ISSUE #3 written by Jake Hawkins
March 2018
March 2018
STAR CITY
8 A.M.
An unmarked private jet glides onto the tarmac. A Gucci suitcase hits the steps leading from the plane first, followed by its owner, Talia Al Ghul. She stepped off the plane and into a limousine that pulled away hastily.
The driver rolled down the divider as Ms. Al Ghul poured over a couple of spreadsheets on her tablet. “Has the detective’s emissary been captured?” She asked without looking up.
“We had a team of operatives on him as we awaited the strike team you requested to arrive, but there were…complications.”
# # # # #
THREE HOURS AGO
Jason and Virgil wandered into an empty hotel lobby. Virgil plopped down into the first chair he set eyes on, succumbing to being jet-lagged for the very first time in his life as Jason headed to the front desk.
“We had our bases covered in case we lost them, a blade at every major hotel in the downtown area. We followed them to the Marriot and were awaiting orders when things got out of hand.”
Jason stood at the desk, his impatience grew by the minute. He couldn’t fathom why it was taking them so long to check in. Suddenly an alert came through on his phone. “HYPNOS IMPLANT OFFLINE.”
Jason immediately checked his surroundings. There was no one in the lobby except for Virgil and himself, plus the clerk, who had finally gotten around to handing them their keys. Was it a malfunction in the software?
“You guys are in 412, that’s our suite. Enjoy your stay.” Jason merely nodded as he motioned for Virgil to follow him to the elevator.
The pair entered their suite, Jason tossing his bag onto the kitchenette counter before setting up his computer on a nearby table. Virgil leaped over one of the couches and made a beeline to the large window with a beautiful view of all of Star City, his jaw hanging slightly.
“This is wild. Mr. Wayne really putting us up like this for free? Yo I’ll follow him to hell and back if he needs me to. We get free breakfast in the morning right? What about room service, I know they got room service. Man no Burger Fool tonight we’re eating good now.” He exclaimed as he dialed the front desk.
# # # # #
The front desk phone rings but the clerk made no move to answer it as his attention was on the fleet of black clad warriors led by none other than Count Vertigo.
“I alerted the demon’s daughter as soon as our scanners detected the implant. I was told no action was to be taken until The Seven arrived.” The clerk informed Vertigo as he handed him a master key card.
“Plans have been adjusted. We need to find out what they know and why they are here, whoever they may be.” Vertigo turned towards the elevator with his team in tow.
# # # # #
Virgil watched as blimps passed through the night sky, his awe yet to wain. Jason sat pouring over the schematics of the stolen power cells, at a loss as to why someone would go through all the trouble to acquire them. Virgil noticed a black helicopter in the distance, heading in their direction. As it drew closer, he saw the military grade weapons adorning it, and if he wasn’t mistaken, it was starting to seem like it was heading straight towards the hotel.
The elevator doors slid open and Vertigo headed down the hallway, the troop of assassins right behind him. A voice comes over his com-link. “Count, Ms. Al Ghul is requesting a conference with you. Would you like me to patch you through?”
“Negative. Inform the B team to engage the targets immediately. Whoever they are, we want them on their heels.” He turned off the communicator before turning to the team behind him. “Get into position, we breach in sixty.”
Virgil took a few steps back from the glass as the helicopter continued to get closer. “Aye yo Jay, I’m not entirely sure but, actually scratch that I’m almost positive that this is a problem.”
Jason looked up just as the helicopter fired two missiles directly at the suite. “Virgil, MOVE!” Jason yells but Virgil’s eyes go from wide with fear to staunch with determination as he clenched his fist and electricity crackled around his knuckles.
In the skies above Star City, the pilot of the helicopter smiles as both missiles explode on impact. However it quickly fades as the smoke dissipates and he see’s a barrier of lightning in front of the suite, the impact and resulting explosion shattering every window on the fourth floor.
Virgil stood tall, his arms and face cut from the flying glass, breathing heavily from the rush of adrenaline. Jason leaped over the coffee table and reached into his backpack, grabbing a black case from his bag and tossing it open just as the door to the suite is opened and a slew of assassins pour in, with Count Vertigo himself bringing up the rear. Jason slipped his domino mask on before pulling out a mini grenade launcher and firing at the helicopters whirring blades. He watched the copter go down into Matthew’s bay before everything in front of him turned upside down.
