extremely attracted to him right now.
"Um, hi?" He just stares down at me. What are the odds he thinks I'm cute enough to give me a pass?
"I'll let you keep your diamonds and go free on one condition." Oh, looks like my lucky day!
"Stay out of this area. Tell all of your friends to stay out of this area."
"Um, why? This is one of the richest parts of Gotham." He's looking at me funny. I wonder if he knows I'm only nineteen. Maybe he'll take pity on me.
"This area, the Golds as I've heard it called, is about to turn into a war zone."
"Hm, that sounds like it could be an issue for my business."
"You're barely an adult, Catwoman, you have no business."
"How do you know how old I am?"
"Selina Kyle. Nineteen years old. Attends Gotham University. Trust me, I'm well aware of who you are."
"Oh."
"Keep out. The Maronis have fallen, and that means this area is up for grabs. I'm trying to save your life and the lives of every innocent person here." I nod my head.
"Okay. So, does this mean we're good?"
"Go." I'm not going to wait around for him to change his mind. As soon as he finishes that word, I'm gone. But damn, he was hot.
*
Ellen Yin; The Golds, Maroni Territory
It's...quiet tonight. The Golds are never quiet, ever, not even when they are. I don't like it. This is Maroni territory, shouldn't there be robberies and murders? Hell, I'd settle for jaywalking. What's going on tonight? Maybe it has something to do with that shooting in Wayne's office last night...or was that the night before? Whatever, maybe that made things settle down, scarred Maroni.
Still don't know why that shooting went down. We know Wayne didn't do it, the two bodies killed each other. I think Gordon's leading theory is Donald Grayson was Nightwing. Strange. But it doesn't matter, not really, anyway.
I guess, in a way, it's a good think that it's quiet tonight. That means nobody is dying. Maybe Batman's crusade is finally paying off. Maybe we're finally starting to clean up the city. Maybe. And then I see two figures in the distance. One is a larger, black man while the other is a small white or asian woman. I see the man pull something from his pocket and hand it to her. She gives him cash. Looks like I spoke too soon.
"Hey, you two, stop!" I pull my badge and place my hand on my holstered gun. Drug deals always go south in the Golds. But then, as I'm walking towards them, I hear a series of gunfire and watch as dozens of bullets rip into the two. Brains splatter across the ally hall. Blood and bodies drop tot he floor, splattering everywhere. I stop dead in my tracks, not moving an inch. Three men walk around the corner, all are tall, all are wearing the same black mask on their faces.
"This is Mask territory now, officer, you might want to spread the word before more bodies end up like that one." He sounds like he had fun chopping them to pieces with his bullets. He's a monster.
"What about the Maronis? I thought this was their territory?"
"The Maronis ain't in town anymore, understand?" I wonder if they can see the horror in my eyes. They stare me down like a pack of hungry jackals. I don't even say anything. I've gotta tell Gordon. We're about to have a gang war on our hands, with the Golds as the battlefield. I turn and I sprint away in fear. They just laugh behind me. No matter what, I've gotta tell Gordon. I've gotta tell Gordon...I've gotta tell Gordon...
Next Time...
Gotham Wars Begins!
Bruce talks to Dick!
Gordon talks to Corrigan!
And good men will die!
The start of an epic chapter of Batman's life begins...next time!
Issue #3.ULT
Gotham Wars: A Prologue
"A War Is Coming"
By Jordan
*
Jim Corrigan; The Night After the Last
"Do you hear that in the wind? It's like a howling." Why is he talking. Why can't he just shut the hell up? I don't want to talk right now. Tonight is just too important. I'm about to commit suicide.
Last night...or was it the night before? Either way, I've made a deal with the Bat, Gotham City's self-appointed guardian angel. He has this new thing, some kind of plan, to take all of the Five Families down at once. He said he needed my help. He said if I helped him, I'd never have to kill again. And that would be a dream come true.
And now I'm standing here, next to a man they call Twelve-Finger Tony, which doesn't even make since cause he's missing two fingers. We were standing in silence until the damned wind started to blow, and he had to talk I don't wanna talk.
I'm supposed to be spreading a rumor--that the Head of the Maroni has fallen and they're without leadership. The other four families will rush to take their territory and men. I don't know why the Bat wants me to do this, but he does. Does he want to start war? Does he want to watch the gangs tear themselves apart?
"Yeah. Howling. We ain't had wolves in Gotham since the flood, Tony."
"Yeah, but still, it's ominous." Here's my opening.
"Maybe it means a storm is coming."
"Like the flood?"
"Worse."
"What storm could be worse than the flood?"
"A shitstorm." Tony starts laughing. He thinks this is funny.
"Ah man, Corrigan, you get me. Really though, I think something big's going to happen."
"War."
"What do you mean, 'war'?" A look of confusion captures his features. I refuse to meet his gaze. I'm to afraid he'll see my fear.
