Written by Jake Hawkins
Featuring: Red Hood
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RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
THREE YEARS AGO General Patrick Kramer took a seat in the café, ordering a beer in brisk Portuguese before handing back his menu. No sooner had his drink arrived than the person he was meeting took the seat across from him, a pair of Gucci glasses on her face in an attempt to keep a low, if not lavish, profile. “I hope you didn’t call me here for nothing.” Talia threatened politely as she took a sip of his beer. “The meet is scheduled for tomorrow night. At the villa of a man only referred to as El Penitente in every one of their briefings.” The General lit a cigar before snatching his beer back. “And the merchandise?” Talia asked, an annoyed tone beginning to slip through. “At least fifteen Storm Shadow missiles, stolen from the French a few weeks ago. Apparently he wasn’t fucking around, word is Deathstroke was sighted at the scene.” “You’re telling me that as if I should be concerned.” “I’m telling you that because you’d be a damn fool not to be.” The General stressed as he sat back in his chair exasperated with the conversation. He had every right to feel this way, as he knew what the League of Assassin’s were capable of. Still, if he were caught trading classified information with a known terror organization the fate that would await him wouldn’t be much better. “Have care with your tone Mr. Kramer, there are at least six men in this room right now who would end your life with but a gesture from me. And I’m afraid I can be quite short tempered should the mood strike.” Talia threatened, her voice barely above a whisper but she knew the General heard and felt her every word. He grabs an envelope from the chair next to him and slid it across to her before tossing a few crumpled reals onto the table and getting up to leave. “Is it safe to assume that this information was sufficient enough to repay my debt to the league?” He asked before he departed. “No. We’ll be in touch.” Talia responded flatly, her eyes on the contents of the folder. The General’s shoulders sunk in fear and disappointment as he left the café. Moments later she felt her phone vibrate in he purse and didn’t waste time answering it. “Do you still have eyes on him? What do you mean he slipped away?!” A team of men loaded kilos of molly into the back of a semi. As they finished up, the man sitting in the driver’s seat attempted to start the vehicle to no success. Frustrated he pulled the lever to pop the hood and exited the vehicle. As he examined the engine, Jason focused the scope of his rifle before firing, dropping the driver where he stood. He watched as the men found the body and began to break off into defense positions. Jason smiled, his weeks of following every lead he could dig up on the group smuggling molly into the states and Europe coming to fruition right in front of him. The group began to draw their weapons, circling around their merchandise with every intent of not going down without a fight. Unfortunately for them, Jason had other plans. He pulled the remote trigger from his pocket and pressed it before leaping off the building he’d been staking out from. The bomb blew the engine, destroying the truck and its contents while sending whatever men who survived the blast scurrying for protection. Jason approached the truck, gunning down a few stragglers as they scurried away from the blast in a frenzy. Peter Goebels boarded his private boat surrounded by his personal security as gunshots rang out in the distance. He turned and watched the flames from the explosion as his men prepared the boat for departure and a group of four approached from below deck behind him. “Probably another militia group. Make an example of them and get me precise numbers on how much we’ve lost tonight.” Goebels instructed as the group stepped off the boat, one of them emitting a low growl in response to Goebels orders. Jason watched as military police sirens could be heard approaching from the distance. His job done, he began to head back towards the vehicle he’d stashed not too far off the road en route. Rifle fire sprayed at him from behind and instinctively Jason rolled into cover, drawing his weapon and returning fire in the process. He ducked lower behind the stagnant train cars that shielded him, his eyes canvassing for signs of whatever reinforcements had begun to attack. A sharp pain shooting through his leg alerted him to the fact that he had been clipped. “This is it? He’s just a boy.” Jason turned as a group of humanoid animals stalked towards him, a jaguar holding the machine gun that had shot him. With it was a lion wielding two katanas, a rather imposing gator holding a two sided axe, and a wolf carrying a sword of his own. “Bring him in alive, barely. He’ll want to talk to him personally.” No sooner had the words left the jaguar that the crew pounced towards Jason. Gritting through the pain in his leg, Jason rolled out of the way of an attack from the gator. The axe cut through the steel side of the train car, narrowly missing the opportunity to split Jason’s head open. Jason tossed a small grenade at the gator before leaping away to create some distance as the explosive took off