Virgil dropped next to Jason, vomiting onto the carpet as he struggled to hold his upper body up. Vertigo kicked Virgil out of his way before grabbing Jason by the back of the head and pulling him up to his knees and scanning his eyes with a small device that flashes green when it detects his Hypnos implant.
“Take him to the compound, kill the boy. And get that implant out, The Demon will be pleased we managed to acquire Spyrals most formidable weapon.”
“There’s a device in his left ear…” Jason managed to rasp out as he’s dragged past Virgil. Virgil did his best to steady his gaze as everything in front of him swam right before his eyes. He fired a small blast from his finger tip that luckily connected with the instrument controlling Vertigo’s powers. The effects begin to dissipate, but Jason waste no time springing back into action, grabbing the sword off the back of the assassin holding him to his left and delivering a wicked slash across the sternum to the one on the right.Vertigo fumbles with his ear piece, trying to reboot it in order to subdue his would be captives. However Virgil seizes the moment to deliver an electrically charged shove that sends Vertigo flying into one of his men, the static cling of Virgil’s charge leaving them stacked on top of one another awkwardly stuck to the stainless steel fridge.
Jason is a blur of fists, chopping an oncoming attacker in the throat before driving him headfirst into the glass coffee table and shattering it on impact. Another assassin attacks from behind, and Jason turns to defend a fraction too late as his blade comes down towards his head when an arrow explodes into a bola, immobilizing the ninja before he can complete his onslaught. Jason turns to see none other than the Green Arrow readying another shot, his boots crunching on the broken glass strewn about the room as he charged forward. He thwarts an attack from the side, ducking and tossing the assassin over his shoulder before firing a glue arrow that leaves him stuck humiliatingly to the couch. Green Arrow then delivers a swift kick to the chin for good measure before surveying the area and insuring all threats have been neutralized.
He helped Virgil to his feet when he noticed the domino mask on Jason. “I’m not sure who the hell you are, but judging by the way you fight and the look, you’re a long way from Gotham.”
Jason ignored Green Arrow as he made his way over to Vertigo, snatching the com-link from his other ear.
“Let’s do the introductions somewhere other than here. These guys are definitely league of assassins, which mean back up is surely on its way in full force.” He surmised as he grabbed his computer and tossed Virgil his backpack.
“What or who or where are the league of assassins?” Virgil questioned as the three made their way into the hallway and into the stairwell right before the fourth floor elevator doors open once again. Komodo steps out, his bow at the ready.
# # # # #
Talia’s limousine pulled into a military facility just as the driver finished getting his master up to speed and past its front gates without the slightest hassle. The driver stops and opens Ms. Al Ghul’s door before bowing as she headed inside. Inside the massive compound were scientist working on strange, alien weaponry. Different members of the league of assassins stood in demo areas testing their new toys on various political hostages, their screams echoed throughout, yet Talia didn’t flinch. Finally, she found Ubu and The White Ghost overseeing a training exercise between two students using energy blades.
“These are some of the prototypes?”Talia asked as she approached. The White Ghost and Ubu both bowed in unison as she drew level with them.
“They were finished just yesterday morning. However they had to be retrofitted to our soldiers. We had them adjust their size and weight, and made them merely an extension of a wrist mount.”
“Well done. But this matter with Vertigo, how is it he so flagrantly disobeyed direct orders and he’s been under your command for the last six months? I expect far more from you of all, Ghost.”
“His actions could not have been foreseen. We were-“
“If the next word out of your mouth is unprepared, I may cut your tongue out right where you stand.” Talia threatens without so much as looking at her father’s right hand man. “So now we have no idea who the detective has sent on our trail, but they certainly know enough that they need to be dealt with expediently. Has anyone located the cargo shipment from Queen industries yet?”
Ubu nodded before the White Ghost spoke. “Our best interrogators have discovered the shipment is set to be sent out to a STAR labs facility in Gotham for diagnostics and data collection. We are ready to intercept before it leaves the city.”
“Excellent. And what of Vertigo?” Talia mused, finally turning to face them both once again as one of the students accidentally kills his sparring partner.
Ubu shook his head this time before White Ghost answered in a more reserved tone. “He has disappeared, presumably on the run after his failure and lack of obedience. I sent Komodo to serve as auxiliary support, however all he found at the scene were several of our own operatives, whom he slaughtered at my command for their inadequacy.”
“I want you to send two of our better men to handle the acquisition of the crate from Queen’s people. Use extreme caution, we can’t risk activating it prematurely. Then find Vertigo, I will cut his head off personally.The Seven men of death will convene here tomorrow, we need to be ready to move.” The Ghost and Ubu bowed once again as they left to follow her order’s. As they left her cell phone rings, she answers it without a second’s hesitation.
