RECAP:
After the fall of Blockbuster, Mayor Soames placed a new
official legislation into law called the Anti-Vigilante Displacement
act. Making metas and non-powered vigilantes fugitives of justice
within the city limits of Blüdhaven. With the help of
Special Agent Cisco Blaine, and the full power of the FBI; a new task
force was integrated into the Blüdhaven Police Department known as
the Crime Prevention Squad. Meanwhile, Nightwing found himself
betrayed by his information broker Oracle who agreed with Special Agent
Blaine's plans to save Blüdhaven. He also discovered Blaine
had a sample of his DNA, which would allow him to uncover his identity,
so he fled in an effort to protect his identity and find a way to
protect Blüdhaven from the new menace that threatens it.
Nightwing
gummed his mask into place and looked up at the abandoned building; the
glass was shattered in several windows, the paint was peeling off the
walls, and there were holes in the cement that allowed you to see the
rusted pipes. He sprinted in, and grabbed one of the rusted
pipes, using it to pull himself up through the hole in first and second
floor. He found himself coming out in a bathroom where a stall
used to be, and he climbed out and guardedly made his way to the
door. Opening it, he paused as he saw a shadow move by, and he
heard voices. Pulling two pellets from his glove, he tossed them
into the hallway, their small metal forms making light ping-ping noises
before spraying out knock out gas.
The two men with automatics dropped, and Nightwing came out with his
rebreather on. He checked them over, and they had CPS
badges. Removing their weapons, he continued on where he held
close to the walls using them as cover. He peeked around the
corner after reaching the end of the hall, and saw several more men
with CPS badges this time and they had their firearms drawn out.
He listened closely to the conversation one of the men started:
"I can't believe Blaine believes that this Grayson person would come
here."
"Shut up, Roger."
"Why Bill?" asked Roger; he lowered his gun to his side. "You
know I'm right."
"No, I don't; for all we know Grayson could be here."
"Well, then we better be ready," said a man with shades on, and an
orange T-shirt. "Quit your lip smacking, and keep an eye out."
The men nodded and separated to cover the area. Nightwing waited
almost five minutes before he snuck up behind the one called Roger, and
slipped a hand over his mouth, and an arm under his thick neck and
dragged him back into the corner where he laid his body up against the
wall. He took the clip out of the semi-automatic, and stuffed it
into crack in the wall. He checked Roger for an ear mic, or a
hand held radio, and after a few minutes found what he was looking for
on the man's lapel. He listened to the com chatter, and became
immersed on what was being said.
"This is bullshit!"
"What do you mean, Scotti?"
"Blaine has us screwing around waiting for that Grayson kid to show up
when we should be out huntin' Blockbuster!"
Nightwing's eyes widened, yet he managed to hide his foreboding fear,
and tuned the mic so he could get a clearer reception.
"Ever since Blockbuster escaped, we've caught hell from the director --
Blaine needs to get his head out of his ass."
"That would be a sight," laughed one of the ones talking.
"Give me a sit rep all stations," said Blaine. "And no more
jokes, Scotti or your ass is mine."
"Understood sir," said Scotti. "First floor checks clear."
"Second floor, so far so good."
"Nothing here in the parking lot."
"I can't see anything from the roof," said Blaine with a lace of
disappointment to his voice. "Keep an eye out."
He set the mic down, and proceeded into the next room. Two men
wearing casual clothes with guns strapped to their sides were smoking
cigarettes and talking unaware of Nightwing's presence. He eased
his way down the other path and made for the out of order elevator and
turned left to the stairs. From there he followed them up to the
parking lot where a guy with a shotgun sat on the hood of an old beater
chewing Tums like they were candies. Nightwing calculated the
distance between the other stairs and the man and realized he could not
make it without alerting him
So, doing what he was taught; he picked up a pebble off the cracked
concrete and tossed it in the other direction behind him. The man
hustled his overweight ass to where he heard the noise, but saw
nothing. He cocked his shotgun as sweat beaded down his brow. The
blow that came from behind took him unaware and he hit the pavement.
Nightwing took the shotgun, and emptied it when a click and the feel of
cold steel against the back of his head made him freeze.
"Looks like I caught myself a fugitive."
Elizabeth climbed out of the worn mattress, and looked at the clock
that sat on the nightstand next to said bed. It read
seven-thirty, and she stifled a yawn as she went into the bathroom to
take her shower. After that was over, she ate breakfast and got
dressed so she could mingle amongst the people to get a better lay of
Blüdhaven. She only learned so much of the city during
her nightly patrols that she decided to spend the day learning all that
she could so that she could be more effective. Upon coming out of
the disused three story building that had a garage next to it, she
caught the trolley that went right through Gibson street and straight
down Glover Alley. She had heard of a coffee shop on Glover Alley
known as the Mood Music, and she wanted to try out their mellow
sixteen. The trolley whined as its aged wheels turned and the
sparks flew. Passing by Willis Boulevard, Haven Plaza, and the
Cameron Museum.
She got off at Glover Alley, and headed inside Mood Music where she
found a ditzy waitress who was screwing up everyone's drinks. She
instead chose to go to the freckle-faced boy with yellow hair who was
doing a better job.