the creature’s arm. He didn’t have a moment to breathe as the lion was on top of him, one of his blades catching Jason across the chest. Jason spun and blocked the follow up slash from the swordsman with his knife, before sweeping the lion’s legs and nailing him with a front kick to the chin. No sooner did he begin to turn his attention to the wolf, who merely licked its lips as he locked eyes with Jason that the double-sided axe came flying directly at his head! Jason stepped back just in time and the axe went flying past him, the Wolf catching it by the hilt. The Gator came lunging at Jason, it's arm regenerating much to his awe as he avoided each slash. He leaped over the gator, pulling his twin forty- fives and firing at the lion who had recovered. The lion managed to deflect every shot and caught Jason across the jaw with a nasty backhand. “Stop playing games. He doesn’t need all his limbs.” The jaguar crudely pointed out. Jason wiped the blood from his nose as the crew of predators closed in on him. Jason began to smirk, much to the bewilderment of his opponents. He knew this wasn’t where he was going to die. Not again, not now. This was exactly the sort of test he required, the kind of moment he knew he needed to best in order to be ready for what he had planned. The wolf attacked first, tossing the axe at Jason’s legs. Jason went to the air and caught the wolf with a roundhouse kick to the jaw. The gator caught the axe this time and took a mighty swing that Jason just manages to roll out of the way of. No sooner does he get to his feet that the wolf rocks him with a kick to the jaw. Another slash across the stomach comes from the lion, a blow so quick Jason never saw it coming. Jason drops to his knees, his vision swimming in front of him as he struggled to stay conscious. The lion grabbed him by the head before dragging him across the ground and leaving him in front of their commander. “Tell us who you work for now, and we won’t bring you back without a leg.” Jason weighed the options giving to him by the jaguar before smiling, a mouth full of blood to show for his efforts. It snarled in rage before grabbing him by the throat. “Fine, have it your way.” The jaguar growled. As it raised its claws to Jason’s face a bullet came exploding through its skull, dropping the jaguar where it stood. The lion turned to see where the attack came from just in time to receive a vicious kick to the face from the Bronze Tiger. Ben Turner wasted not a single ounce of motion, nailing the gator with a nasty pair of roundhouse kicks before snatching the axe and burying in the torso of the lion. Talia pulled Jason to his feet before examining the rifle of the jaguar and keeping it for herself. “Do keep one of them alive Benjamin, I would like some answers to several questions.” Turner nodded at Talia’s request just as he choked out the gator. The wolf snarled defensively as Talia set her eyes upon it. “You were advised not to engage. This little problem you have following even the smallest orders needs to cease immediately.” Talia scolded Jason as a group of league ninjas began to secure the area. Some began to execute the remaining mercenaries as well as the police officers unlucky enough to arrive on the scene. Ubu subdued the wolf before loading him and the bodies of his fellow humanoid animals into the back of a truck bed. “Unfortunately I don’t work for you or your father. So I think I’ll continue to do as I please.” Jason responded defiantly. He turned and began to head toward his vehicle. Talia hesitated a moment before following after him. “You continue to make ample use of the resources we have placed in front of you, so while you may not be a member of the League of Assassins you will conduct yourself in a manner that does not hinder our best interests.” Talia grabbed Jason by the arm and wrenched him around before getting directly in his face. “Am I not making myself clear enough for you?” Jason merely shrug before hopping into the passenger seat of a truck driven by Ubu. Ben Turner removed his tiger mask as he approached Talia, who surveyed the scene in front of them. “I’m not sure what you hope to gain from this course of action.” Turner admitted as he approached the daughter of the demon’s head. “You weren’t always the man that stands before me Benjamin. Surely you can understand on various levels what affairs of the heart can drive a person to do.” Talia explained as another vehicle, this one a military van pulled up in front of them. They got in, Talia in the passenger seat and Turner in the back as the van rolled away from the chaos left behind. COAST CITY FERRIS INTERNATIONAL HOTELS Peter Goebels entered the presidential suite of the lavish five star hotel and immediately headed to the mini bar, fixing himself a drink. “If you’d be a lamb and pour me a glass as well, it would be most appreciated.” A startled Goebels turned and drew a weapon from the inner pocket of his suit jacket, knocking his wine glass to the floor. The cup shattered as Professor Pyg sauntered into the room from the living area, curiously picking up random items as he took in the expensive suite. “There weren’t enough sinners in Sodom and Gomorrah you know. Pillars of debauchery and madness were far too commonplace for God