ISSUE #2 written by Jake Hawkins
February 2018
February 2018
There’s nothing better than a trial by fire, Jason thought as he glared through the lenses of his helmet at the three bang babies who had cornered Static and himself. He carefully surveyed the room as Static jumped into action, tossing his disk into the air as he hopped onboard and made a beeline straight for Shiv.
Shiv didn’t hesitate, choosing to strike first at the charging Static. He created an axe of pure energy, hurling it at the teen hero as he cackled with delight. Static somehow managed to swerve around it as he gripped the edge of his disk tightly, his eyes never leaving Shiv. Static blasts a defunct cash register and sent it hurtling into the back of the head of Shiv. Static than leaped off his disk and hit Shiv with a dropkick to the chest that sent him crashing through the doors of an old dressing room.
Nearby Talon’s attempt to corner the Red Hood with her sonic scream proved fruitless, as he dived behind an old perfume display, narrowly avoiding her assault. Red Hood tossed a small silver magnet over the counter that latches onto an overhead lighting display. The display suddenly began to strobe flash a multitude of colors in rapid fashion, sending Talon into a short case of epileptic shock. The Red Hood noticed his window of opportunity and rolled from behind the counter, jumping onto Talon and attaching a small collar around her neck. She quickly tossed him off her, and Slipstream creates a gust of wind that picked up the hero and sends him hurtling at a wall with breakneck speed. The Red Hood crashed violently through a Men’s department sign, his back aching from the impact. His time to recuperate was minimal, as he looked up to see Talon perched on a rack near him.
“I don’t know what it is with people always trying to get between a woman and her bread, but I want you to know your death ain’t nothing personal.” Talon informed him before readying her attack. Jason smirked underneath his helmet as he heard the click in her jaw. Before she could emit another sonic attack, the collar Red hood attached to her sends thirty thousand volts surging through Talon. She drops from the rack, unconscious before she even hit the floor.
Red Hood steps over the comatose Talon to see Static and Slipstream engaging in a battle of wills. Slipstream struggles as the wind he kicks up shook the entire rundown building. Static gritted his teeth, sweat dripped from his bro as he struggled to hold the lightning forcefield that was protecting him from the near F-5 level winds. Slipstream is momentarily distracted however, as three rectangular boxes land near his feet and explode, knocking the big man off his feet and onto Shiv, who had just begun to stir when his massive partner crushes him. Slipstream began to struggle to his feet, but Static sends a steel pole directly into his forehead, knocking him for a loop. Red Hood wastes no time insuring the powerful behemoth stayed down for the count, as he plunged the long needle of a syringe into the neck of Slipstream, who quickly falls asleep.
Static shot The Red hood a peculiar look as he scooped his disk off dirty tile floor and made his way over to the man who had inexplicably helped him. “This little team-up thing was cool in all, but around here usually when somebody helps someone out, they don’t want a damn thing good in return.” Static lamented as Red Hood slapped a pair of handcuffs on Talon and Slipstream.
“Well lucky for you, I’ve decided to try and discover if I have a knack for altruism.” The Red Hood quipped as he kicks Talon out of his way.
“What’s that thing you used to take out Teresa?” Static asked, his curiosity continued to get the best of him.
“Shock collar that activates when it registers abnormal soundwave readings. I actually brought it with me just in case another would-be recruit doesn’t like what I’m selling, but I figured it would work just fine on the chicken hawk over there.” He said as he pressed a button on the side of his helmet and pulled it off, revealing jet black hair and with one lone streak of stark white running through it, and a domino mask still maintaining his identity. “I may not be Ben Franklin’s wet dream like you, but I get by.”
Virgil rolled his eyes as Dakota police surrounded the building. “Well as much as my momma would hate for me to be rude, you seem like kind of a dick so thanks for the help, but it’s been real.” Static replied with a shrug as he tosses his disk into the air and hops on, prepared to take off.
“You sure you don’t want to know why I took the time out of my day to stop by this poor Central City knock off? I mean if not then continue on to your internship where I am sure you will be enthralled grabbing Harrison Well’s coffee all summer followed by daily Burger fool jaunts with your boy Richie.” Jason taunted as he grabbed a grapnel gun from the utility straps that lined the inside of his leather jacket.
“How did you know-“Virgil began before he’s cut off with a wave of the hand from Jason.
“I’m staying at the Luthor Plaza. You interested in knowing why I’m interested, meet me downstairs in the hotel restaurant at nine.” And without another word Jason was gone, leaving Virgil puzzled as to what had just transpired.