“I’m pleased to tell you something I know you’ll want to hear.” The voice of the Expediter smugly boasted. “I’ve found the body. I’m sending you the coordinates now.”
Talia looks down at her phone, and raises an eyebrow. “Waller. I didn’t think she was this stupid. And here the detective had always led me to believe she was a woman to be reckoned with.”
“I’ll get a strike team in place to back you guys up. Let me know when you’re ready.”
Talia hangs up the phone as we see the schematics and blue prints for a city with a tower at the center. A sign on the tower reads “Wonder City.”
# # # # #
GREEN ARROW’S SAFEHOUSE
STAR CITY
Jason stood in front of the holographic video screen as Bruce appeared. There was another screen on each side of him, one playing footage of the string of terror attacks, the other showing video from the hotel suite hotel lobby and fourth floor hallway.
“Komodo. He’s with the league now. Talia’s been busy in her father’s absence. What else have you found out?” Bruce questions as he scans the footage Jason has sent him.
“Not a god damn thing. No sooner did we get here that we had Vertigo and a swarm on us. What the hell are they doing here anyway, they must have been the one’s who pinned that tail on us. And here I thought I was just being as paranoid as you.”
“Well it’s managed to keep him alive all these years.” Green Arrow chimed in as he slid a plate of burgers in front of Virgil, who dove in immediately. Oliver pulled down his hood and took off his domino mask as he approached where Jason and Bruce spoke.
“This a new one? A little old for a new Robin isn’t he?”
“I appreciate the unnecessary assistance and the pit stop to reconvene and access but-“
“And the food!” Virgil piped in as he chugged a can of orange soda.
“But we didn’t come here for you. We actually came for-“
“Me. But you came a hell of a long way to waste your time.” Dinah Lance stepped into the room, much to everyone’s surprise except apparently Bruce’s.
“Dinah, I appreciate you getting here so soon.” Bruce greeted her as she approached the video screens and Jason and Ollie.
“How did you find out about this place?” Oliver asked.
“Bruce told me you guys would be here, and gave me the address. Thanks by the way, I have no idea why he insist on keeping these secret from me. If I didn’t know that you already know I’d kill you, I’d think you were cheating on me.” Dinah teases Oliver.
Oliver turns back to Bruce. “Well how the hell did you know about this place?”
“Don’t be ridiculous Oliver, now if we could focus on the task at hand. Jason, Dinah’s already been brought up to speed.”
“Awesome I hate long winded speeches. I’ve been cracking my head against the wall on this data Babs sent over last night Bruce and I’m just not seeing why Talia of all people would need to steal a bunch of overpriced and oversized batteries.”
“Those power cells ain’t no joke. They had a few of the early models at the Dakota Engineer’s conference last spring. They are designed to be adaptable to any mechanism the user should require. These ones here could have the energy to power an entire city for years.”
“Well we know she’s not using them for anything that altruistic. So why’d you send the kids out on this one Bruce?” Oliver questioned, his intrigue forever getting the best of him.
“I’ve tasked Jason with assembling a team for a renewed Outsider’s initiative. I’m too busy presently in Gotham to go globetrotting after Talia right now.”
“And I was rather foolishly hoping you’d consider joining up, Canary. We could use the steady hands.” Jason lobbied.
“I appreciate the offer, but after the league disbanded I promised I’d stick to working with just Ollie for the foreseeable future. On top of that, I don’t really trust you or the kid here to not get me killed. Or yourselves killed.”
“Dinah as much as I love you, we both know you’re not happy sitting around here. You’re bored, and we both know you’re always meant for far bigger things.”
Dinah shrugs her shoulders before letting out a small sigh. “What’s our next move from here?”
“I snatched Vertigo’s com-link before we split. Babs has been working on tracking the broadcast signal, so if we’re lucky we can find their nest full of psychos.” Jason informed everyone.
A cell phone rings, and Oliver snatches it off the kitchen counter before answering. He listens to the caller on the other end, as his face slowly turns to a mix of fear and anger. Looking directly at Bruce and Dinah before he spoke.”The shipment’s being hijacked. We have to go, now!”
Jason pulls his helmet out of a case on the table before turning to Bruce. “You get that little supplies request I sent you?”