to turn the other cheek. To practice what one preaches is the most noble of sentiments until the circumstances force a hand or two.” Pyg smiled at Goebels, revealing rotting teeth as he approached the drug trafficker. “I assume you’re here on behalf of El Pentinte.” Goebels managed to utter as he and Pyg came face to face. “Assumptions are never quite made of brick and mortar are they? Such fickle things, hiding behind the deflating concept of communication. Words can often fail us in the most critical junctures of society. How can we build entire countries, treaties and wage war on the strength of such things?” Pyg was now uncomfortably close to Peter at this point, who slid away from him before grabbing another glass and pouring himself a cup of wine. “Erm, yes well if you would be kind enough to inform Pentinte that the sizable amount of product he requested has been delivered to Gotham city as instructed. However there seems to be a clerical error on his end. The amount transferred to my offshore account was not what we agreed upon. I’d prefer to move forward amicably if this oversight can be repaired as quickly as-“ Before Goebels knew it, Pyg had lodged a syringe full of a strange liquid deep in his neck. Goebels stood paralyzed, his face beginning to flush. He stumbled forward a bit, once again dropping his glass before falling to the floor. Pyg dropped next to him, marveling at the significant pain he could see Goebels was experiencing. “Your business venture with the good doctor has been terminated, but in death, do not whimper! You’ve had the privilege in helping bring our experiments to life.” No sooner had Pyg stopped talking that he realized Goebels was dead, bile beginning to spill from his mouth as he had choked on his own vomit. Pyg let out a soft whimper of a laugh as he exited the room, leaving Goebels where he laid. SOMEWHERE OUTSIDE RIO DE JANEIRO THE BASE OF THE LEAGUE OF ASSASSINS Jason watched from the back of the massive, state of the art underground training facility as the White Ghost led a class of fresh recruits through a brutal seminar on unarmed combat. The sounds of broken bones and the screams of the potential members echoed throughout the cave, but the stone like expression on Jason’s face didn’t change in the slightest as he kept an eye on the proceedings. “You plotting anymore stunts like last night?” Jason turned as Ben Turner joined him in the back of the room. “Figured I’d ask now and save us the effort of bailing you out. No point in helping someone who ain’t interested in it.” Jason ignored Ben as he turned his attention back to the ongoing class. “Two weeks spent trying to track down Goebels, before that you spent two months in Prague with the sniper. All this for a fight I’m not sure you actually want to win.” Jason finally turned his attention back to Turner, gritting his teeth in an attempt to veil his frustration. “I don’t remember asking for a personal analysis of my business, so I’d appreciate it if you could get the hell away from me. Now.” Jason stated plainly, his anger bubbling over. “Let’s say you achieve this grand, statement making goal of yours. Hypothetically you manage to defeat the man who is responsible for so much of what you are now. Then what? Have you thought of the immense repercussions your actions may have? Have you considered what sort of place you’d be turning Gotham into?” “No, and do you want to know why?” Jason asked as he and Turner faced each other. “Because no matter what the future holds after I beat him to death with my bare hands, it’s got to be better than any world that still has the Joker stumbling around in it.” “And you’re sure of that?” Turner asked skeptically. “Absolutely guranfuckingteed.” Jason answered confidently. “You think I’d be here, accepting more handouts from these pieces of absolute garbage or getting my head kicked in by you in sparring session after session if I wasn’t absolutely sure of the path in front of me?” “I think the rage burning inside you has consumed your practicality. Since the moment you found out the clown still lived even after taking your life, you’ve only allowed one emotion to enter the equation, to drive your every step forward. How can you see a situation from a clear perspective if you allow such a powerful feeling like anger to consume you?” Jason said nothing, turning his gaze back to the White Ghost and his students as Turner’s words hit close to home. “I’ve known Bruce for a long time, and I can tell you without a doubt that when you were killed, his rage was a terrible sight to behold. For over a year, he allowed the tragedy that fell upon you to send him spiraling down an unimaginable path. But you believe in your heart it was easy for him to let the clown live?” Turner shook his head, amusingly frustrated by Jason’s stubborn disposition. “If things were the other way around, I wouldn’t have rested till whoever was responsible for taking him from this world was in the dirt. I don’t see why it’s too much of me to expect the same.” Jason managed to croak out, his eyes glassing over as he remembered digging himself out of his own coffin. “It is that very line of thinking that is proof of why you could never walk in his shoes, and if you believe you can supplant his place