Gotham City: The Loft.
Dr. Luna T. Ickerson sat at her computer, fingers rattling across the keyboard. She was filling out yet another application. She had been released from Arkham Asylum a month earlier and was not surprised that she hadn’t found a job yet. Her medical and psychology licenses would be suspended for another twenty three months. She however retained enough credentials to act as a family councilor. Also she was financially stable enough to maintain her current standard of living for another six months.
Come on! the voice inside her head chided
This is boring!
“Not now Lue.” Luna answered as she continued to type.
You haven’t let me have any fun for six months! Lue said disgruntled.
“We’ve been over this.” Luna told her “Unless you want to flip burgers for another two years I have to get these done.”
Well anything is better than this boring space you call a mind! You promised to let me have some fun once we got out.
“Lue-”
It’s been six months Luna! Lue said angrily
You said if I laid low and didn’t let the doctors know I was in here that we’d take turns once we got out.
“Lue listen I-”
No! Lue yelled which caused Luna to grab her ears
I did my part! I got us out of Arkham and now it’s my turn!
Luna felt herself lurch forward and away from the computer. Keeping Lue bedded down for as long as she had had given Luna a false sense of control. She had almost forgotten that Lue could take over their body whenever she decided.
The two personalities fought for dominance. In then end, after the coffee table had been overturned and the lamp had been broken Lue stood in the center of the living room. Realizing her accomplishment she jumped in place about six times before noticing her reflection in the mirror. “Ew!” She said looking at the blue jeans and smart green sweater she was wearing. “You call these clothes?”
She dashed for the bedroom, flung open the closet doors and set about throwing clothes out of the closet. Unsatisfied with the numerous suits, sweaters and dresses she stole for the boxes. She smiled wildly when she found the box marked: Sally.
Luna had worked for Social Services while working to get her degree in criminal psychology. Sally had been a disgruntled teenager who had spent a week with Luna between foster homes and juvenile detention centers. When Sally had been carted off to juvey for one last time her belongings had been left behind.
In the box Lue found a pair of knee high, black and white goth boots, a pair of studded, read leather pants and a black tank top. In another box marked: Halloween Lue found a black straight jacket which had been used as a bad joke one Halloween party at Arkham.
Three minuets later Lue stood in the bedroom dressed in her “finest” grinning like an idiot into the mirror. To say that her hair had been disturbed by the two personalities conflict would be using the word in the strictest sense. It stood atop her hair in every direction imaginable.
Lue stole from the loft, being sure to lock the door. She didn’t notice that the apartment keys had been knocked off the overturned coffee table.
The Fair Grounds
Three hours later Lue lay on her stomach in the grass several yards from the Ferris wheel. It being so late in the evening most of the fair’s occupants where young adults and teenagers. She’d ridden every ride, played every game and ate and drank her fill in cotton candy and lemon shakeups. She rolled over just in time to hear several people in the crowd gasp. “No freakin’ way!” Lue exclaimed sitting bolt upright. The Bat-Signal ignited the sky.
Azrial looked up and saw the Bat-signal in the clouds. "Looks like he's back. About time too. It sure was getting dull around here." With that said he jumped fromt he top of the building and grappling onto the fire escape he vaulted down to street level.
The Park
A bird flew across the park, dashing between the trees. It fluttered down amongst the leaves of a strange looking tree. The tree was smaller than the others in the park and had two large leaves poking out from the side of it's trunk. There was a moment of stillness where the bird rested before a flash of movement and a squark. A few feathers fluttered to the floor as
Jup smiled widely, swallowing the bird whole. His leaves lifted slightly, letting him see his surroundings. He looked glumly at the darkness, he prefered the light. He yawned and streached, then looked up at the sky. He blinked, he'd not seen the Bat signal before. He had only arrived in Gotham a few day ago and had stayed low. He had come here on search of a guy that was said to be linked to a weopan project. He had heard he was a reverend but the specifics where slightly blurred.