“Nine bruh, really? Man, it’s a school night.” Virgil griped as he took off through a shattered window and to the skies of Dakota outside.
# # # # #
Jason sat at a desk in the corner of Presidential suite at the Luthor plaza. In front of him was not only his laptop, but three virtual video screens playing footage of a terror attack in Berlin. A video call comes across the laptop screen, and Jason uses his finger to drag the call from the screen to directly in front of him just as the face of Barbara Gordon appears.
“Babs! My how great it is to see you! How is my favorite should have been a librarian doing?” Jason teased, his eyes not on her but still focused on the footage playing in the video box right behind hers.
“Not that I condone or approve of this arrangement, but Bruce has asked me to share some pertinent information with you while he is away.” She informed him, ignoring his ignorant jokes.
“Wonderful, I love pointless debriefings. And where is our fear-spreading, rigid leader that he isn’t available now?” He asked as he got up from the desk, Barbara’s video screen followed him as he moved over to the bar and poured himself a drink.
Barbara rolled her eyes before she answered him. “He and Damian are handling a rogue OMAC they found near Coast City. Now I’m sure you’re already aware of the bombing plastered all over the news today?”
“Yeah. Bombs dropped all over Museum Island, WayneTech satellite footage even shows a strike team entering the Pergamonmuseum before the feed goes dark. I didn’t see anything that may give me an idea as to who they were and why they were there. I’m hoping you called me with some leads, Encyclopedia Brown.”
“All your rhetoric ever screams is punch me in the face, I’m always more than have obliged to do so.” Barbara replied, his schtick starting to vex even her nerves of steel. “We discovered the strike team was a diversion. They were apprehended by Berlin special forces without so much as a tussle, but apparently, they along with the stream of bombs were just the well-timed diversion. An R&D facility owned by Kord Industries was attacked by another group, and they managed to walk away with a supply of prototype power cells that Kord’s been working on with Luthor.”
“You got anything on what these prototypes are supposed to be used for? You know something of merit that could give me an idea of who or what I should be looking out for?” Jason replied with a smirk of pure glee, as he could not get enough of riling up Barbara. Part of it was that she never could stand him, going back to his earliest days at Bruce’s side. The other part was that he always felt she held him to Grayson’s impeccable standard, and that was something that needled him in the worst way possible, although he’d admit as much.
“Schematics on the cells I have managed to pull off a hard drive obtained by Damian show that they were supposed to be used to power those data satellites Lex was planning on launching as part of his new mobile phone subsidiary of Luthorcorp. As far as what these people could possibly want them for, let alone such a large quantity, jury is still out sadly.” She said as the schematics for the power cells pop up around Jason.
“Well I appreciate the information Babs, even though I’m sure you won’t believe me.” Jason snorts with a hint of derision as he is about to end the call.
“One more thing Mr. Todd.” He halts, his eyes finally meeting hers. “Bruce may believe you deserve this second chance. But after everything you did when you decided to rip through Gotham just to play your sick games with Joker and Batman, there are a few of us who aren’t so quick to forgive, and have no intention of forgetting anytime soon. So, if all of this is just another plot to kill Bruce for your failures, rest assured, none of us will let you slip through the cracks. Not this time.” Her threat hung in the air for a moment before she ended the call herself. No sooner does the call end that another video pops up, this time with footage from the restaurant downstairs as Jason watches Virgil enter the lobby.
# # # # #
Downstairs, Virgil is seated by his waitress who hands him a menu. “Mr. Todd has just called down to inform us he will be right with you.” The waitress exclaimed before setting Virgil’s cherry coke right in front of him before departing. After a moment or two, Jason enters the restaurant. He passes the waitress who sat Virgil, who points him towards their table. Jason slips her a fifty before heading over and taking a seat across from Virgil.
“Well, I got thrown into a wall today, so I’m going to have a glass of henny. You want one?” Jason questioned as he glanced at the menu.
Virgil nervously shook his head no. “Probably shouldn’t drink and fly. Really not trying to pull a Denzel. Also, I’m seventeen so there’s that.
Jason shrugged his shoulder before motioning for the waitress to come back over. “Let me get a henny on ice, please and thank you.” He handed her the menu before turning back to Virgil and examining him.
“I bet you just have all sorts of stupid questions running through your head.” Jason remarked, amused by the puzzled expression etched on the young man’s face.
