章 120: Villains Unite #120
Gotham
Outside Gotham's General Hospital
"In a shocking turn of events, Gotham's newest vigilante, Wraith, claims to have uncovered a government agency exploiting convicts..." The live reporter said, keeping the microphone close to her mouth as she stared into the camera.
"In an incident that transpired in a secret underground basement, right below Gotham's general hospital, the vigilante was forced to fight several convicted villains while investigating the recent disappearances in Gotham."
"The finer details are still unclear, but the vigilante claims the agency, Task Force X, is enslaving convicts via explosive chips planted in their heads." The reporter went on, unmindful of the rain pouring over her head as she reported the incident with increasing zeal.
"He further claims, and I quote; Amanda Waller, the agency's director, is forcing the convicts, including those with mental illnesses, to do the government's dirty work and carry out multiple high-profile assassinations, end quote."
"We remain unsure to the truth of the allegation as we were not allowed entry into the alleged secret basement... hopefully, captain Tiegel of the GCPD can shed some light on the matter." The reporter continued as the camera turned to the side, showing Deborah Tiegel standing beside her.
"I'm afraid I can't give any definitive answers as the investigation is still going..." Deborah said, stopping halfway as she turned to her subordinates, instructing them to keep the civilians away.
"However, I can confirm the secret basement's existence, even though it doesn't exist officially, based on our records," the detective added as she turned back to the reporter, and everyone understood the meaning behind her words.
"I can also confirm the presence of multiple convicts who were missing, including those that Wraith, Super Girl, and Nightwing apprehended recently," Deborah went on, then proceeded to name every convict they found inside.
"We also apprehended multiple people who didn't exist in public records, but as I've said, the investigation is still going, and transporting the dangerous criminals into confinement takes precedent for now..." Deborah concluded, shaking her head.
"Is there anything else you'd like to add, captain Tiegel?" The reporter said, nodding in satisfaction at Deborah's reply, already expecting her career to rocket up thanks to this interview.
"Whether Warith's allegations towards Amanda Waller are correct or a simple misunderstanding, it's clear that someone is behind this incident, and we, the GCPD, will do everything in our power to find them, whoever they may be to put them where they belong..."
"Behind bars..." the detective concluded as she turned to leave and immediately started barking orders at her subordinates before taking two steps even.
"And there you have it, folks. The captain of the 52nd precinct and the first to arrive at the scene has spoken..." the reporter said as she watched Deborah leave, then turned to the camera.
"We will now return to my colleagues in the studio until further news come to surface, so stay tuned until then..."
...
Gotham
The Batcave
Batman's expression darkened as he watched the report's conclusion and turned towards the Batmobile. "We need to sort this out, quick," the caped crusader said, and his two proteges shared a look before following along.
"Alfred, contact Barbra and get her on the case too. We need her computer expertise," Batman concluded, waiting for Nightwing and Robin to get inside the Batmobile before speeding away.
"A butler's work never ends, it seems..." Alfred muttered to no one in particular, sighing as he obliged Batman's request.
...
Gotham
The Iceberg Lounge
"Amanda Waller, huh...? Now I finally have a name..." The Penguin muttered to himself, maliciously chuckling as he shut off the television in his office.
He didn't need to be a criminal mastermind to realize Amanda Waller was the one pulling on his strings after watching the report and connecting the dots.
"You really are my lucky star..." he added, broadly smiling as an image of the vigilante who'd been making his problems disappear one by one flashed in his mind.
Now he only had to sit back and watch Gray discredit Waller so that any dirt she had on the mob boss would be null as no one would take her word for it.
He'd wait until she was behind her bars, where he'd arrange for the task force director to 'tragically' take her own life in shame or something along those lines.
The Penguin would, of course, intervene and support the vigilante, financially or in any way necessary if it came to it. However, he had a hunch that any interference on his part won't be needed.
The mob boss didn't know the source of such a hunch, but he always trusted his instinct. It got him this far, after all. What he did know, however, is that he'll owe Wraith a favor for his service, whether it was intentional or not.
"Now, let's see how you fare against the entire government breathing down your neck..."
...
Gotham
Gotham City's Park
"Now he's gone and done it..." Benjamin said, chuckling as he stopped the video about the incident in Gotham's General Hospital and turned to Richard with a hard-to-read expression.
"This is no laughing matter, Ben. It's not like Gray to act so rashly..." Richard said, clearly displeased at his old friend's antics as he paced anxiously with a frown on his face.
"The kid is cautious, sure. But I already told you he'd still snap if someone pushes the right buttons..." Benjamin said, shaking his head with a sigh. "By the looks of it, he must have seen or heard something or someone that did just that," he concluded.
"The kid probably thought he had his anger under control, but he still has a long way to go..." Benjamin went on. "Heck, it even shows in our spars. He's always on edge and quick to anger and make mistakes whenever I try to push him..." he added with a helpless shrug.
"The kid's been angry for so long that he doesn't even realize it anymore, and it became the norm..." Benjamin explained, gesturing to the side in exasperation.
"Still, he's even quicker to recover and salvage the situation before I can take advantage of his mistakes..." he continued, smiling as the numerous times he thought he had Gray in a spar after the latter made a mistake, only for him to recover quickly.
"By the looks of things, he's doing fine fixing his fuck up," Benjamin concluded as he approached Richard and put a hand on his shoulder to calm him down.
"You're right... but let's find him, just in case. He might need our help," Richard replied, nodding at his old friend as he started walking, prompting the latter to follow suit.
...
Gotham
East End
Inside an abandoned construction site
"I thought Ivy said Wraith wasn't willing to help..." Anarky blankly said, cautiously eying the three 'people' he shared the room with, clearly on guard as he crossed his arms.
"People change their minds, kid. Get over it already," said a mechanical voice from a monitor attached to a small robot, showing The Calculator's face.
"Either way. It makes things easier for us, and now we don't have to recruit any nut jobs like The Joker..." The Riddler said, grinning as he twirled his iconic green question mark staff.
"Are you sure you can call anyone a nut job? Have you looked in a mirror lately?" Mothman mockingly said, scoffing at The Riddler's words as if they were the most ludicrous thing he's ever heard.
"Coming from the evil Batman wannabe? Now that's rich..." The Riddler immediately quipped back at Moth Man, who never bothered to hide his desire to become the Anti-Batman, even using similar tactics and gadgets, albeit moth themed.
Mothman seemed ready to keep arguing. However, he had to swallow his words as a green vine grew out of the ground, blossoming into a beautiful, giant flower.
The flower opened, and Poison Ivy walked out, leisurely smiling as she surveyed the room. "Gentlemen," Ivy greeted, nodding at the four villains gathered before her.
"As you all know by now... the situation changed, and our plan must change with it," Ivy said. Everyone nodded, including Mothman and The Riddler, forgoing their conflict temporarily.
"Wraith has taken the fight to Waller, and we only need stand back and watch them tear each other apart, however..." the botanist added, trailing at the end of her sentence.
"I don't need to tell you what fates we'll suffer if Amanda wins the fight..." she continued, her tone severe as she alternated her gaze between the four villains.
"We won't interfere unless necessary, but we must make sure Wraith doesn't lose..." she remarked. "If Wallers wins this fight, she'll remain a thorn in our sides and might even stop working in the shadows and go public if she won over the public opinion.
"None of us want that..."
...
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