Police Department: The roof
The whind tosseled the old man's white hair and he narrowed his eyes as it whiped behind his glasses. He stood drinking a cup of coffee. He'd done this countless times yet
James Gordon's stomach always did an involintary flop when he approached.
The whind whipped back his black scalloped cape as the
Dark Knight approached the Comissioner. The white lenses of his black cowel concealed his eyes. His feet where inaudable against the gravel rooftop of the police station.
Lue this is insane, lets go home.
"I only want to see him."
Lue whispered. She peeked over the far ledge of the building. A window washer's scafolding had provided for her ascent against teh cold bricks of the building.
One look and we go. Luna's voice urged inside Lue's head. She was whispering but there was no need, no one but Lue could hear her.
"Shut up or he'll hear us." Lue said cautiously. "There he is!" She watched as the ominious figure approached the aging comissioner. She felt herself swoon slighty. He was the poasterboy for vigilantie cool. She strained to hear what they where saying but the whind whisteled past her hears and she couldn't make out what the words. She saw something pass between the two men. It looked like a file. The Batman didn't look at it.
Ok you saw him, let's go.
"One more minuet."
No Lue, now. Luna said sereiously "Or it's my turn."
"Ok ok..." Lue said giving in "We'll go home."
The Batman and teh Comissioner spoke for a few moments longer before parting company. Gordon returned to the warmpth of the police station and The Batman disapeared over the ledge of the roof opposite their eavesdropper.
Jup was clinging onto the police department wall, pearing over it to the roof. He loved large lights, it was a small weakness of his. Something to do with being a plant. He watched as the two men met, not being use to outside or infact people he didn't think anything of this. Even though only his head poked over the top of the wall, his stem covered with leaves stood tall over the edge. Even though it was quite visable, it wasn't as if anyone would go and inspect a plant, would they?
Azrial watched the Batman closely. It had been weeks since that bat signal lit up the night sky, the Commishner had known he was outta town for whatever reason. It's been a rough few weeks for this would-be hero, somebody had to pick up the slack from the great
Dark Knight. The familiar white slits on every Gotham City's hero's mask squinted as he tried to make out just what it was they were talking about.
The Loft: An hour later
Sometime during the walk home Lue had tired out and relinquished control to
Luna. “If I didn’t look like a dead circus clown we could take a cab.” Luna growled but Lue couldn't hear her. She was snoozing in some dark corner of their mind.
In order to avoid the odd stairs of the other building tenants Luna trudged up the stairs. All where respectable people with a PHD or some sort of doctorate to their names. There where already whispered rumors running threw the building about Luna’s time at Arkham and the constant murmurs coming from her apartment.
Inside the loft she changed into a pair of jeans and a comfy sweater. With a cup of chamomile tea clutched in her hand she sank into the sofa and turned on the tv. Flipping threw the channels she reconciled herself with an episode of the Antiques Road show.
She shivered from a draft and noticed that the window was open. She crossed the room to close it. The room went dark and as she turned around she saw a dark ominous figure in her path.
“Dr. Luna Ickerson.”
The Dark Knight said in a low and menacing voice.
“Y-y-yes...”
Luna stuttered.
The Batman walked calmly around the room taking in the lay of it. “Graduated head of your class at Raven loft Medical Academy when you where 18, earned your PHD’s in Psychology and Criminal Psychology by the time you where 21 and became Gotham’s Woman of the year... twice.”
“What can I do for you?”
Luna asked. By now Lue had woken up but in her stunned state she could offer no help to Luna’s predicament.
The Batman handed Luna a plain manila file folder.
Cautiously
Luna opened the file. Shocked marred her face and she closed it quickly. “What is this?”
“There calling him The Devil’s Gardener.”
Batman said.
“What does this have to do with me?”
Luna asked
Gawd he’s hot. Lue whispered to no one in particular.
“I make it my business to know what goes down at Arkham.”