“Yeah, but is any question ever actually stupid? Because I know a lot of stupid people who don’t like to ask questions. You can see how those things could go hand in hand.” Virgil shot back as the waitress brought Jason his drink.
“Let’s fill in some of the broad strokes before the Q and A starts. I’m putting together a strike force to investigate a terrorist organization that’s been making a lot of noise in all the wrong places. I planned on scouting you for a few days but when I saw cars start flying into each other downtown, I figured what better way to see if you’re up to the task than some hands-on experience.” Jason finished as he took a sip of his drink.
“What made you consider me? I’ve never heard of you. And what’s with the bat symbol you were wearing? I doubt Batman wants someone who runs around with glocks repping him.” Virgil added defiantly.
“Me and The Bat have a long history we’re currently trying to work on. And according to the files he gave me, he has worked with you a couple of times if I’m not mistaken. But what surprised me twice as much is the glowing recommendation to the team he jotted down about you. Which coupled with what I saw today, leaves me with a very simple task. And those are the best task, ya know.” Jason cracked as he gulped down the rest of his henny before waving the waitress over for another.
Virgil looked away sheepishly as the waitress brought Jason a refill. “Look man, tell Mr. Wayne I appreciate the endorsement. But I got far too much on my plate around here to be jetting off anywhere this close to graduation. Dakota ain’t Gotham, and we got problems that cut just as deep around here. As much as I’d love to join whatever the hell I think you’re trying to offer, I couldn’t call myself a man if I turn my back on what I deem my responsibilities.” Virgil gets up to leave but Jason shot him a look that tells him to sit back down.
“The Paris Island incident. Tell me about it.” Jason implored as Virgil sat back down.
Virgil took a deep breath before recalling the day that changed his life. “To be honest, to this very moment I don’t know why I went down there. Everybody had heard about the rumble going down for weeks. It’s crazy how for years, I listened to my dad drone on and on to my sister about how bad association could spoil the most useful of habits. It never dawned on me I should heed his advice for once. I was so sick of Ivan treating my sister the way he did, her sneaking into the house every night trying to hide her swollen face from my Mom. Larry put the gun in my hand a few days before it all went down.”
Virgil pauses for a moment a before he continues as Jason finishes his drink and slips the waitress a hefty tip. “I waited, crouched behind a mailbox with a glock in my hand, covered in sweat. I heard everybody start throwing hands, and I peered around the corner I saw him. I don’t think anyone in the world could look smugger and satisfied with himself. But that was always Ivan, so quick to embrace whatever chaos he created around him. But I knew when I saw his face that night, I wasn’t going to pull that trigger. He didn’t deserve that, and my sister deserved much better justice than whatever result I could have come up with that night. Next thing I knew the police started lobbing the gas grenades, and everything was a blur as I rushed home. I became Static because I got tired of the people around me, the people I see everyday in this city not being enough of a reason for the powers at be do make their lives better. I can’t just walk away from that.”
Jason studied Virgil for a moment before finally he spoke. “Come on man. You need to see what you’re turning your back on.” Jason gets up from the table and heads out of the restaurant as Virgil followed closely behind.
They stepped into the elevator as Jason quickly hits the top floor button. “You’ve met most of the family I’ve heard. But you haven’t heard of me. That’s because for a long time, hell even still, I’m what Batman called his greatest failure. I got myself killed doing what I do best, acting impulsively and refusing to listen. When I got a second chance, I came back doing the same damn thing. And the day I die again, it’ll probably be because of the same thing too. But I took my frustrations at the consequences of my own actions, and used them to fuel my fire as I wreaked havoc on the man who honestly saved my life in the first place.”
The elevator stops, and the two young men stepped out directly into the presidential suite.
“Bring up file Z45 in broadcast mode.” Jason barked to no one as a confused Virgil took in the opulence of the lavish room. Before he could say a word, multiple video screens pop out around the duo, broadcasting footage of the multiple terror attacks and wide spread carnage Jason has been tracking.
“Virgil, I did more than enough reading up on you to know you’re far more special than those powers you were given. You’re a god damn genius kid, and you’ve got heart. And that is honestly something I lack and that I will need around me if I am going to try and raise myself to Bruce’s standards. I respect you wanting to honor your responsibilities, so I’ll make you a deal. You join me, we handle whatever this mess brewing is, and when its done the first business of the Outsider’s will be to handle Ebon. And you can personally make sure he never puts his hands on anyone like he did your sister again.”