there, you’re more of a fool than I previously assumed. Bruce can not afford to let his emotions take him over the edge. He has no room for error, no time to fall into despair. It’s these sort of sacrifices and the iron clad will it takes to not only make them but live through them that makes him who he is. It is those traits that are at the very core of the mantle he wears. Why else would a man with the endless amount of resources and centuries of knowledge at his disposal like Ra’s Al Ghul choose Bruce to replace him? Why would Talia continue to chase after his affection even after all these years? It’s time you opened your eyes wide enough to see past your temporary emotions and grasp the broader concepts at hand.” Turner left Jason to ponder his words, journeying deeper into the base as he walked past him. Elsewhere in the facility, Ra’s and his daughter stood in front of a massive map as a team of the leagues highest ranking operatives were seated at a boardroom table behind them. Ben Turner entered, the last to arrive to the impromptu meeting. “Please be seated Tiger, we have much to discuss and only a brief window to operate in I’m afraid.” Ra’s instructed as Turner sat in the chair closest to the door, right next to the Expediter. “As you know we have been attempting to get our hands on the psychotropic drug that Peter Goebels has been trafficking all through Asia and most of Europe. We managed to track Goebels movements as he’d been shipping his product to a private buyer in Gotham City in recent weeks.” “Excuse me, great demon,” One of the operatives at the table interrupted, “But do we have a clue as to the identity of this private buyer? Such a substance can’t be allowed in the hands of any number of mad men that inhabit that cesspool of a city.” Talia stepped forward, continuing the meeting with her pieces of intel. “Our spies have managed to uncover a deal taking place tonight between this buyer El Pentinte, and Oswald Cobblepot. They’ve arranged to meet at this address,” a picture taken from a satellite of a beautiful villa off the coast came onto the large screen behind the two of them as Talia continued, “Our priority is the cache of Shadow Storm missiles the Penguin has come across the world to buy. We secure them first then turn our attention to El Pentinte. This operation will be led by myself and Bronze Tiger. Does anyone have any questions?” The room stayed mausoleum like silent as Talia nodded in confirmation. “You have your assignment. We move out in six hours. Underneath the table in the room is a small audio device, unknown to everyone in attendance of the briefing. On the other side of the compound Jason sat in one of the cargo trucks, listening to every detail that was uttered between Ra’s and his top brass. He fired up the engine immediately before tearing out of the compound and heading towards the city. THE PRIVATE VILLA OF EL PENTINTE HOURS LATER A fleet of limos pulled up to the villa. A driver got out of the car bringing up the rear and opened up the door for his passengers. Oswald Cobblepot stepped out first, brandishing one of his trademark umbrellas as he giddily shook hands with El Pentinte’s assistant who had been sent to greet him. Stepping out behind him was none other than the assassin known as Zeiss, a staple of east end crime in Gotham. “Mr. Cobblepot, thank you for coming all this way. The good doctor welcomes you, please follow me.” The assistant led Penguin and his force of security up the path towards the massive villa. “You mentioned a doctor, I was under the assumption I’d be meeting El Pentinte himself.” Penguin croaked, unamused with the idea he’d been lured to Brazil under false pretenses. “El Pentinte is just one of many names the doctor has worked under over the years.” The assistant explained as they entered the large foyer, where a costume party of some sort seemed to be in full swing. “I do hope you don’t feel misled Mr. Cobblepot. A man with my experiences in this life can never afford to live overconfidently. Doctor Simon Hurt.” The doctor introduced himself as he and the Penguin shook hands. “Damn wonderful place you got here doctor, almost makes me envious. Almost.” The Penguin cracked as he took a look around. There was a bar set on one side of the room with an endless array of options behind it. On another side a live band played as guests ate from an endless buffet table spread, chattering amongst themselves. “Well with someone such as yourself who is used to the grandeur and elegance of the Iceberg lounge visiting me, I felt I needed to impart a good impression. Please, follow me to the pool there’s much too much noise in here to conduct business.” Penguin and Zeiss followed Doctor Hurt through his home and out to poolside. Hurt stopped for a moment, studying his reflection in the pool as a pair of his personal assistant’s wheeled in a large case holding one of the missiles for sale. Zeiss walked over and began to examine it thoroughly before giving Cobblepot a sign of approval. “And it’s completely functional, as well as the others?” Penguin questioned, the entire deal a little too good to be true. “I wouldn’t waste my time wasting your time Mr. Cobblepot.” Dr. Hurt assured him as he began to gaze into the pool, lost in a train of