“Yes. It’s en route now. I’ll keep you updated. Now go, we can’t afford to let that crate get into the wrong hands.” Jason nods as he pulls on his armor, and static brought his goggles down over his eyes.
# # # # #
A Queen industries semi-truck lays on its side in the middle of the freeway, its front end smashed into the road meridian. It’s front left wheel riddled with arrows, Komodo leaps from the above overpass, landing on the truck’s trailer. He hops down and opens the trailer doors as two oncoming military cargo vehicles close in on his position. A slew of ninjas exit the vehicles, dragging the large container from the trailer. They begin to lift it together into one of the back of one of their vehicles when six of them are hit by a raucous scream. The container skids across the road as Komodo and the league of assassin ninja’s scatter to regroup.
Black Canary unleashes another sonic cry, toppling one of the military cargo vehicles on its side and sending it barreling at a group of ninjas. Komodo is about to fire on Canary when he quickly side stepped an arrow flying in from his left. He turned without hesitation and fired a slew of arrows himself, the third exploding as it went through the windshield of an abandoned car.
Green Arrow sent a pair of arrows back in return as he dove away from the explosion, the second narrowly missed Komodo’s shoulder. The flash bang arrow however,exploded right behind his head, disorienting him just enough for Red Hood to level the archer with a knee to the chin. Komodo steadied himself before firing an arrow directly at The Red Hood’s head. The Red caught the arrow before it made impact however the arrow explodes and a thick veil of smoke begins to shroud the entire section of the freeway.
Static flew overhead, back and forth, struggling to see what was going on as the smoke continued to spread. Down below, a crew of remaining ninja loaded up the crate and peeled off from the scene. Black Canary takes off in pursuit of the vehicle but is hit with an arrow to the shoulder from behind from a league of assassins archer. A crew of ninjas converged on the Canary as she struggled to her feet. She didn’t hesitate to spring into action before they could continue to close the gap, surging forward to deliver a sharp elbow to the jaw of an oncoming attacker. An Assassin lunges from the right with his blade extended but before he can reach her he’s blasted by a volt of electricity and sent crashing into the semi trailer. Stack hopped off his disk and joined Black Canary as they fended off the remaining ninjas, jolting another attacker with a jolt fueled punch to the gut, which Canary followed with a piercing scream that rattled the assassins skull and dropped him where he stood.
As the smoke cleared The Red Hood fired one of his glocks into the back of a few fleeing assassins. Noting the look of shock and anger in Green Arrow’s face, he quickly out his fear at ease. “Relax. Their early model tranq bullets, each one loaded with a real nasty sedative Bruce mixed together. A few of these can put you down for awhile.”
They join Canary and Static, whose drops an unconscious assassin at the feet of The Red Hood. “I figured since Barbara couldn’t pull a signal off that com-link I fried, he might have on still intact that could help us out.”
“Kids got a good head on him.” Green Arrow remarked as sirens wailed in the distance.
“We need to move. God knows what the hell they’re planning with that thing.” Black Canary advised the group.
“Our ride’s here anyway.” The Red Hood answered as a large grey aircraft descended on the freeway and landing a few feet away from the wreckage. The group of heroes quickly board the jet as it peels off mere moments as emergency response units arrive on the scene.
On the jet, Jason pulled off his helmet. “Contact Barbara, and get to work on tracking their communications signal.” Virgil responds with a nod as Jason headed to the pilots chair and took over the controls.
“Komodo managed to slither away.” Oliver said with a hint of bitterness in his voice as he and Dinah joined Jason in the cock pit, Dinah taking a seat in the co-pilots chair.
“What the hell was in that crate anyway?”
# # # # #
LEAGUE OF ASSASSINS’ STAR CITY BASE
Talia watches as the truck backs into the base and a crew of members pulls the crate out. They back away as Ubu opens it himself just as Talia approaches and peers inside.
“Excellent work Komodo, please join the rest of your team as we prepare for departure.” Komodo nods and takes his leave at Talia’s request and as he passes, inside the crate is none other than an offline AMAZO!
Moments later Talia entered a meeting room in a secure wing of the base, and taking a seat at the head of the table. “I want to thank each and everyone of you personally for answering this summons. You all know full well why we are here. My fathers body has been located. We strike Belle Reve tomorrow. You have the evening to make whatever preparations you deem necessary.” Talia gets up from the table abruptly and leaves. Remaining seated are the freshly united seven men of death: David Cain, Lady Shiva, Kirigi, Komodo, Cheshire, The Flamingo, and The Bronze Tiger.