Virgil’s wide-eyed amazement is halted as his eyes snap to Jason. “How did you know-“
“That Ivan was the Bang baby whose been causing every problem in this town since the incident? Stare at any puzzle for a twelve-hour flight and the pieces start to put themselves together for you. So, we got a deal, Static?”
Virgil takes another look at the violence on the screen around him before nodding his head enthusiastically, a wide grin spreading across his face. “When do we bounce?”
# # # # #
The very next day Virgil packs a suitcase in the Hawkins living room as his father watched TV. His mother follows him from the laundry room, her continued fretting started to wear on her son as he dumped a pile of clothes into the suitcase. As he tried to stuff the suitcase closed, his mother tried to grab his attention.
“Since when does Bruce Wayne hand out scholarships to black boys from Dakota of all places? Ain’t he too busy chasing around movie stars and Lane Bryant models, since when is he looking here for people like you? No offense son I know you’re smart I’m just calling a spade a spade.
Virgil finally managed to force the clothes down and with great effort pulls the zipper all the way around to close it. He collapsed onto the couch next to his father, who had turned the TV down and was focused on the discussion between his wife and son.
“Mom they only choose five students for this program. Instead of making copies and getting lunch at STAR labs all summer, I’m going to be hands on in the Applied Sciences division at the main facility in Gotham. You all taught me to bust my ass-“
“Language boy.” His father warned tersely.
“Sorry pops. You all taught me to work hard for opportunities exactly like this to come my way. I talk to Principle Hammond and I already have more than enough credits to graduate, this internship is just icing on the cake. He even said they can give you guys my diploma or mail it to me. Mom, I can’t let this slip through my fingers, I can’t.
Jean Hawkins threw her hands up in exasperation before storming out of the room. “Virg, your mom just isn’t ready to let you go yet. You’ll be in college this fall, she just thought she’d at least have the summer with you is all. Give her time you know she’ll let this go. You sure you got everything?” His father assured him as Virgil nodded begrudgingly, still upset at his mother’s reaction to him leaving. He hugs his dad as a car horn honked outside.
“I’ll call you, ok?” Virgil yelled at he sprinted out of the house and towards the limousine that awaited him. He hopped, a look of sheer excitement on his face. Across from him sat Jason, a pair of Cartier sunglasses on as he reached for the mini-bar to pour himself a drink.
“It’s a little early for all that isn’t it?” Virgil asked sheepishly. Jason peered over his designer glasses as he poured himself a glass of henny.
“I once dug myself out of my own coffin with a belt buckle and my fingernails. It’s never too early for a glass of Hennessey.”
Virgil merely shrugged his shoulders before he asked his next question. “So where to from here?”
Jason pulled an iPad from a case on the seat next to him and begun to examine the contents on its screen before he answered Virgil. “Star City. Got a couple of recruits I’m hoping to sway as easily as I did you. But then again, they have far more reason not to trust me than you, so let’s hope this turns out refreshingly pleasant.”
Virgil flashed a look of concern at Jason. “Um, and if it doesn’t?”
“Well that’s why I already started drinking. Duh.” Jason kicks back, stretching out in the limousine without a care in the world.
# # # # #
Somewhere in South Africa, near Cape town, Talia Al Ghul sat on the patio deck of a small café, sipping a cup of tea. A sundress and straw hat adorned, she waited patiently as a young bald man waded his way through the café and out to where she sat, bowing before he joined her.
“We have news. It appears the detective is onto our plight, but has no idea we are behind the recent chaos developing in Europe.” He informed her. She smirked at the information as she sat her hat down on the table.
“My spies still have The Batman in Gotham. Are you sure you have not been misinformed?” She asked, a veiled threat hiding under the question.
“No ma’am. His private jet was spotted leaving Dakota about an hour ago. However we believe he is employing some sort of facial scrambling technology, we can’t actually see his features for some reason. However we intercepted a secure transmission between he and the one known as the Oracle, who passed him some information regarding our activities.” He reasoned, hoping this data was enough to keep his master’s daughter pleased.
“Hypnos implants. He’s not the one on our trail, but someone is if he’s given them access to Spyral’s technology. Where is this stand in for the detective headed now?” She demanded, her curiosity peaking the more she learned.
“Their current trajectory has us estimating they will be landing in Star City.”
“Get my plane ready, and prepare a level seven strike team. Whoever this man is, a preemptive attack is necessary. We can’t have them getting too close before we have everything required to move the project forward.
“Yes ma’am.” The foot soldier nodded and quickly departed from the table as Talia took another sip of her tea. In front of her she watched as a team of hooded men pulled a large spacecraft out of the murky beach water a way’s in front of her, a Cheshire cat like smile etched on her face.
