"Did you see the news?" Jamie asked with a calm tone, clearly trying to contain his fury as he asked Charlotte who immediately had shivers sent down her spine as she wondered why he was so mad all of a sudden when they were prepping to leave.
"Where's Fang?" He asked as Fang coincidentally entered the room. "Right here boss, what is it this time." He nonchalantly answered.
"You both were assigned to eliminate the target right?" Squinting his eyes as he had on a creepy smile on his face, void of any actual emotions.
"Yes, we caused an explosion that's impossible for anyone to survive." He replied. Jamie immediately tuned in to the news report from that morning, where Charlotte and Fang had their eyes wide open upon seeing Tom chilled out and taking an interview like he wasn't supposed to have been burnt to a crisp already.
Jamie took am accelerated step towards Fang, grabbed him by the head and forcefully pressed his face against the TV screen damaging the screen as a result. "Does this dude look dead to you in anyway? Or even injured?" Jamie asked, his expression suddenly showing the anger he had been shoving beneath the surface.
"Let him go, there was no possible way for anyone to survive that disaster." Charlotte called out to Jamie, trying to intervene before Fang gets his head smashed through the TV Wall.
"Huh, did you just talk back at me while I'm making a point and emphasizing your mistakes?" Jamie asked, immediately having a crazy look in his eyes as he abruptly appeared right in front of her. He smacked her across the face so hard with the back of his hand that she was sent flying across the room and crashing against the refrigerator.
"This is the longest any of our targets have survived just because of your incompetence. Why do I have you all if I have to take on boring jobs like this that aren't even worth a moment of my time."
"We're sorry, there was no way of telling he would survive that blast." Fang apologized with his head bowed, Jamie just inhaled deeply as he calmed himself down.
"I don't understand why it's so difficult to end that dude with the rabbit hair." He complained as he walked up to the fridge to get himself a beer, when he noticed the dent on the door from Charlotte's collision against it.
He let out a sigh and just opened the door then grabbed himself a chilled bottle of beer, while both Charlotte and Fang quietly exited his presence to go work on how to rectify their little mistake.
…
[Jason Todd's POV]
Late at night I sat at the edge of a rooftop, letting my legs drop over the edge as I gazed upon the city's skyline, taking in the ambient lighting from the commercial sign boards which illuminated the night.
I had my red helmet in hand but still had my mask on, not risking anyone mistakenly getting a glimpse of my identity.
"You can come out Bruce, this isn't some sort of trap as you might suspect." I called out, fully aware Batman was already at our rendezvous point but being as cautious as he was, he was still scouting the area to make sure it wasn't some kind of mesh.
Like I suspected, he dropped from the top of a commercial sign right behind me, his cape dropping so elegantly as he stood straight up. "What is this Jason? You said you had some information you'd like to share and it would be best to join hands together if we want to keep the people of Gotham City safe." There he goes, going straight to the point of business without exchanging pleasantries, not like I cared in the first place. He was acting like he didn't have the same thing in mind.
"Lighten up Bruce, it's something I'm sure you would want to hear." I replied.
"Is this about the group calling themselves the Sparrows? I'm aware you contacted Vicki Vale to relay a message to the commissioner." He hit the nail on the head, not wanting me to stray from that topic but to emphasize on it so he gets a better understanding as he must have not found anything on a mercenary group with such name, and there was no way the cult of Owl was involved.
"Yes, they are a mercenary group who do not seem to exist to the world but they do exist in the shadows, carrying out tasks and making it seem like some accident or disaster like what happened a couple of days back." I elaborated so he knows the recent happenings weren't just coincidences.
"Then how did you get to know about them?" Bruce asked, taking a step closer as he gave me an intense stare down.
"I have my ways." I replied. "Moving on, they are a small group and I was able to get a picture of two of their members." I handed over the picture Tom and I were able to dig out. With both teams searching for them it would be more efficient and the city would become too small for those two to roam about without being spotted.
"Hmm…Why are you giving me all this?" He asked, being sceptical as to my sudden compliance as he took a look at the photo, rather than my usual rebellious attitude.
"It would be more fun if both teams hop on a hunt for them, team Batsy and the Outlaws." I said with a smirk.
"I never thought you'd align yourself with criminals or go to the extent of which you trend on, just to see your vision of keeping this city safe and keeping rogue criminals under control." He said with his broody tone, almost sounding like a disappointed father.
"Well, those are the extremes you need to get to if you're to keep those guys in check. A line you refuse to cross, but look how much more peaceful this city had gotten since Ace and I took matters into our own hands."
He let out a sigh, seeming like he was in no mood to argue. Between matters with the Justice League and the recent happenings in Gotham, I get why he's as stressed as he was. Although he won't show it or even take a break.
"I have to say I was glad you let the police handle the case of corrupt politicians in the city and crime lords who was causing direct harm to the citizens, rather than kill them yourself, you handed evidence of their misdeeds. You did the right thing." He complimented, having a subtle hint of a proud father in his tone, a bit different from the disappointment I could hear from earlier.