"What would you like, ma'am?" he said with heavy breaths.
"A mellow sixteen."
"All right, coming right up."
Taking a look around, Elizabeth noticed the more middle class citizens
of the 'Haven attended this place, and they seemed less crazy.
But, she reasoned that could be because it was not night out yet.
When she received her mellow sixteen, she took a sip, and smiled.
"It's good, thank you."
"You're welcome," he said, his breathing more laborious from exertion.
"That will be three twenty-five."
"That much?"
"Yes, ma'am; it's our special."
Elizabeth frowned, and handed over a five-dollar bill and the boy
walked over to collect her change. She took the moment to think
more about Dick and what she should do about her feelings, and this
other woman. She began to wonder if she should see this other
woman, and find out if she is right for Dick, if this other woman is
prettier, smarter than she is.
"Ma'am," said the freckled face boy. "Here's your change."
"Thanks," said Elizabeth, feeling embarrassed.
The boy walked away and she left alone again with her thoughts.
She ran her hands along the cup and wondered what she should do.
Then a terrible thought occurred to her, and that was the fact they
didn't use protection...
She cursed herself for being stupid. She downed her mellow
sixteen in one gulp, and tossed the cup in the wastebasket near the
door on her way out.
The Steel Serpents gang and the Crypt Runners met at a graveyard
sixteen miles between Gotham and Blüdhaven. It was mostly a
Civil War graveyard used for the burial of traitorous
Confederates. Blockbuster stood tall at the end of the graveyard
near the alleged grave of Stonewall Jackson. His massive frame
stretching his suit to its limits. All around him were the gang
King Snake had known as the Poison Fangs. Blockbuster had his
hands behind his back, a deadly smile on his face, and a glint in his
eyes.
"Welcome, I do hope the trip was not too harrowing for you all."
"Cut the crap," said the leader of the Steel Serpents. "We want
what is owed us. Give us our money, Desmond."
"He owes us, so he has to pay us first!" said the leader of the Crypt
Runners.
Blockbuster laughed at them, finding both gangs foolish. One gang
wore silver snake tattoos. The other dressed up as vampires, and
acted like they were a serious gang. He walked towards the
amassed men, some thirty in numbers, and tightened his ties.
"I assure you, I have no money on me. What I do have is pain, which I
will deliver to all of you, if you don't swear fealty to me."
"Who does this gaijin think he is?" asked the leader of the Steel
Serpents. "Waste him."
The Steel Serpents charged Blockbuster, and a menacing smile stretched
across his face. He brought his fists down like hammers
completely crushing the first two men to approach him, and then he
drove his right fist up knocking several others into the air. One
of the Steel Serpents managed to get behind him and fire his gun, but
Blockbuster swung back his hand snapping the man's neck with the force
of the blow.
He then looked at the others who stood several feet from him, and he
laughed. It was a laugh that was satanic and chilled to the bone.
The Crypt Runners all kneeled and bowed before Blockbuster. A moment
later so did what was left of the Steel Serpents after he killed their
leader and a good deal of their numbers.
If one thing the dark knight ever taught Nightwing, it was to always
watch his back. After living in Blüdhaven, he had learned to
take that lesson to a whole new level, but being from the city for so
long he had gotten somewhat lax. He hated himself for allowing Blaine
to get so close. Blaine came around to look Nightwing in the
face, and had a large grin as he pulled out a warrant for the arrest of
Dick Grayson.
"I have you," said Blaine. "And soon I'll have Batman."
Nightwing remained silent as he worked out several strategies of
escape; yet he realized he needed to convince Blaine he wasn't Dick
Grayson. That, that would be hard.
"Don't have anything to say for yourself?" he asked.
"...."
"Just as I figured."
Blaine lowered his mouth to his collar so he could speak into the mic
placed there, but kept his eyes on Nightwing.
"All units, I've found the perp, rendezvous at the parking lot."
Hearing nothing, but silence Blaine began to wonder what was
wrong. Even Nightwing was wondering because he knew there were at
least two men left. Then he saw a flash of silver and the gun
barrel fell to the floor. With a swift blow to the nerve under
the jaw, Blaine was out. Nightwing blinked as Katana sheathed her
cursed blade.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"After our separation, I was contacted by a mutual friend that you
might need help."
"Oracle..."
"Yes."
"I want nothing from her, or her agents."
"I do not come here because I work for her, Richard-san."
Nightwing turned around, and saw Katana had removed her mask. "I
come because we share a bond."
He smiled, and then bent down to pick up Blaine. "We'll need him
if I'm going to get him off my trail."
"I understand."
"Oh, and one more thing..."
"Yes?"
"Anyone ever tell you how sexy you look in that outfit?" he asked, his
smile growing wider.
"I never took you for a flirt," she said, returning his smile.
They walked out of the decrepit building together with Blaine in tow.
To
be Continued... Next Issue: Tricks and Disorder! NEVERMORE:
I want to take this column to thank Scott Redmond for his reviews, and
I also want to let everyone know I will be on Nightwing for the seeable
future. Now, for a quote to leave you readers thinking…
To lose all sensibility in times of
great depression is easy; the hardest thing is to maintain a calm,
collected sense of mind.