TO BE CONTINUED IN ISSUE 4
8 A.M.
An unmarked private jet glides onto the tarmac. A Gucci suitcase hits the steps leading from the plane first, followed by its owner, Talia Al Ghul. She stepped off the plane and into a limousine that pulled away hastily.
The driver rolled down the divider as Ms. Al Ghul poured over a couple of spreadsheets on her tablet. “Has the detective’s emissary been captured?” She asked without looking up.
“We had a team of operatives on him as we awaited the strike team you requested to arrive, but there were…complications.”
# # # # #
THREE HOURS AGO
Jason and Virgil wandered into an empty hotel lobby. Virgil plopped down into the first chair he set eyes on, succumbing to being jet-lagged for the very first time in his life as Jason headed to the front desk.
“We had our bases covered in case we lost them, a blade at every major hotel in the downtown area. We followed them to the Marriot and were awaiting orders when things got out of hand.”
Jason stood at the desk, his impatience grew by the minute. He couldn’t fathom why it was taking them so long to check in. Suddenly an alert came through on his phone. “HYPNOS IMPLANT OFFLINE.”
Jason immediately checked his surroundings. There was no one in the lobby except for Virgil and himself, plus the clerk, who had finally gotten around to handing them their keys. Was it a malfunction in the software?
“You guys are in 412, that’s our suite. Enjoy your stay.” Jason merely nodded as he motioned for Virgil to follow him to the elevator.
The pair entered their suite, Jason tossing his bag onto the kitchenette counter before setting up his computer on a nearby table. Virgil leaped over one of the couches and made a beeline to the large window with a beautiful view of all of Star City, his jaw hanging slightly.
“This is wild. Mr. Wayne really putting us up like this for free? Yo I’ll follow him to hell and back if he needs me to. We get free breakfast in the morning right? What about room service, I know they got room service. Man no Burger Fool tonight we’re eating good now.” He exclaimed as he dialed the front desk.
# # # # #
The front desk phone rings but the clerk made no move to answer it as his attention was on the fleet of black clad warriors led by none other than Count Vertigo.
“I alerted the demon’s daughter as soon as our scanners detected the implant. I was told no action was to be taken until The Seven arrived.” The clerk informed Vertigo as he handed him a master key card.
“Plans have been adjusted. We need to find out what they know and why they are here, whoever they may be.” Vertigo turned towards the elevator with his team in tow.
# # # # #
Virgil watched as blimps passed through the night sky, his awe yet to wain. Jason sat pouring over the schematics of the stolen power cells, at a loss as to why someone would go through all the trouble to acquire them. Virgil noticed a black helicopter in the distance, heading in their direction. As it drew closer, he saw the military grade weapons adorning it, and if he wasn’t mistaken, it was starting to seem like it was heading straight towards the hotel.
The elevator doors slid open and Vertigo headed down the hallway, the troop of assassins right behind him. A voice comes over his com-link. “Count, Ms. Al Ghul is requesting a conference with you. Would you like me to patch you through?”
“Negative. Inform the B team to engage the targets immediately. Whoever they are, we want them on their heels.” He turned off the communicator before turning to the team behind him. “Get into position, we breach in sixty.”
Virgil took a few steps back from the glass as the helicopter continued to get closer. “Aye yo Jay, I’m not entirely sure but, actually scratch that I’m almost positive that this is a problem.”
Jason looked up just as the helicopter fired two missiles directly at the suite. “Virgil, MOVE!” Jason yells but Virgil’s eyes go from wide with fear to staunch with determination as he clenched his fist and electricity crackled around his knuckles.
In the skies above Star City, the pilot of the helicopter smiles as both missiles explode on impact. However it quickly fades as the smoke dissipates and he see’s a barrier of lightning in front of the suite, the impact and resulting explosion shattering every window on the fourth floor.
Virgil stood tall, his arms and face cut from the flying glass, breathing heavily from the rush of adrenaline. Jason leaped over the coffee table and reached into his backpack, grabbing a black case from his bag and tossing it open just as the door to the suite is opened and a slew of assassins pour in, with Count Vertigo himself bringing up the rear. Jason slipped his domino mask on before pulling out a mini grenade launcher and firing at the helicopters whirring blades. He watched the copter go down into Matthew’s bay before everything in front of him turned upside down.
Virgil dropped next to Jason, vomiting onto the carpet as he struggled to hold his upper body up. Vertigo kicked Virgil out of his way before grabbing Jason by the back of the head and pulling him up to his knees and scanning his eyes with a small device that flashes green when it detects his Hypnos implant.