Batman said “I think your work and time spent there can give me some insight to this guy. I want you to review the files. I’ll be back tomorrow.” He started for the window.
Stop him
“Wait.”
Luna said “I can’t profile a serial killer. I wouldn’t know where to start. I didn't study this kind of thing in school. Isn’t this a job for the FBI?”
“The FBI stopped caring a long time ago about this City.”
Batman said “And I’m speaking of your experience with the inmates at Arkham, not your time in college.”
“Well I can’t learn anything from these files.”
Luna said “If you really want my help I’d need to see the crime scene.”
“Not and option.”
Batman retorted
“Then I can’t help.”
Luna said “All these are are a few pictures and scattered ideas. If you want my expert opinion then I have to see what he’s done. The crime scene and the bodies.”
The Batman looked at her for a long moment, analyzing her... “Get your coat.”
The streets of Gotham
Jup was lost, he knew that. He didn't like large urban places because they usualy used to be lrge forests or jungles. Grumbling slightly he moved around the shadows, sticking to alleys. He just kept wandering, looking for anything that reminded him of where he was.
Azriel had been following the Batman for quite some time once he had known he was back in town. He still had no idea what the caped crusader was up to, but he wasn't about to drop him. For whatever reason, now he was with a former Arkham inmate, not looking too good for him
This wasn't her town.
She had no idea why she was here. She remembered something about the Weapon X project leading here but it sure as hell wasn't marked on a map of the stars.
Black Pearl stayed as hidden as possible, fully aware she was patrolling someone else's city. Long tendrils of blood mercury assaulted the shadows, sinking into the pores in the stonework and using them as footholds. She swung up to a business office and tried to scale it as quickly and as inconspicuousl
y as possible.
Gotham Park
"It's a tree." Luna said feeling stupid as they stood in the park. The area where they where standing was surounded by police tape. A squad car was parked across teh street. The cop behind the wheel didn't seem to mind the two people tesspassing.
Batman pulled a picture from the file and handed it to Luna.
"Oh..." Luna said looking at the picture. The guant figure of a woman with red hair was hanging from the tree. Strands of rope woven into her hair was tied to one of the upper branches. She hung stiff and lifeless, a blood marked wound on her torso cause a red cascade down her nude form. There was something wedged into her mouth. "What's this?" she pointed to the object in the poor woman's mouth.
"It's a rare fruit found in the Amazon jungle." The dark Knight informed her "The natives have no name for it and they don't eat it. The autopseys showed that each of the victims had been fed twelve ounces of it." He began to leave the park. "There's more."
Jup was back in the park, sighing happily to be back in his true place. Just as he was about to take his usual place among the trees he noticed some movement among the trees. Maybe It's that killer... he thought. Even though he wasn't welcome amoung the real people he still cared for them, wanting to repay his dept. He snuck among the trees, looking over to Batman and Luna. "Him..." he said, blinking his large eye at the two.
Azrial silently followed Batman and Luna to the park. "Curious that he'd bring her here." He pulled a set of binoculars from his utility belt. He looked through them at the odd couple and then around at the surrounding area. "Hmmmm...." He zoomed in on the photo the Bat just handed to Luna. "Gruesome. Hmmmm guess this is a murder investigation? And dear ole Bruce is asking for help???" He scratched his chin in thought. "That doesn't make any sense."
By sheer chance, Black Pearl passed over the park, her blood mercury shaped into wings. The small propellors on her wingwrists made only the quiet sound of metal slicing through air, without need of a noisy engine to power them. She hadn't spotted anyone who was there except for Jup, who she avoided by passing nearly directly overhead Azrial.
Azrael looked up as he felt a wind pass over him, it was strange that it moved only overtop of him. He caught a climpse of something strange and metallic. "What in the world?"
Black Pearl banked at Azrial's voice awkwardly, startled, and accidentally dipped into the trees, rustling the leaves loudly(at least, to her ears). She winced and tried to gain altitude, skimming over the tops of the trees.