Only he didn't know I was more than happy to end them myself if it weren't for Tom who had other plans to use their imprisonment to his favor.
"Well that's all Bruce, whoever catches them first gets to decide what to do with them. Let the hunt begin." I stated, jumping of the rooftop as I shot my grapple hook, making a cool and dramatic exit from the scene.
….
[Tom Hendricks POV]
Seated at the office of the commissioner of Gotham PD, I observed the interiors as I awaited the commissioner.
Looking on to his table I could see a picture of him and his daughter from when she was way younger and with a wide smile across her lips, I wonder how he'd react if he finds out his daughter was running around playing vigilante with Batman.
Click
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Tom." Commissioner Gordon apologized as he swung the door open, then he approached me.
"It's no problem at all." I replied, exchanging an handshake as he went behind his desk to take a seat.
"I have to say thank you for your contributions to rebuilding this city into a better one than it used to."
"There's no need for that commissioner, I'm just following my heart to try creating a less hideous world." I replied, having a neutral expression on my face.
"Once again, I really do appreciate your efforts but I'm quite concerned about your safety. You don't have a security detail so many who wish to foil this dream of yours, could come after you." He elaborated.
"I know and like I said before, if I die then that's where my journey ends." I said with a short pause as I continued. "And I got a visit from the vigilante calling himself the Red Hood the night after my proclamation." I added, spicing up out little conversation as we continued.
========
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"What did the rogue vigilante want with you?" Gordon curiously asked.
"He said the Outlaws will support me and ensure to keep me safe so long as I continued on this path I have chosen, but if I stray away from it then they would be the ones I would have to fear." I replied, making it sound to him like I didn't have a personal relationship with the Outlaws but they intend of doing what's best for society.
"That sounds kind of like a threat to me." He replied as he light up a cigarette. "Do you smoke?" He asked. "Occasionally, yes." I replied and he passed me a cigarette then lit it up for me.
"Thank you. Who are the Outlaws anyway?" I asked feigning ignorance to the group I had founded myself.
"They are a group of rogues, criminals and mercenaries who aren't trust worthy as we do not know the reason behind their cause. It is really frustrating because we are suppose to have them arrested, but yet it turns out harmful crimes has had a noticeable decrease thanks to them"
"They sound like some revolutionary group." I commented. "Yes, something like that. But they are still criminals, even if they sometimes take down criminals that are of more danger to society." He replied, taking a long drag from his cigarette then letting out the thick foams.
"So, what brings you here today?"
"I heard Scarecrow escaped Arkham." I replied.
"Yes he did, that sneaky bastard." Gordon grunted.
Criminals escaping Arkham was of no surprise as it was the norms in Gotham City, something I was willing to change. When criminals get locked up, they should stay locked up, that's what a prison is for.
"What about him?" Gordon asked, wondering why my sudden interest in a criminal. "What I'm about proposing isn't about him in particular but one that would benefit the police and the people of Gotham City." I teased some more as I piqued his interest in the process.
"I was thinking to myself, once these terrorists gets caught and taken to Arkham, we wouldn't want them escaping like Scarecrow and many others have. That would be too risky, especially since they are likely to want revenge against the police and the city." I elaborated, still keeping him on suspense.
"So what do you suggestion or came up with as a solution?" He asked, wanting me to go straight to the point.
"Have you ever heard of White Torture?" I asked, squinting my eyes a little as I took a drag from my still lit cigarette.
"White torture….What's that?" He asked, confused as were this conversation was leading to.
"White Torture is something far more sinister than you might expect." I replied as I took a pause to knock off the ash from my cigarette onto the ash tray he had placed on his desk.
"It is a type of psychological torture technique aimed at complete sensory deprivation and isolation, a prisoner is held in a cell that deprives them of all senses and identity." With this he seemed even more interested as he leaned in a bit closer upon his desk, locking fingers as he gave me his undivided attention.
"And how did you come about such a thing?" He asked from pure curiosity. "It's something I came across some time ago, and it is used by Venezuela and by most United States intelligence services." I replied.
Upon hearing this, he furrowed his brows as he listened more intensely. Which was perfect because after killing the members of the Sparrows, I would ensure their leader lives a miserable life in jail after his him down.
"The prisoner is deprived of all colours, their cell is completely white, the walls, the floors, the ceiling, as well as there cloths and food. Neon tubes are positioned above the occupant in such a way that that no shadow appears." I elaborated.
"Sheesh, that sounds like some kind of hell." He remarked, just imagining it sounded like it was enough to drive a person mad, rather than reform them.
"That's not all, the cell is sound proof and void of any sound, voices or interactions. The guards stand in silence, dressed in all white and padded shoes to avoid making any noise." I continued, going into more detail.
"The prisoner is served white food, practically unseasoned rice, to deprive them of these senses. Furthermore the walls and other surfaces are really smooth, robbing them of the touch sensation."