“Take him to the compound, kill the boy. And get that implant out, The Demon will be pleased we managed to acquire Spyrals most formidable weapon.”
“There’s a device in his left ear…” Jason managed to rasp out as he’s dragged past Virgil. Virgil did his best to steady his gaze as everything in front of him swam right before his eyes. He fired a small blast from his finger tip that luckily connected with the instrument controlling Vertigo’s powers. The effects begin to dissipate, but Jason waste no time springing back into action, grabbing the sword off the back of the assassin holding him to his left and delivering a wicked slash across the sternum to the one on the right.Vertigo fumbles with his ear piece, trying to reboot it in order to subdue his would be captives. However Virgil seizes the moment to deliver an electrically charged shove that sends Vertigo flying into one of his men, the static cling of Virgil’s charge leaving them stacked on top of one another awkwardly stuck to the stainless steel fridge.
Jason is a blur of fists, chopping an oncoming attacker in the throat before driving him headfirst into the glass coffee table and shattering it on impact. Another assassin attacks from behind, and Jason turns to defend a fraction too late as his blade comes down towards his head when an arrow explodes into a bola, immobilizing the ninja before he can complete his onslaught. Jason turns to see none other than the Green Arrow readying another shot, his boots crunching on the broken glass strewn about the room as he charged forward. He thwarts an attack from the side, ducking and tossing the assassin over his shoulder before firing a glue arrow that leaves him stuck humiliatingly to the couch. Green Arrow then delivers a swift kick to the chin for good measure before surveying the area and insuring all threats have been neutralized.
He helped Virgil to his feet when he noticed the domino mask on Jason. “I’m not sure who the hell you are, but judging by the way you fight and the look, you’re a long way from Gotham.”
Jason ignored Green Arrow as he made his way over to Vertigo, snatching the com-link from his other ear.
“Let’s do the introductions somewhere other than here. These guys are definitely league of assassins, which mean back up is surely on its way in full force.” He surmised as he grabbed his computer and tossed Virgil his backpack.
“What or who or where are the league of assassins?” Virgil questioned as the three made their way into the hallway and into the stairwell right before the fourth floor elevator doors open once again. Komodo steps out, his bow at the ready.
# # # # #
Talia’s limousine pulled into a military facility just as the driver finished getting his master up to speed and past its front gates without the slightest hassle. The driver stops and opens Ms. Al Ghul’s door before bowing as she headed inside. Inside the massive compound were scientist working on strange, alien weaponry. Different members of the league of assassins stood in demo areas testing their new toys on various political hostages, their screams echoed throughout, yet Talia didn’t flinch. Finally, she found Ubu and The White Ghost overseeing a training exercise between two students using energy blades.
“These are some of the prototypes?”Talia asked as she approached. The White Ghost and Ubu both bowed in unison as she drew level with them.
“They were finished just yesterday morning. However they had to be retrofitted to our soldiers. We had them adjust their size and weight, and made them merely an extension of a wrist mount.”
“Well done. But this matter with Vertigo, how is it he so flagrantly disobeyed direct orders and he’s been under your command for the last six months? I expect far more from you of all, Ghost.”
“His actions could not have been foreseen. We were-“
“If the next word out of your mouth is unprepared, I may cut your tongue out right where you stand.” Talia threatens without so much as looking at her father’s right hand man. “So now we have no idea who the detective has sent on our trail, but they certainly know enough that they need to be dealt with expediently. Has anyone located the cargo shipment from Queen industries yet?”
Ubu nodded before the White Ghost spoke. “Our best interrogators have discovered the shipment is set to be sent out to a STAR labs facility in Gotham for diagnostics and data collection. We are ready to intercept before it leaves the city.”
“Excellent. And what of Vertigo?” Talia mused, finally turning to face them both once again as one of the students accidentally kills his sparring partner.
Ubu shook his head this time before White Ghost answered in a more reserved tone. “He has disappeared, presumably on the run after his failure and lack of obedience. I sent Komodo to serve as auxiliary support, however all he found at the scene were several of our own operatives, whom he slaughtered at my command for their inadequacy.”
“I want you to send two of our better men to handle the acquisition of the crate from Queen’s people. Use extreme caution, we can’t risk activating it prematurely. Then find Vertigo, I will cut his head off personally.The Seven men of death will convene here tomorrow, we need to be ready to move.” The Ghost and Ubu bowed once again as they left to follow her order’s. As they left her cell phone rings, she answers it without a second’s hesitation.
