[ Post a Response | Role Play Board ]
Posted by Batman
on 8/3/2009, 9:56 pm
97.83.159.13
_______________________________________________________________________________
~~ Then ~~
I hate flying. It might be fast, but I feel trapped in the cockpit, no matter what the speed. I suppose it’s different for Clark, but it’s still an overrated feat.
From the darkness surrounding the aircraft, I see the light at the end of the tunnel and decelerate, activating the VTOL engines in the process. The tunnel opens into one of the many dark corners of the cavern, and I carefully maneuver the plane onto its landing platform. As I expected, Ted Kord has already beaten me here, and he greets me as I climb out.
“That was fast.” Blue Beetle walks up the short catwalk towards me. “I thought you said you were over the Mediterranean like fifty minutes ago.”
“I was.” I respond, not bothering to tell him I’ve borrowed some of the newer tech from Wayne Aerospace’s NASA contracts. “How are things at the Watchtower?”
“Lonely and dusty.” Ted quips. “Well ok, not dusty, but you know what I mean. How did you know I was there anyway?”
“I’ve linked the Watchtower to my database.” I walk past Ted and towards the computer monitors sitting across the cave. “Anytime the teleporter’s used, I know.”
“Huh, handy.” Ted speaks softly, following behind me as he does. “I suppose your answer’s still the same then. About the League.”
I reach the computer station and stand before it, activating it with a hushed whisper. My mind floats back to two days ago, when Kord first mentioned rebuilding the Justice League of America. “I support the League, but I can’t commit. Gotham is my priority.” Kord doesn’t need to know of my other priorities; guiding the newly-christened League of Shadows and its leader, Talia Head.
“I understand.” Ted nods, obviously disappointed, but I’m sure not too surprised by my answer. “I don’t suppose you’ll mind if I ask Nightwing.”
Grayson’s inclusion had already crossed my mind, and I’m not surprised Ted would want to ask him. I turn back, “Not at all. He’s a great tactician and fighter.”
“And a heckuva teammate.” Ted adds—I read into the remark with everything Kord intended.
“Don’t forget Robin, either.” I turn around towards the monitors as they list the most recent entries in the GCPD’s database, filling me in on anything I may have missed while gone. “Despite his age, he’d make an excellent addition.”
“That’s…” Ted starts to speak, this time very surprised by my endorsement. “That seems to be taking a lot from Gotham.”
“We’ll manage.” I turn back towards him. “Besides, the League’s only for the best, and if it so happens that the best comes from Gotham…” I decide to surprise Kord even more, although it probably only scares and worries him as my lip curls into a smile, ever so slightly and briefly.
“Now you’re scaring me.” Ted manages a forced chuckle. “Both boy wonders for the League—if they accept—and a smile… am I dreaming?” He jokingly attempts to pinch his forearm through his armor. I suppose it’s mildly amusing.
“They’ll accept.” I turn back to the computers and take my seat in the chair. “Just make the decision for one and the other should follow…”
~~ Now ~~
“You can call me Scorcher!”
The sound of his forced cackle is drowned out by the enormous ‘fwoosh!’ emitted from his gauntlets as fire surrounds me. I spin and cover myself with my cape as the ragtag clothes I had been wearing over the suit disintegrate around me. The heat is unbearable, but my cape protects me from any serious harm. I doubt he even managed to see the cape wrapped around me with the amount of fire that’s blocking his vision. My only fear is running out of oxygen before he stops the flames, and not the flames themselves.
“God,” he roars as the flames die out, “I love that smell!”
Before he has time to notice that there’s not a scattered pile of charred remains and ash, I spring up from underneath the cape and let loose two batarangs, striking both gauntlets right above his wrists.
“What the ####?” He takes a step back looking from me and to his suit. From where I stand I can hear the slow stream of gas pouring out from where the batarangs are protruding. “Oh ####.”
I charge him with the deepest bestial growl I can manage. He turns around attempts to flee, but I tackle him from behind, with one arm around his waist and the other tightening around his neck. He hits the ground hard, and face first, and I quickly pull him up off his feet. I sweep his legs out behind him to keep him off balance then slam him to his knees, all the while choking his windpipe.
“Who are you?” I snap into his ear, loosening the pressure so he can speak.
“I’m not talkin’!” He croaks, futilely struggling to pull my arm away. “This is just the beginnin’ for Gotham!”
“You’ll talk.” Snarling, I begin to drag him towards the nearest fire escape. If I can tie him up and get a look at his tech, I should be able to have an idea of what I’m up against, if anything.
“I’ll give you six words.” He manages to choke out through gritted teeth. His feet kick and lash out as I continue to drag him back. “Death is the road to awe.”
I stop instantly and look down at him. I’m glad he can’t see my eyes and the surprise that fills them. My arm instinctively tightens around his neck and I wouldn’t even notice if it weren’t for the wet gurgling sound spewing from his lips. “What did you say?”
“Sayonara.” He whispers, and my mistake becomes abundantly clear-- I’ve underestimated this ‘Scorcher.’ I look towards his hands as he begins to make a fist, and I can see the small button in his palm that triggers the flamethrowers.
I barely have time to react, and with no chance of stopping him, I push him forward and dive back as far as I can. The fire hits the gas mixture at the tear of the batarangs, causing an explosion in the gas line that follows its way to the small tanks concealed on his back. I watch this all in the blink of an eye as he explodes with a deafening roar. The force of the blast sends me back against the brick alleyway and nearly knocks me out.
When the blur clears from my vision and the buzzing stops in my ears, I glance around at the smoldering remains lining the walls and dumpsters around me. His torso is what I find most clearly, with his legs not too far away, albeit both down different ends of the alley. I hear sirens in the distance and they grow louder and closer with every passing second. I use my grapnel and head for the rooftops. watching the cops arrive and the investigative scene unfold from the shadows.
“Death is the road to awe.”
His words echo in my head. I’ve only been truly worried… and even partially scared… a handful of times, and unfortunately, this is one of them.
* * *
Message Thread:
« Back to thread