thought. “There are more important moves to be made.” Penguin nodded at one of the men behind him and Zeiss, who pulled a phone from his pocket and pressed a few keys before handing it to his boss. “Name your price.” Cobblepot said flatly, his chubby fingers itching to make a wire transfer and be back on the way to Gotham with his missiles. “I’m in a far more generous mood than..well ever so how about we just say you owe me one and call it at that for now.” Hurt extended his hand which after a moment or two of hesitation Cobblepot accepted as they shook on the deal. Penguin’s men begun to march into the pool house and file out with the missile crates, loading them into a semi parked on a dirt road not too far off the property. Jason watched as they loaded up the back of the trailer. Before he could make his move however, he noticed a team of ninjas creeping onto the estate, not a single soul besides himself aware of the onslaught that was minutes away. Jason leaned forward, debating whether he should spring into action now but after a bit of deliberation thought better of it. Zeiss’s goggles zoomed in on an area in the near distance before he stepped in front of Penguin. He scanned the courtyard beyond the pool twice over, and once again he knew he saw the slightest bit of movement coming towards them. “Get him out of here immediately.” Zeiss ordered some of Penguin’s men, much to Oswald’s displeasure and confusion. “What’s the problem? Surely it can’t be him? Not here…not now.” Penguin asked, his confusion turning to fear at the thought of the Batman hounding him this far. “No, it’s something else.” Zeiss informed him. No sooner did he finish his assessment than arrows flew into the chest of two of Penguin’s men. League of Assassin’s operative’s began to drop into the yard, the archer’s bow’s aimed squarely at Hurt, Penguin, Zeiss and their respective crews. Penguin looked on in surprise, making sure that he was well protected by Zeiss. The doors into the house opened behind them and Talia joined them by the pool, the rifle she took from the jaguar strapped around her neck. “You know anything about this?” Zeiss asked his cowering employer, who shrugged his shoulders. “Oswald Cobblepot, a man with your faulty lack of integrity can surely recognize this for what it is.” Talia hinted as she stepped directly in front of Zeiss, her eyes darting behind him and landing on Doctor Hurt. Unlike his business associate, Hurt showed no sign of fear or even aggravation at the League’s appearance. Instead, he rocked back and forth on his heel’s, humming to himself as more ninjas poured into the villa’s courtyard. Talia observed him for a moment, unsure of what to make of his behavior in the face of what surrounded him. “Seize the missiles, get them back to base as soon as possible.” Talia instructed as some of the assassin’s began to grab the remaining cases from the pool house. “I’m sorry Ms. Al Ghul, I’m afraid I cannot let you interfere with business. You see Mr. Cobblepot has a role to play in the coming events. So do you! And unfortunately your overzealous need to prove you weren’t a waste of time and precious DNA to your father must take a back seat to what’s on my mind at the moment.” Hurt told her, his faux sincerity dripping with malice. Talia’s masked her surprise that the man who clearly had to be El Pentinte had the audacity to speak to her in such a manner. “Yes we’ve heard about your plans to move in on the drug game in Gotham. A pity a man with all of this only has aspirations to play gangster with the bottom feeders of humanity.” Talia shot back. “I’m sorry, I think you have been gravely misinformed as to what or who I am. But don’t worry, I am more than glad to teach you that and several other lessons your father was too busy with Nyssa to teach you.” There was no hiding the fury that rose in Talia this time. “Kill him. Then make an example of him to the bird. Then kill them too.” Talia ordered as every assassin at her command turned their attention squarely towards the Doctor. Unbeknownst to Talia, the party inside had come to a halt, with every single guest in attendance turned towards the doors to the courtyard. Every man and woman in the room slowly pulled off the mask they wore to the party and replaced it with another crude, red-haired one before they began to march towards the pool. Moments later the doors were knocked off the hinges by the group of marching guest, all of them trying to force their way out into the courtyard at once. Talia watched them trample and stomp over one another to defend their hosts while the assassins readied for the conflict to get physical. It was at this moment Jason noticed a man in a Pyg mask in the window of a room on the third floor of the villa, steadying a grenade launcher at the chaos below. Jason didn’t think twice as he slid down from the hill he had sat watch on and sprinted towards the villa, picking up speed as he crossed the road and passed the semi. “TALIA! GET DOWN!” Talia looked away from the attacking guests to see Jason headed into the fray. Seconds later she was yanked by her arm away from her position as Professor Pyg fired a grenade towards the pool area. The grenade exploded mid-flight, raining down acid onto everyone in the vicinity. Missing