“I’m pleased to tell you something I know you’ll want to hear.” The voice of the Expediter smugly boasted. “I’ve found the body. I’m sending you the coordinates now.”
Talia looks down at her phone, and raises an eyebrow. “Waller. I didn’t think she was this stupid. And here the detective had always led me to believe she was a woman to be reckoned with.”
“I’ll get a strike team in place to back you guys up. Let me know when you’re ready.”
Talia hangs up the phone as we see the schematics and blue prints for a city with a tower at the center. A sign on the tower reads “Wonder City.”
# # # # #
GREEN ARROW’S SAFEHOUSE
STAR CITY
Jason stood in front of the holographic video screen as Bruce appeared. There was another screen on each side of him, one playing footage of the string of terror attacks, the other showing video from the hotel suite hotel lobby and fourth floor hallway.
“Komodo. He’s with the league now. Talia’s been busy in her father’s absence. What else have you found out?” Bruce questions as he scans the footage Jason has sent him.
“Not a god damn thing. No sooner did we get here that we had Vertigo and a swarm on us. What the hell are they doing here anyway, they must have been the one’s who pinned that tail on us. And here I thought I was just being as paranoid as you.”
“Well it’s managed to keep him alive all these years.” Green Arrow chimed in as he slid a plate of burgers in front of Virgil, who dove in immediately. Oliver pulled down his hood and took off his domino mask as he approached where Jason and Bruce spoke.
“This a new one? A little old for a new Robin isn’t he?”
“I appreciate the unnecessary assistance and the pit stop to reconvene and access but-“
“And the food!” Virgil piped in as he chugged a can of orange soda.
“But we didn’t come here for you. We actually came for-“
“Me. But you came a hell of a long way to waste your time.” Dinah Lance stepped into the room, much to everyone’s surprise except apparently Bruce’s.
“Dinah, I appreciate you getting here so soon.” Bruce greeted her as she approached the video screens and Jason and Ollie.
“How did you find out about this place?” Oliver asked.
“Bruce told me you guys would be here, and gave me the address. Thanks by the way, I have no idea why he insist on keeping these secret from me. If I didn’t know that you already know I’d kill you, I’d think you were cheating on me.” Dinah teases Oliver.
Oliver turns back to Bruce. “Well how the hell did you know about this place?”
“Don’t be ridiculous Oliver, now if we could focus on the task at hand. Jason, Dinah’s already been brought up to speed.”
“Awesome I hate long winded speeches. I’ve been cracking my head against the wall on this data Babs sent over last night Bruce and I’m just not seeing why Talia of all people would need to steal a bunch of overpriced and oversized batteries.”
“Those power cells ain’t no joke. They had a few of the early models at the Dakota Engineer’s conference last spring. They are designed to be adaptable to any mechanism the user should require. These ones here could have the energy to power an entire city for years.”
“Well we know she’s not using them for anything that altruistic. So why’d you send the kids out on this one Bruce?” Oliver questioned, his intrigue forever getting the best of him.
“I’ve tasked Jason with assembling a team for a renewed Outsider’s initiative. I’m too busy presently in Gotham to go globetrotting after Talia right now.”
“And I was rather foolishly hoping you’d consider joining up, Canary. We could use the steady hands.” Jason lobbied.
“I appreciate the offer, but after the league disbanded I promised I’d stick to working with just Ollie for the foreseeable future. On top of that, I don’t really trust you or the kid here to not get me killed. Or yourselves killed.”
“Dinah as much as I love you, we both know you’re not happy sitting around here. You’re bored, and we both know you’re always meant for far bigger things.”
Dinah shrugs her shoulders before letting out a small sigh. “What’s our next move from here?”
“I snatched Vertigo’s com-link before we split. Babs has been working on tracking the broadcast signal, so if we’re lucky we can find their nest full of psychos.” Jason informed everyone.
A cell phone rings, and Oliver snatches it off the kitchen counter before answering. He listens to the caller on the other end, as his face slowly turns to a mix of fear and anger. Looking directly at Bruce and Dinah before he spoke.”The shipment’s being hijacked. We have to go, now!”
Jason pulls his helmet out of a case on the table before turning to Bruce. “You get that little supplies request I sent you?”
“Yes. It’s en route now. I’ll keep you updated. Now go, we can’t afford to let that crate get into the wrong hands.” Jason nods as he pulls on his armor, and static brought his goggles down over his eyes.