TO BE CONTINUED IN ISSUE 3!
Shiv didn’t hesitate, choosing to strike first at the charging Static. He created an axe of pure energy, hurling it at the teen hero as he cackled with delight. Static somehow managed to swerve around it as he gripped the edge of his disk tightly, his eyes never leaving Shiv. Static blasts a defunct cash register and sent it hurtling into the back of the head of Shiv. Static than leaped off his disk and hit Shiv with a dropkick to the chest that sent him crashing through the doors of an old dressing room.
Nearby Talon’s attempt to corner the Red Hood with her sonic scream proved fruitless, as he dived behind an old perfume display, narrowly avoiding her assault. Red Hood tossed a small silver magnet over the counter that latches onto an overhead lighting display. The display suddenly began to strobe flash a multitude of colors in rapid fashion, sending Talon into a short case of epileptic shock. The Red Hood noticed his window of opportunity and rolled from behind the counter, jumping onto Talon and attaching a small collar around her neck. She quickly tossed him off her, and Slipstream creates a gust of wind that picked up the hero and sends him hurtling at a wall with breakneck speed. The Red Hood crashed violently through a Men’s department sign, his back aching from the impact. His time to recuperate was minimal, as he looked up to see Talon perched on a rack near him.
“I don’t know what it is with people always trying to get between a woman and her bread, but I want you to know your death ain’t nothing personal.” Talon informed him before readying her attack. Jason smirked underneath his helmet as he heard the click in her jaw. Before she could emit another sonic attack, the collar Red hood attached to her sends thirty thousand volts surging through Talon. She drops from the rack, unconscious before she even hit the floor.
Red Hood steps over the comatose Talon to see Static and Slipstream engaging in a battle of wills. Slipstream struggles as the wind he kicks up shook the entire rundown building. Static gritted his teeth, sweat dripped from his bro as he struggled to hold the lightning forcefield that was protecting him from the near F-5 level winds. Slipstream is momentarily distracted however, as three rectangular boxes land near his feet and explode, knocking the big man off his feet and onto Shiv, who had just begun to stir when his massive partner crushes him. Slipstream began to struggle to his feet, but Static sends a steel pole directly into his forehead, knocking him for a loop. Red Hood wastes no time insuring the powerful behemoth stayed down for the count, as he plunged the long needle of a syringe into the neck of Slipstream, who quickly falls asleep.
Static shot The Red hood a peculiar look as he scooped his disk off dirty tile floor and made his way over to the man who had inexplicably helped him. “This little team-up thing was cool in all, but around here usually when somebody helps someone out, they don’t want a damn thing good in return.” Static lamented as Red Hood slapped a pair of handcuffs on Talon and Slipstream.
“Well lucky for you, I’ve decided to try and discover if I have a knack for altruism.” The Red Hood quipped as he kicks Talon out of his way.
“What’s that thing you used to take out Teresa?” Static asked, his curiosity continued to get the best of him.
“Shock collar that activates when it registers abnormal soundwave readings. I actually brought it with me just in case another would-be recruit doesn’t like what I’m selling, but I figured it would work just fine on the chicken hawk over there.” He said as he pressed a button on the side of his helmet and pulled it off, revealing jet black hair and with one lone streak of stark white running through it, and a domino mask still maintaining his identity. “I may not be Ben Franklin’s wet dream like you, but I get by.”
Virgil rolled his eyes as Dakota police surrounded the building. “Well as much as my momma would hate for me to be rude, you seem like kind of a dick so thanks for the help, but it’s been real.” Static replied with a shrug as he tosses his disk into the air and hops on, prepared to take off.
“You sure you don’t want to know why I took the time out of my day to stop by this poor Central City knock off? I mean if not then continue on to your internship where I am sure you will be enthralled grabbing Harrison Well’s coffee all summer followed by daily Burger fool jaunts with your boy Richie.” Jason taunted as he grabbed a grapnel gun from the utility straps that lined the inside of his leather jacket.
“How did you know-“Virgil began before he’s cut off with a wave of the hand from Jason.
“I’m staying at the Luthor Plaza. You interested in knowing why I’m interested, meet me downstairs in the hotel restaurant at nine.” And without another word Jason was gone, leaving Virgil puzzled as to what had just transpired.
“Nine bruh, really? Man, it’s a school night.” Virgil griped as he took off through a shattered window and to the skies of Dakota outside.