"I think that's worst than physical torture, they don't feel pain but would slowly lose their sense of identity." Gordon analyzed, getting a better understanding of the picture I was trying to paint.
"That is why it's a psychological treatment." I replied. "Typically, prisoners will become depersonalized by losing personal identity for extended period of isolation. It is the perfect way to reform criminals and have them completely lose their deranged personalities of committing horrific crimes just for the rush they get from it." I looked into Arkham's current way of doing things and this method would be way more efficient for psychologically unstable criminals like Scarecrow and others who has a bad habit of reverting back to their old ways the moment they get out of jail.
"What other side effects does it entail?" Gordon questioned, wanting every detail before submitting the project to the mayor and having it executed at once for the safety of the citizens.
"Hallucinations and Psychosis." I replied without taking any sort of brief pauses to think about it.
"And how long are prisoners to be subjected to such level of reformation ?" He asked once again.
"Probably eight months to a year, that should be enough to reform them into productive citizens of society as they abandon their life of crime behind."
"Creating neighbours and not pretenders who jumps back into a life of causing others harm once they've been cleared." Gordon mused out loud, nodding his head in agreement to my proposal.
"I have to run this by the higher ups first, but I assure you it's a great idea, implementing this upon certain mentally deranged criminals of Gotham would definitely help avoid the rise of a copycat Joker."
....
Deep in Gotham City was a diner with mixed colours of ambient lighting, it's neon sign attracting those with an appetite for something tasty.
Seated at a table at the far end corner was Bruce Wayne, dressed in a casual brown leather jacket over a beige color shirt. And seated right across from him was a reporter from Metropolis, Clark Kent dressed in a navy blue suit and red tie, topped with his nerdy glasses.
"Gotham has been having a lot of traction on the media lately, what exactly has been going on?" Showing concerns he looked over to Bruce who just let our a sigh before speaking.
"A lot, and I'm doing my best to resolve what's been brewing beneath the surface. The city has become unpredictable, something has changed and this shift came with a lot of surprises." The waiter dropped off a cup of coffee on his table as he reached for it and took a sip.
"Do you need any help? I can understand being the protector of Gotham City is a lot to handle, especially while also protecting the world along side the League. You have a lot on your plate just being Bruce Wayne, now your night life seem to be taking it own toll." Clark stated the obvious so Bruce knows he really does need help, especially being short handed as he no longer had a Robin by his side.
"Nothing I can't handle." Bruce replied with a smile almost creeping across his lips upon seeing how much Big -Blue was concerned for his well being but shrugged it off as usual.
"On the bright side, Gotham's crime rate experienced a twelve percent decrease over the past couple of months. Although the recent acts of terrorism seem to threaten that improvement."
"Yeah, I hate to say it but it seems Red Hood and Ace the Tyrant has a part in that. Jason wants to prove to me that absolute brutality was the only language these criminals spoke, and exercising it upon them was the only way to clearly get the message across to them." His face showed a bit of disapproval but yet a subtle expression of a proud father.
"I know using a brute sense of justice against criminal offenders might seem effective but I'm not in support of that system, it's not what we heroes should stand for." Clark was always against violence whenever he could avoid it, and Red Hood's along with Ace's history showed criminals either ending up in jail badly wounded, or dead before the police arrived.
"I agree with that, and I've tried so many times to teach Jason that it wasn't the right way of handling things but he's way more stubborn than Dick ever was." While he spoke, his expression clearly showed that Jason was quite a lot to handle, especially since breaking free from under his wing.
"Kids." Clark remarked as he shook his head. "Now we are on a man hunt for the terrorists who's been causing the commotions lately, and Jason has turned it into some kind of competition." Bruce said with furrowed brows, letting out a sigh before taking another sip from his coffee.
"He's always been so competitive, even on the field. So what's this project Cyborg has been working on for the past couple of months, I do not like the idea of machines making decisions or given permission to uphold the safety of man kind." Clark's concerns were evident in his voice as he suddenly had on a more serious expression, clearly against Cyborg's current project.
"I gave him a list of reasons why it was a bad idea but he pleaded with me, saying if anything was to go wrong with project he would immediately shut it down and not even think of something like that again. I agreed and he went on with it. It might be the kind of 'out the box' thinking we actually need to save us from ourselves but i still don't trust it." He could only hope that he's concerns does not prove to be true.
"Forcefully shutting it down would have seemed like closing the door to a possible reality of peace among man kind." Clark mused, yet still very doubtful.
"Anyway, I have to go now. I have some business that needs tending to." Bruce said to Clark as he rose from his chair, while Clark raised his hand, gesturing for the cheque.
"Don't worry about that, I already paid before you arrived."
"How did you‐‐‐" Clark was cut off before he could finish up his sentence. "You order the same thing everything."
"Even over dinner you have to be two steps ahead." He remarked as Bruce waved him a goodbye gesture without looking his way as he walked out the dinner.
=======
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