# # # # #
A Queen industries semi-truck lays on its side in the middle of the freeway, its front end smashed into the road meridian. It’s front left wheel riddled with arrows, Komodo leaps from the above overpass, landing on the truck’s trailer. He hops down and opens the trailer doors as two oncoming military cargo vehicles close in on his position. A slew of ninjas exit the vehicles, dragging the large container from the trailer. They begin to lift it together into one of the back of one of their vehicles when six of them are hit by a raucous scream. The container skids across the road as Komodo and the league of assassin ninja’s scatter to regroup.
Black Canary unleashes another sonic cry, toppling one of the military cargo vehicles on its side and sending it barreling at a group of ninjas. Komodo is about to fire on Canary when he quickly side stepped an arrow flying in from his left. He turned without hesitation and fired a slew of arrows himself, the third exploding as it went through the windshield of an abandoned car.
Green Arrow sent a pair of arrows back in return as he dove away from the explosion, the second narrowly missed Komodo’s shoulder. The flash bang arrow however,exploded right behind his head, disorienting him just enough for Red Hood to level the archer with a knee to the chin. Komodo steadied himself before firing an arrow directly at The Red Hood’s head. The Red caught the arrow before it made impact however the arrow explodes and a thick veil of smoke begins to shroud the entire section of the freeway.
Static flew overhead, back and forth, struggling to see what was going on as the smoke continued to spread. Down below, a crew of remaining ninja loaded up the crate and peeled off from the scene. Black Canary takes off in pursuit of the vehicle but is hit with an arrow to the shoulder from behind from a league of assassins archer. A crew of ninjas converged on the Canary as she struggled to her feet. She didn’t hesitate to spring into action before they could continue to close the gap, surging forward to deliver a sharp elbow to the jaw of an oncoming attacker. An Assassin lunges from the right with his blade extended but before he can reach her he’s blasted by a volt of electricity and sent crashing into the semi trailer. Stack hopped off his disk and joined Black Canary as they fended off the remaining ninjas, jolting another attacker with a jolt fueled punch to the gut, which Canary followed with a piercing scream that rattled the assassins skull and dropped him where he stood.
As the smoke cleared The Red Hood fired one of his glocks into the back of a few fleeing assassins. Noting the look of shock and anger in Green Arrow’s face, he quickly out his fear at ease. “Relax. Their early model tranq bullets, each one loaded with a real nasty sedative Bruce mixed together. A few of these can put you down for awhile.”
They join Canary and Static, whose drops an unconscious assassin at the feet of The Red Hood. “I figured since Barbara couldn’t pull a signal off that com-link I fried, he might have on still intact that could help us out.”
“Kids got a good head on him.” Green Arrow remarked as sirens wailed in the distance.
“We need to move. God knows what the hell they’re planning with that thing.” Black Canary advised the group.
“Our ride’s here anyway.” The Red Hood answered as a large grey aircraft descended on the freeway and landing a few feet away from the wreckage. The group of heroes quickly board the jet as it peels off mere moments as emergency response units arrive on the scene.
On the jet, Jason pulled off his helmet. “Contact Barbara, and get to work on tracking their communications signal.” Virgil responds with a nod as Jason headed to the pilots chair and took over the controls.
“Komodo managed to slither away.” Oliver said with a hint of bitterness in his voice as he and Dinah joined Jason in the cock pit, Dinah taking a seat in the co-pilots chair.
“What the hell was in that crate anyway?”
# # # # #
LEAGUE OF ASSASSINS’ STAR CITY BASE
Talia watches as the truck backs into the base and a crew of members pulls the crate out. They back away as Ubu opens it himself just as Talia approaches and peers inside.
“Excellent work Komodo, please join the rest of your team as we prepare for departure.” Komodo nods and takes his leave at Talia’s request and as he passes, inside the crate is none other than an offline AMAZO!
Moments later Talia entered a meeting room in a secure wing of the base, and taking a seat at the head of the table. “I want to thank each and everyone of you personally for answering this summons. You all know full well why we are here. My fathers body has been located. We strike Belle Reve tomorrow. You have the evening to make whatever preparations you deem necessary.” Talia gets up from the table abruptly and leaves. Remaining seated are the freshly united seven men of death: David Cain, Lady Shiva, Kirigi, Komodo, Cheshire, The Flamingo, and The Bronze Tiger.
TO BE CONTINUED IN ISSUE 4