Azrael decided that the Bat could wait. He leaped from his treetop perch and grappled after the shiny newcomer. Despite all the super beings present in Gotham City, flight really wasn't a common one. Let's recap, there's the Man-bat and that's about it, that is outside of the robotic henchmen of some people, and the occassional passerby like Superman.
Black Pearl wasn't getting any lift at all, so she broke down her wing structure and shot down sticky legs to grab onto branches. She kept her body above the treeline but underneath the foliage the blood mercury gripped the branches and sent her flying from tree to tree. There was someone following her yet again. Her ninja skills were obviously lacking in something essential.
Jup watched Black Pearl land, a rustling of his leaves telling him she was overhead. "This place is getting crowded..." he said, hiding in a bush to disguise himself better.
Azrael advanced on this strange newcomer as she changed her mode of transportation. "Just who are you?" He thought outloud, not too loud though, she probably didn't hear him.
Black Pearl heard him speak, but only heard a murmur of sound, which was enough to make her pick up the pace. After a few yards she gathered herself together and leapt into the air, her monkey feet changing back into wide wings. She pumped feircely for lift and, passing over a vent, finally got airborne again. Whoever was following her, she wasn't interested in the least of interaction.
Azrael flung himself airborne but to his dismay, she was out of reach. He cursed and grappled back down to treelevel. He flipped down from a branch and landed ont he ground. He clentched his fists and cursed. Not only had the newcomer evaded him, but he also lost track of Batman.
Black Pearl soared above the park and quickly found a building to hide on. The blood mercury draped around her like a cloak, reflecting the smoke rising from the vents on the rooftop. She sighed in releif, glad she could shake off her pursuer.
Azrael grappled a lamp post and swung up intot he sky once more. He swung swiftly from post to billboard and then higher, out of the park. He grappled hold of a flag pole and heaved himself up, grabbing the edge of a rooftop, he pulled himself onto it. He took a look around and noticed a shimmering, reflective mass before him. He stood there and waited for his prescense to become known to this thing
Black Pearl's cylindrical form reeled to see her pursuer and turned into a form with more sharp edges than most people are comfortable with. "The fuck do you want, eh?" She challenged him.
"I was going to ask you the same thing." Azrael replied, unsheathing his flaming daggers in case the need should arise. "If you wanted to move thorugh Gotham undetected, you should have gone by foot. We don't get many flyers through here."
"Obviously, I'm a tourist. Thanks for the advice," Black Pearl shot back. "Got a map of the stars to sell me while we're at it?"
The Narrows: An Abandoned building
Batman and Luna had left the park before Azurel and Black Pearl's little stunt. The Bat knew Azurel was still hanging around Gotham but he'd not looked for a chance to run into him lately. Outside the building he parked the car and waited for Luna to catch up in her own. He lifted the police tape above teh entrance door to allow her entrance. He led her up the stairs to an apartment on the fourth floor.
Luna put her hand over her nose as she entered the room. Even though the body had been found in the park the room reaked of death. It was a small apartment and they entered into the living room. A blood soiled matress was shoved into the corner. In the center of the east wall there where three pegs, bloody ropes tied to each one of them. Blood streaked down the wall and had puddeled in the floor. Once crimson red pools had now turned to dark brown piles of crust.
"There where no fingerprints or footprints." Batman said surveying the apartment for the dozenth time. "No hair, fibers or bodily fluids other than the victims."
Luna remained quiet as she took in the horrible scene. Woah</b> Lue said inside their head <i>This guy is sereiously fucked up.
"Shhh." Luna hissed "Be quiet..."
Batman mistook her order for him and did as instructed.
Luna took the photo from the file and looked at it again. Something began going off in her head. She turned her eyes to the room and spoke as she walked. "White male, 18-45, he's smart, he probably attended medical school. I'd need to see the body to determine."
"The medical examiner said that one of her ribs had been removed." Batman told her "The killer knew what he was doing."