# # # # #
Jason sat at a desk in the corner of Presidential suite at the Luthor plaza. In front of him was not only his laptop, but three virtual video screens playing footage of a terror attack in Berlin. A video call comes across the laptop screen, and Jason uses his finger to drag the call from the screen to directly in front of him just as the face of Barbara Gordon appears.
“Babs! My how great it is to see you! How is my favorite should have been a librarian doing?” Jason teased, his eyes not on her but still focused on the footage playing in the video box right behind hers.
“Not that I condone or approve of this arrangement, but Bruce has asked me to share some pertinent information with you while he is away.” She informed him, ignoring his ignorant jokes.
“Wonderful, I love pointless debriefings. And where is our fear-spreading, rigid leader that he isn’t available now?” He asked as he got up from the desk, Barbara’s video screen followed him as he moved over to the bar and poured himself a drink.
Barbara rolled her eyes before she answered him. “He and Damian are handling a rogue OMAC they found near Coast City. Now I’m sure you’re already aware of the bombing plastered all over the news today?”
“Yeah. Bombs dropped all over Museum Island, WayneTech satellite footage even shows a strike team entering the Pergamonmuseum before the feed goes dark. I didn’t see anything that may give me an idea as to who they were and why they were there. I’m hoping you called me with some leads, Encyclopedia Brown.”
“All your rhetoric ever screams is punch me in the face, I’m always more than have obliged to do so.” Barbara replied, his schtick starting to vex even her nerves of steel. “We discovered the strike team was a diversion. They were apprehended by Berlin special forces without so much as a tussle, but apparently, they along with the stream of bombs were just the well-timed diversion. An R&D facility owned by Kord Industries was attacked by another group, and they managed to walk away with a supply of prototype power cells that Kord’s been working on with Luthor.”
“You got anything on what these prototypes are supposed to be used for? You know something of merit that could give me an idea of who or what I should be looking out for?” Jason replied with a smirk of pure glee, as he could not get enough of riling up Barbara. Part of it was that she never could stand him, going back to his earliest days at Bruce’s side. The other part was that he always felt she held him to Grayson’s impeccable standard, and that was something that needled him in the worst way possible, although he’d admit as much.
“Schematics on the cells I have managed to pull off a hard drive obtained by Damian show that they were supposed to be used to power those data satellites Lex was planning on launching as part of his new mobile phone subsidiary of Luthorcorp. As far as what these people could possibly want them for, let alone such a large quantity, jury is still out sadly.” She said as the schematics for the power cells pop up around Jason.
“Well I appreciate the information Babs, even though I’m sure you won’t believe me.” Jason snorts with a hint of derision as he is about to end the call.
“One more thing Mr. Todd.” He halts, his eyes finally meeting hers. “Bruce may believe you deserve this second chance. But after everything you did when you decided to rip through Gotham just to play your sick games with Joker and Batman, there are a few of us who aren’t so quick to forgive, and have no intention of forgetting anytime soon. So, if all of this is just another plot to kill Bruce for your failures, rest assured, none of us will let you slip through the cracks. Not this time.” Her threat hung in the air for a moment before she ended the call herself. No sooner does the call end that another video pops up, this time with footage from the restaurant downstairs as Jason watches Virgil enter the lobby.
# # # # #
Downstairs, Virgil is seated by his waitress who hands him a menu. “Mr. Todd has just called down to inform us he will be right with you.” The waitress exclaimed before setting Virgil’s cherry coke right in front of him before departing. After a moment or two, Jason enters the restaurant. He passes the waitress who sat Virgil, who points him towards their table. Jason slips her a fifty before heading over and taking a seat across from Virgil.
“Well, I got thrown into a wall today, so I’m going to have a glass of henny. You want one?” Jason questioned as he glanced at the menu.
Virgil nervously shook his head no. “Probably shouldn’t drink and fly. Really not trying to pull a Denzel. Also, I’m seventeen so there’s that.
Jason shrugged his shoulder before motioning for the waitress to come back over. “Let me get a henny on ice, please and thank you.” He handed her the menu before turning back to Virgil and examining him.
“I bet you just have all sorts of stupid questions running through your head.” Jason remarked, amused by the puzzled expression etched on the young man’s face.
“Yeah, but is any question ever actually stupid? Because I know a lot of stupid people who don’t like to ask questions. You can see how those things could go hand in hand.” Virgil shot back as the waitress brought Jason his drink.
