GOTHAM CITY
11:12 PM EST | 12/24/12
"I wonder... do you even know who hired me? You're in over your head. And you know it, don't you?"
Spoiler, her costume torn, her body unwilling to move, spits; she hits Deathstroke just above his good eye.
"Child, you do not realize how reasonable I am being right now," he mutters, an unsettling smoothness to his tone. "You've earned quite the reputation among the syndicates in Gotham. The little headache that just won't go away. You see, since Brainiac wiped out half of the Gotham underworld, things have been rough. Hundreds of unemployed people. Unhappy people. People who would just
love a piece of you."
Stephanie coughs and winces, the binds on her hands starting to cut off circulation as she tries in vain to struggle. "Yeah, well, it wouldn't be the first time." She pauses, panting. "Are you just gonna gloat? Torture me? What do you want, huh?"
While his mask remains expressionless, it's a fair guess to say Deathstroke smiles. "Like I said, I'm being reasonable. I'd like some information, and you'd like to be free. We can trade."
Now it's Spoiler who smiles, without the luxury of her mask; it lays torn and tossed to the far corner of the room. "I don't know anything about anyone. I work
alone!"
"We all know that you're one of Batman's brats. Seems you have a bit of a soft spot for Robin, don’t you?" Spoiler’s eyes narrow. "You see, there are some very powerful people who want to know just what Batman is up to. He's a dangerous man, and sharp, too. What is he researching? Rumor has it the world's ending. Reed Richards knows about it. Charles Xavier. It's a safe bet that the Bat is in on it too."
"Then kidnap the Thing! How should I know?!"
Calmly but firmly, Deathstroke lifts Stephanie's chin. "Don't you lie to me, little girl.
What did Richards see?"
"...Galactus."
"Galactus has come and gone. The Skull and Madame HYDRA were able to take him out in less than an hour, and Richards wouldn't fear something so mundane. You know that's not it. It was worse. Worse than Apocalypse. Worse than Nimrod. Even worse than Brainiac."
"...you know, people will come for me. And I hear they're friends of yours."
"You mean that last rift? Please. I'm almost excited... this place been a bit too calm since Brainiac was taken out. I'll fight them. I'll defeat them. I'll
destroy them. But first, I have to deal with
you. And I'm getting bored. There won't even be a hair left unless you. Start. Talking."
"...so get it over with, then."
He laughs - it is an amused and honest laugh, and it sends a shiver down her spine. "Stephanie - I told you. There are individuals who'd like for you to speak up. You know... we could meet them, if you want?" Deathstroke walks to the wide warehouse door and slides it open. As the gust of ice-cold wind blows in, the girl's eyes widen.
"Be sure to keep her alive."
Two-Face, The Hood, and Black Mask step in. Black Mask raises a scalpel, and smiles a lipless grin. The door slams. Time stops, and flashbacks to nightmares half-remembered bounce about her head.
The moment hits her just as metal meets flesh.
Suddenly, an iconic twang echoes in the wide and frigid room.
From the darkness, the glint of red metal, dug deep into the crumbling brick walls. The sound of footsteps of the roof echo. A voice, loud, bright, and forceful, rings out. The crime lords unholster their weapons as the skylight bursts open.
GOTHAM CITY
2:27 AM EST | 12/25/12
“Merry Christmas, Mr. Robbins."
The Hood approaches Deathstroke, face grim. "Chased out by Batman's pet and his friends. And all over some punk girl." He sighs. "I only got two words out of her... 'extermination' and 'syndicate.' That mean anything to you?"
"They pay me to solve problems, not riddles. So they took the girl?"
"Yeah, she's long gone."
"Good. We'll track her. To catch the right bird, you need to use the right bait... and then, well, I'm sure you know how to hunt. Now, Mr. Robbins - a criminal empire isn't built in a day. Ready to get to work?"