"He stalks them... It's the hair that draws him in..." Luna continued "He lived near his first victim but moved after he killed her. He was worried that he'd get caught. The first girl who was found wasn't his first. He's been practicing. Getting it right. You'll find more... at least two. Probably weighted down in the bay. They'll begin floating soon..." She moved slowly around the room. "He may have raped the first one... but not the rest." She moved to the matress and crouched down "When he didn't get caught the first time he began thinking he was smarter than the police. He knows he is by now... He dominates them. Ties them down. Their wounds aren't post mortem. He braids the rope into their hair before he kills them. Watching them suffer. Seeing them beg for release... watching them cry... it makes him feel like a God. It excites him but he dosen't act on it. He kept her here for a couple days before killing her..." She turned to the wall "The fruit and removing the rib... He had a strict religious upbringing... Maybe Catholic school or a Southern Minister father... The fruit simbolizes the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. The rib... He see's them as the embodiement of Eve. He thinks he's on a holy crusade. That it's Eve's fault man was thrown from paradise. He's probably pissed about being called the Devil's Gardener... He'll send a letter, probably to a newspaper... or all of them." She stood and turned to Batman
"How do you know all this?" Batman asked her. Some of the facts she gave him had been mentioned by the medical examiners and detectives following the murders. Others where down right creepy.
that was wierd... even for us..." Lue said "How did you know all that?
Luna looked at him "I don't know..." She turned back to the apartment "It's all here though... In the bloodstains on the mattress... on the wall. He's only just beginning... He'll never stop. There won't be any victims older than 25 and they won't be overweight, have breast inplants or visable scars. He sees them as perfect women because Eve was perfect. I can tell you more when I see the bodies and the other crime scenes."
"You will but not tonight." Batman told her "Go home. The rest of the files will be waiting for you when you get there."
The park
Jup stood before the tree that he had been the murder scene, staring up at it. He had not seen the Batman and Luna leave but he was not caring about them now. He extended his tongue and tasted the air, much resembling a snake. He searched threw the current smells and the stench of a dead body. He finaly found one that seemed off, not smelling like Luna, Batman, the murdered girl or the poilcemen, who all smelled of cigarette smoke and worry anyway. He concentrated on the smell, it smelled strongly of the strange rare fruit. He brought his tongue back into his mouth, smiling evily "I'll get you..."
"Funny. Nobody comes to Gotham on a tourist trip. Too dangerous of a city, you see?" Azrael replied and stuck his hand out. "I'm not here to fight you though. You don't look villianous to me anyway, just curious. Name's Azrael by the way."
Black Pearl started to snarl back a retort, then reconsidered. Maybe he could help her. "Black Pearl," she replied.
"Out with it then. What brings you to Gotham?" Azrael asked her bluntly.
"Rumors of an old government facility for the Weapon X project. Ring any bells?" Black Pearl responded, the blood mercury swirling around her slowly, parts of it gaping open to show her porcelain-white armored costume, then closing again.
"There's alot of old government facilities around here, in case you haven't noticed." Azrael replied with a chuckle. "Never heard of the Weapon X project though. Ever hear of the Order of St. Dumas?"
"Can't say I have," Black Pearl said blithely.
"Then we're even." Azrael replied with a shrug
"Well, then, with any luck we'll never see each other again." Black Pearl backed up and sank off the building, launching herself at a nearby hotel and jumping from rooftop to rooftop.
Azrael leaned back against the wall of the staircase. "Don't count on it." He whispered as he pulled his tracker out from his utility belt. He had slipped a tracker on her, with any luck she didn't notice and he could keep an eye on her.
Her blood mercury swam over her, twisting and contracting as she leapt from building to building, and knocked into a tracer on her shoulder. She picked it off and examined it, a disgusted snarl on her face. "Seriously? That's pathetic." She slung across an alleyway and fished out a stray cat, slipping it onto its neck and setting it loose. "Give attention where attention's needed, why don't you?" She grinned and scratched its ears before letting it loose and continuing on her way across Gotham.
