Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:58:25 -0700 (PDT) From: Jason Decade <femtoka2@yahoo.com> Subject: Prince Of Gotham 8 Disclaimer: This is a my perspective on characters who belong to DC comics. So all rights and stuff go to them except for the character(s) that I make up. Chapter 8: Secret Lives of the Morally Ambiguous As Aqualad and I climbed out of the water, onto the harbor of Gotham. We had gotten away from the fighting and now I had to find Two-Face. As I began to walk away from him, he grabbed my arm, " Should you be running around Gotham alone?" Aqualad asked. "I can't exactly change into my costume here." I said, looking around, " You swim fast. You should go and help your friends." Aqualad nodded, " Be careful." he said, jumping back into the sea and swimming away quickly. As I turned, the first thing I saw was Harley Quinn. Before I could move, she pulled the trigger and hit me with a giant boxing glove! - - - - - - - - - - I took off through the city, trying to get to my home. I had to find my suit, if people trying to get me, I would have to be unseeable. I would have to disappear. I was cold, wet, and nearly gone. No magic could help me now. As I ran, I stopped when I came to Talia Ghul. "Hello, Rainer." she smiled. "You do know I could be watching Gossip Girls, right?" I asked, noticing the ninjas standing around. "You will come willingly." Talia said. I shook my head. "Then you must fight." Talia said softly. I took one last look around, " I'm tired, cold, and missing my favorite show. I'm ready to fight someone." I said, putting up my fists. Talia pulled a gun. "You bit..." I said, ducking the bullets springing from her gun. I ducked bullet after bullet as I ran to the edge of the roof, taking a running jump and gliding to the next building. The shadow ninjas appear in front of me, but I stopped. How could I forego them? "Duck!" a deep, masculine voice said, causing me to duck and I saw someone swoop in and start taking out the ninjas. It was Batman and Nightwing, fighting side by side. I turned to run, but Martian Manhunter stopped, " Please tell me your on the good team." I said nervously. "Come with me, we must get you to the batcave." Manhunter said, extending his hand. As I touched his hand, flashes went through my head. Flames, destruction, and...peace. I snatched my hand away. "I saw them too." Manhunter said, " Extraordinary power." I reluctantly took his hand again and we flew off, away from the battle. - - - - - - - - - - As we landed on the balcony of my old condo, I sniffed smoke and Manhunter phased us through the door. I ran into the living room and saw that a lit cigar sat in the ashtray. I looked around, expecting to see someone, anyone. I didn't. Someone had been here, there was no doubt about that, but they were gone now. I looked around and saw the the condo was just the way I left it, which went against my orders. I told them, specifically, to take out everything. I didn't want to remember anything about this place. I turned to the Martian Manhunter and he looked at me. "You should get a change of clothing." Manhunter said, inspecting the pictures around the condo. "Yeah." I nodded, " Thanks." "It is what I do." Manhunter said. I smiled, " What is it about everybody in a cape that makes them automatically good?" I asked, " And why isn't it working for me?" "Maybe you have not found the right reason." Manhunter said. "I don't have a costume here, I need to get to the batcave." I said, wondering if he knew what it was, " This is bad. Ra's Al Ghul is trying to find me. My dad is out there somewhere..." "We shall find him." Manhunter said. I nodded and headed to the bathroom. Once in the bathroom, I shed all my clothes and turned on the shower. I waited until the room was filled with steam and looked in the mirror. In the mirror, concentrating. I found myself trying to find dad. I watched as the mirror faded and my dad stood, talking with someone else. They were in a padded room, locked away. I knew the place, I had been there, but I couldn't find it. As I watched, the mirror shattered and my naked body slid across the floor. I looked around, glancing at the broken pieces of the mirror and Ra's Al Ghul's face smirked up at me, " Found you." he said. I hopped to my feet and ran into the living room to see Manhunter on the ground. I nervously took another step into the living room and bound to Manhunter, checking his pulse. Alive. Good...now all I have to do is find out what did this. "Manhunter." I said, shaking him, " Wake up." Manhunter began a laugh that sounded freakish. I stepped back to see him float to a standing position, " I found