“Let’s fill in some of the broad strokes before the Q and A starts. I’m putting together a strike force to investigate a terrorist organization that’s been making a lot of noise in all the wrong places. I planned on scouting you for a few days but when I saw cars start flying into each other downtown, I figured what better way to see if you’re up to the task than some hands-on experience.” Jason finished as he took a sip of his drink.
“What made you consider me? I’ve never heard of you. And what’s with the bat symbol you were wearing? I doubt Batman wants someone who runs around with glocks repping him.” Virgil added defiantly.
“Me and The Bat have a long history we’re currently trying to work on. And according to the files he gave me, he has worked with you a couple of times if I’m not mistaken. But what surprised me twice as much is the glowing recommendation to the team he jotted down about you. Which coupled with what I saw today, leaves me with a very simple task. And those are the best task, ya know.” Jason cracked as he gulped down the rest of his henny before waving the waitress over for another.
Virgil looked away sheepishly as the waitress brought Jason a refill. “Look man, tell Mr. Wayne I appreciate the endorsement. But I got far too much on my plate around here to be jetting off anywhere this close to graduation. Dakota ain’t Gotham, and we got problems that cut just as deep around here. As much as I’d love to join whatever the hell I think you’re trying to offer, I couldn’t call myself a man if I turn my back on what I deem my responsibilities.” Virgil gets up to leave but Jason shot him a look that tells him to sit back down.
“The Paris Island incident. Tell me about it.” Jason implored as Virgil sat back down.
Virgil took a deep breath before recalling the day that changed his life. “To be honest, to this very moment I don’t know why I went down there. Everybody had heard about the rumble going down for weeks. It’s crazy how for years, I listened to my dad drone on and on to my sister about how bad association could spoil the most useful of habits. It never dawned on me I should heed his advice for once. I was so sick of Ivan treating my sister the way he did, her sneaking into the house every night trying to hide her swollen face from my Mom. Larry put the gun in my hand a few days before it all went down.”
Virgil pauses for a moment a before he continues as Jason finishes his drink and slips the waitress a hefty tip. “I waited, crouched behind a mailbox with a glock in my hand, covered in sweat. I heard everybody start throwing hands, and I peered around the corner I saw him. I don’t think anyone in the world could look smugger and satisfied with himself. But that was always Ivan, so quick to embrace whatever chaos he created around him. But I knew when I saw his face that night, I wasn’t going to pull that trigger. He didn’t deserve that, and my sister deserved much better justice than whatever result I could have come up with that night. Next thing I knew the police started lobbing the gas grenades, and everything was a blur as I rushed home. I became Static because I got tired of the people around me, the people I see everyday in this city not being enough of a reason for the powers at be do make their lives better. I can’t just walk away from that.”
Jason studied Virgil for a moment before finally he spoke. “Come on man. You need to see what you’re turning your back on.” Jason gets up from the table and heads out of the restaurant as Virgil followed closely behind.
They stepped into the elevator as Jason quickly hits the top floor button. “You’ve met most of the family I’ve heard. But you haven’t heard of me. That’s because for a long time, hell even still, I’m what Batman called his greatest failure. I got myself killed doing what I do best, acting impulsively and refusing to listen. When I got a second chance, I came back doing the same damn thing. And the day I die again, it’ll probably be because of the same thing too. But I took my frustrations at the consequences of my own actions, and used them to fuel my fire as I wreaked havoc on the man who honestly saved my life in the first place.”
The elevator stops, and the two young men stepped out directly into the presidential suite.
“Bring up file Z45 in broadcast mode.” Jason barked to no one as a confused Virgil took in the opulence of the lavish room. Before he could say a word, multiple video screens pop out around the duo, broadcasting footage of the multiple terror attacks and wide spread carnage Jason has been tracking.
“Virgil, I did more than enough reading up on you to know you’re far more special than those powers you were given. You’re a god damn genius kid, and you’ve got heart. And that is honestly something I lack and that I will need around me if I am going to try and raise myself to Bruce’s standards. I respect you wanting to honor your responsibilities, so I’ll make you a deal. You join me, we handle whatever this mess brewing is, and when its done the first business of the Outsider’s will be to handle Ebon. And you can personally make sure he never puts his hands on anyone like he did your sister again.”
Virgil’s wide-eyed amazement is halted as his eyes snap to Jason. “How did you know-“
“That Ivan was the Bang baby whose been causing every problem in this town since the incident? Stare at any puzzle for a twelve-hour flight and the pieces start to put themselves together for you. So, we got a deal, Static?”