"I heard that the Maroni Head fell. If they are headless, what's to stop the other families from moving in on them?"
"Wait, the Maronis finally fell?"
"'S what I heard."
"Did you tell Lex?"
"I don't report to Lew anymore, Tony. I'm Zeiss's guy."
"Why Zeiss, Corrigan?"
"It's simple, he's the only family head who ain't in Gotham. I never gotta see him."
"Ah man, you lucky."
"You should get going now." Confusing grabs his features once more.
"How come?"
"Cause that sitstorm I told you about is coming."
*
Catwoman; Maroni Territory
The easiest snatch of my life! It seriously has never been easier to steal ten thousand dollars in jewels! I can't believe it! I brought my claws and everything! Does that mean this is a trap? I hope it isn't!
I land on the roof of a nearby building, my breasts caught in my tight leather suit. I like to shock the fellas when they see me robbing them. Gives me a chance to get away! I look around into the complete and utter darkness. No one. Not a one. I wonder where the Maroni Family is tonight? Usually they're around these parts. Whatever! I got my jewels! Now I just need to get to my fence.
I look in my bag to take inventory. Yep, fourteen priceless jewels--everywhere from emerald to diamond and back. Yay me! But then I hear something move behind me. Goddamnit. I knew it couldn't be this easy. There's always gotta be someone getting in my way, right? The cops, the mob, the people I rob. I'm just happy I've never run into--
"Hello, 'Catwoman.' How are you tonight?" There he is. Just standing in front of me. Over six feet tall. He's a giant. He's muscular, he's fast, and his voice is deep. If I weren't in the middle of probably fighting for my freedom, I would be extremely attracted to him right now.
"Um, hi?" He just stares down at me. What are the odds he thinks I'm cute enough to give me a pass?
"I'll let you keep your diamonds and go free on one condition." Oh, looks like my lucky day!
"Stay out of this area. Tell all of your friends to stay out of this area."
"Um, why? This is one of the richest parts of Gotham." He's looking at me funny. I wonder if he knows I'm only nineteen. Maybe he'll take pity on me.
"This area, the Golds as I've heard it called, is about to turn into a war zone."
"Hm, that sounds like it could be an issue for my business."
"You're barely an adult, Catwoman, you have no business."
"How do you know how old I am?"
"Selina Kyle. Nineteen years old. Attends Gotham University. Trust me, I'm well aware of who you are."
"Oh."
"Keep out. The Maronis have fallen, and that means this area is up for grabs. I'm trying to save your life and the lives of every innocent person here." I nod my head.
"Okay. So, does this mean we're good?"
"Go." I'm not going to wait around for him to change his mind. As soon as he finishes that word, I'm gone. But damn, he was hot.
*
Ellen Yin; The Golds, Maroni Territory
It's...quiet tonight. The Golds are never quiet, ever, not even when they are. I don't like it. This is Maroni territory, shouldn't there be robberies and murders? Hell, I'd settle for jaywalking. What's going on tonight? Maybe it has something to do with that shooting in Wayne's office last night...or was that the night before? Whatever, maybe that made things settle down, scarred Maroni.
Still don't know why that shooting went down. We know Wayne didn't do it, the two bodies killed each other. I think Gordon's leading theory is Donald Grayson was Nightwing. Strange. But it doesn't matter, not really, anyway.
I guess, in a way, it's a good think that it's quiet tonight. That means nobody is dying. Maybe Batman's crusade is finally paying off. Maybe we're finally starting to clean up the city. Maybe. And then I see two figures in the distance. One is a larger, black man while the other is a small white or asian woman. I see the man pull something from his pocket and hand it to her. She gives him cash. Looks like I spoke too soon.
"Hey, you two, stop!" I pull my badge and place my hand on my holstered gun. Drug deals always go south in the Golds. But then, as I'm walking towards them, I hear a series of gunfire and watch as dozens of bullets rip into the two. Brains splatter across the ally hall. Blood and bodies drop tot he floor, splattering everywhere. I stop dead in my tracks, not moving an inch. Three men walk around the corner, all are tall, all are wearing the same black mask on their faces.
"This is Mask territory now, officer, you might want to spread the word before more bodies end up like that one." He sounds like he had fun chopping them to pieces with his bullets. He's a monster.
"What about the Maronis? I thought this was their territory?"
"The Maronis ain't in town anymore, understand?" I wonder if they can see the horror in my eyes. They stare me down like a pack of hungry jackals. I don't even say anything. I've gotta tell Gordon. We're about to have a gang war on our hands, with the Golds as the battlefield. I turn and I sprint away in fear. They just laugh behind me. No matter what, I've gotta tell Gordon. I've gotta tell Gordon...I've gotta tell Gordon...
Next Time...
Gotham Wars Begins!
Bruce talks to Dick!
Gordon talks to Corrigan!
And good men will die!
The start of an epic chapter of Batman's life begins...next time!