you, Fiery one." "Fiery one?" I asked, " What are you doing to the manhunter?" "I am using him. You must come with me." Manhunter said. "Sorry, Ra's." I said, " But I gotta go. HELP!" I shouted. "There's no one to help you. They're all busy." Ra's smiled. Suddenly, the window shattered and I saw a blur of Red and Blue strike the green man and he flew backwards. I stared at Superman, his red and blue suit standing out in the room. "Thanks." I said, still in shock. Superman nodded, " I'm here to help." he said. "Right. Superman." I nodded, " I need you to take me to Wayne Manor...please." Superman just stared. "Superman!" I said loudly. Superman snapped out of it, " Oh, ummm, yes." he said, " It's just that your naked." I looked down to see the towel on the floor and bent to pick it up, " Oh. Sorry." I said, " We need to hurry." "You're the guy. The one Batman's protecting, aren't you?" Superman asked. I nodded, " Somewhat." I said. There was an explosion not too far off and I jogged to the window, only to see something really big stomping through downtown Gotham! There flashes as if something were shooting at it! Big green flashes and explosions! I turned to Superman, who flew through the window without another word. Manhunter rose from the floor and looked at me oddly, holding his head. I looked out the window again. There was an explosion that rocked the buildings, " What is that?" Manhunter said. I looked out the shattered window, " I've gotta help." I said. "You must not be hurt." Manhunter said. I shook my head, " Down there...there's like, a war. And I'm watching." I said, turning to him. I stopped at the sight of Ra's Al Ghul standing behind him, " Phase!" I shouted and he phased at the last second and the sword Ra's Al swung went through him and slammed through my chest! I looked at them in shock. "No!" Manhunter shouted. I fell backwards, out of the shatered window and fell to the ground. The last thing I saw was the Manhunter's face. There was darkness. So much darkness. My head spun. My body was...I wasn't in it. I was everywhere, and nowhere. It was calming...then I was there, in the moment, and I opened my eyes to see Ra's. "Do not be alarmed. I have revived you." Ra's smiled, " You shall be in my debt." he said, sweeping away. "What...What about the Big thing.." I said coughed. "That is not mine." he said, leaving. I shook myself up. There was fighting...An unbelievable amount. People were in danger. I focused on my costume and before I knew what was going on, I was wearing it. I got to my feet, wobbling just a bit, then started to walk. I ran into the middle of the street and dodged in time to see Superman crash behind me. I looked up to see the Justice League fighting off the large monster. People scattered as building and other debris fell! I dodged a rather large piece of steel and looked back to see it heading straight for a group of people. I threw my hand up and focused all my energy on the steel and it stopped, hesitatntly, and dropped to the ground. I felt as if I was about to pass out when Batman grabbed me. "Manhunter said..." Batman said darkly. I nodded, " I did." I nodded, " The bridge..." "We're trying. We've got the Flash and a few other heroes there, but it's not gonna hold." Batman said, " You have to go." "I'm helping." I snapped. "NO!" Batman snapped back, " You have to leave." "I can do this." I said. The monster roared and advanced towards us. "Now or never." I said. Batman looked at me, thinking it over, then nodded. I took off running into an adjacent alley and jumped into the air, floating to the top of the building. From the top, the Monster's face was at eye level. It looked a little like that thing from Cloverfield. I ran to the end of the building and jumped, but the the thing swatted me and I crashed across the floor of the next roof, sliding to a stop. Just when I thought I was done for, red and blue blur smashed into the monster and I got to my feet, running again, this time making it onto the next building. As I got to the end, I looked back to see the Justice League fighting the monster and I jumped off the building, floating to the ground! I ran to the bridge and saw that Nightwing, the Flash, and a few other Justice Leaguers were helping evacuate the bridge. The bridge buckled and I looked around to see Nightwing staring at me, mystified. I focused all my energy on the bridge and it floated, allowing the others to hurry off the bridge. As I let go, I saw the bridge collasping front of me. I felt everything around me getting darker and before I fell, I felt a gust of wind. - - - - - - - - - - If you like this story, please write me and tell me so.