Virgil takes another look at the violence on the screen around him before nodding his head enthusiastically, a wide grin spreading across his face. “When do we bounce?”
# # # # #
The very next day Virgil packs a suitcase in the Hawkins living room as his father watched TV. His mother follows him from the laundry room, her continued fretting started to wear on her son as he dumped a pile of clothes into the suitcase. As he tried to stuff the suitcase closed, his mother tried to grab his attention.
“Since when does Bruce Wayne hand out scholarships to black boys from Dakota of all places? Ain’t he too busy chasing around movie stars and Lane Bryant models, since when is he looking here for people like you? No offense son I know you’re smart I’m just calling a spade a spade.
Virgil finally managed to force the clothes down and with great effort pulls the zipper all the way around to close it. He collapsed onto the couch next to his father, who had turned the TV down and was focused on the discussion between his wife and son.
“Mom they only choose five students for this program. Instead of making copies and getting lunch at STAR labs all summer, I’m going to be hands on in the Applied Sciences division at the main facility in Gotham. You all taught me to bust my ass-“
“Language boy.” His father warned tersely.
“Sorry pops. You all taught me to work hard for opportunities exactly like this to come my way. I talk to Principle Hammond and I already have more than enough credits to graduate, this internship is just icing on the cake. He even said they can give you guys my diploma or mail it to me. Mom, I can’t let this slip through my fingers, I can’t.
Jean Hawkins threw her hands up in exasperation before storming out of the room. “Virg, your mom just isn’t ready to let you go yet. You’ll be in college this fall, she just thought she’d at least have the summer with you is all. Give her time you know she’ll let this go. You sure you got everything?” His father assured him as Virgil nodded begrudgingly, still upset at his mother’s reaction to him leaving. He hugs his dad as a car horn honked outside.
“I’ll call you, ok?” Virgil yelled at he sprinted out of the house and towards the limousine that awaited him. He hopped, a look of sheer excitement on his face. Across from him sat Jason, a pair of Cartier sunglasses on as he reached for the mini-bar to pour himself a drink.
“It’s a little early for all that isn’t it?” Virgil asked sheepishly. Jason peered over his designer glasses as he poured himself a glass of henny.
“I once dug myself out of my own coffin with a belt buckle and my fingernails. It’s never too early for a glass of Hennessey.”
Virgil merely shrugged his shoulders before he asked his next question. “So where to from here?”
Jason pulled an iPad from a case on the seat next to him and begun to examine the contents on its screen before he answered Virgil. “Star City. Got a couple of recruits I’m hoping to sway as easily as I did you. But then again, they have far more reason not to trust me than you, so let’s hope this turns out refreshingly pleasant.”
Virgil flashed a look of concern at Jason. “Um, and if it doesn’t?”
“Well that’s why I already started drinking. Duh.” Jason kicks back, stretching out in the limousine without a care in the world.
# # # # #
Somewhere in South Africa, near Cape town, Talia Al Ghul sat on the patio deck of a small café, sipping a cup of tea. A sundress and straw hat adorned, she waited patiently as a young bald man waded his way through the café and out to where she sat, bowing before he joined her.
“We have news. It appears the detective is onto our plight, but has no idea we are behind the recent chaos developing in Europe.” He informed her. She smirked at the information as she sat her hat down on the table.
“My spies still have The Batman in Gotham. Are you sure you have not been misinformed?” She asked, a veiled threat hiding under the question.
“No ma’am. His private jet was spotted leaving Dakota about an hour ago. However we believe he is employing some sort of facial scrambling technology, we can’t actually see his features for some reason. However we intercepted a secure transmission between he and the one known as the Oracle, who passed him some information regarding our activities.” He reasoned, hoping this data was enough to keep his master’s daughter pleased.
“Hypnos implants. He’s not the one on our trail, but someone is if he’s given them access to Spyral’s technology. Where is this stand in for the detective headed now?” She demanded, her curiosity peaking the more she learned.
“Their current trajectory has us estimating they will be landing in Star City.”
“Get my plane ready, and prepare a level seven strike team. Whoever this man is, a preemptive attack is necessary. We can’t have them getting too close before we have everything required to move the project forward.
“Yes ma’am.” The foot soldier nodded and quickly departed from the table as Talia took another sip of her tea. In front of her she watched as a team of hooded men pulled a large spacecraft out of the murky beach water a way’s in front of her, a Cheshire cat like smile etched on her face.
TO BE CONTINUED IN ISSUE 3!