however as the scene turned to chaos, was Doctor Hurt, who had slipped down a hatch he had hidden on the patio and into a tunnel beneath the villa. Below Sir Anthony awaited him, and they made their way down the tunnels path. “Make sure you get Pyg out of here the moment Cobblepot makes a run for it." Hurt reminded him as he boarded the small plane sitting in the water." Sir Anthony watched as the plane took off before heading back towards the ongoing struggle. Zeiss shoved Penguin into the arms of his guards and began to wsde through the chaos. "Get the merch and get him out of here. I'll catch up!" Zeiss instructed as he made a beeline straight towards the daughter of the demon. Talia spotted him and immediately fired at Zeiss, but she might as well have been stuck in mud. Zeiss slid around every bullet as he closed in, grabbing her by the face before delivering a kick to the gut. Talia rolled with the blow, pouncing back to her feet in time to block a cross punch thrown by her attacker. "Let's see if you're as good as I hope you are." Zeiss threw a kick at her head that was caught, but not by Talia. Bronze Tiger stood in between the pair of them before planting a kick square in Zeiss's chest. Zeiss spun and immediately through a spin kick that Bronze Tiger stepped back just in time to avoid. Before he knew it, Zeiss was in the air, nailing him across the face with a left-hand palm strike that drew blood. On the roof of the villa, Pyg readied another acid grenade when he heard the familiar sign of a gun cocking behind him. "You're some kind of fucked up to pull a stunt like that. I'm definitely going to take the rest of those and put them to much better use after I kill you, but yes well done." Jason walked slowly towards Pyg, who merely smiled before firing the grenade directly at Jason. Jason dove out of the way just in time as the grenade went careening harmlessly away. Jason turned back around just as Pyg swung a large butcher's knife as his neck. Jason managed to get his knife in front of him just in time. He nailed Pyg with a leaping knee that smashed his nose in and sent him tumbling off the roof. He landed in the pool as the fight waged on, just as Sir Anthony rose from the hatch in the patio. Talia sprinted across the courtyard towards the semi-truck that Penguin's men had begun to take off with. She hopped onto the back of the trailer and climbed to the top before making her way towards the cab. One of Penguin's men stuck his body out the passenger window and began to fire at her, forcing her to drop and rollover until she was hanging onto the trailer on the opposite side. Sir Anthony drug Pyg through the foyer and into the garage before tossing him into the back of a mustang before climbing into the driver's seat and tearing down the road. Jason leaped off the roof and rolled to his feet before he noticed the semi getting farther away, and with Talia hanging dangerously on the side. "Talia you have to get off that thing." He spoke into his communicator as he took off in pursuit of the truck. Talia looked back as she saw Jason sprinting after her in the distance. "That is in no way or shape an option." Talia replied tersely as she continued to make her way towards the cab. She reached the driver's side window and pulled her side arm, shooting the passenger before elbowing the driver in the throat and tossing him from the truck. The wheels of the semi rolled over the driver's skull with a sickening crunch as Talia hopped behind the wheel. Jason finally stopped running, pulling a trigger from his waist. He hesistated before hitting the switch as he watched Talia continue down the road. "I've got one shot at this, and I'd hate for you to go out that way. You deserve better." Talia pieced together exactly what Jason was playing at, her eyes glancing in her side mirror at the trailer. "You wouldn't dare." Talia hissed back, flooring the gas in an attempt to create as wide a gap as possible between her and Jason. "Sure I would. Honestly...there isn't too much I wouldn't do at this point. I've already lost the biggest game there is before. And did you really think I was going to let you tote those things back to your father so he can play bomb and overthrow a small government? You're smarter than that." "There's no way the trigger will reach this distance!" Talia yelled back, desperate for a way out of her predicament. "You willing to bet your life on that? Go ahead, it's what I did." Jason replied with a sneer. He kept watch on the truck and after a full minute he watched Talia dive from the truck as it careened into the ocean. Once it had been fully emerged Jason hit the detonator, destroying the truck and its cargo. Talia watched as she saw her efforts go completely to waste and she turned back in the direction Jason still stood, seething with fury only seen in her Father. Ben Turner approached Jason from behind, his tiger mask under his arm. "You know I would have had to kill you if you'd done it." He enlightened him. Jason merely turned with a smirk on his face that couldn't possibly be any smugger. "Nah. I would have been doing you a favor. Let's not lie to ourselves Ben. We're better than that." Jason left without another word as Turner watched him go before heading to aide Talia. END |