The sidewalk
Without a past and longing for a purpose, Bea-004 walks alone down the sidewalk. She is about the age of twenty and is very attractive. Her eyes are a light pink color with no pupils. Her hair is short and curly. The expression on her face is blank and feels cold. Her eyes are fixated ahead. For a moment, she stops and looks at a small frog ahead of her on the sidewalk. Her face is still blank. The frog ribbits for a moment and then hops off. Bea continues to walk.
There was a snapping noise and the frog had dissapeared. To much movement during the day had forced Jup to go hunting to replenish energy. The unfortunate roll reversal for the frog was rather out in the open, but Jup was hidden from sight in the shadows. All there was was the previous flash of green and a small crunching noise from a shadow.
Bea-004 stopped, her robotic ears picked up the crunching sounds waves from the frog. She turned around and looked at the fence between the park and sidewalk. After walking closer, she awaited something, anything that would happen next.
Jup froze as the woman approached Damn... she shouldn't be able to hear me... thought, stopping crunching the frog to swallow it. He blinked his one large eye and rustled his leaves nervously.
"You." Bea-004 called, although she was raising her voice, one couldn't tell if she was angry, sad, or happy. "Identify yourself."
Jup winced slightly, he hated revealing himself "Im noone..." he said in a voice that was hardly a whisper.
The Park
Bea-004 ran from the sidewalk, into the park entrance. Almost in an instant, she was behind Jup, although he was still in the shadows. "Step forward." She held up one arm and pointed her fist at the area of which he hid. She held onto it with her other hand.
Jup rusteled his leaves nervously again "No" he replied, still trying to whisper to hide his abnormal voice.
"Why do you hide from me?" Bea-004 asked.
Jup grumbled "I'm not exactly a looker..."
The skin from her hands seemed to lift as if they were just steel sheets. They moved back ward and rested on her arm. The barrel of a gun formed where her hand ones was. "Come forth." she asked again.
Jup blinked his large eye, you didn't see that very often. He sighed and stepped forward slightly, his lower half coming into sharp relief. His tree trunk style legs and rott feet. "The rest doens't get any prettier..." he said shortly.
Bea-004 eyes flickered a bit. The gun in her hand went back into itself and her 'human' hand reappeared. "Did you consume that small creature?"
Jup thought he'd try a radical new approach, the truth. "Yes" he said, shrugging "It's not like humans don't do it..."
"You are...an alien?" Bea-004 asked.
"Im not an alien... but Im not human" Jup said "Please... just leave me alone..."
"Nor am I." Bea-004 replied. She turned around and started her way out of the park.
Jup bit his lip, he hated exposing himself but this might be a lead. He dashed forward and grabbed Bea's arm, showing the rest of himself in the light "What are you? He asked hopefully.
She took being called 'what' instead of 'who' to heart. For a heart was something that was human in her. "I am Bea-004. That is, Bio Electronic Assistant, model 4."
Jup lowered his head "Sorry... I thought you were part of what made me..."
"I am sorry you are mistaken." Bea-004 said, "You are a creation? As am I."
Jup gave a half-hearted grin that looked rather scary with his large mouth and teeth "I was created to become the best warrior of my enviroment... here" he said, looking round with his large eye.
Since she was only online for about a year now, Bea-004 had no knowledge that he was much different from the average human. "I don't know my purpose." she said bluntly.
Jup blinked round at the surroundings "Why aren't you... scared?" he asked, feeling quite nervous himself.
"Should I be? Do you want me to be scared?" Bea-004 asked with a blank stare.
Jup blinked slowly "It's just... I'm not normal. I scare people..." he began walking slowly threw the park, trying to calm himself.
Bea-004 walked out of the park as well. "I sense that your self esteem is extremely low from this."
"What's self esteem?" Jup asked, not knowing what the word meant. No one had ever thought it necessary to tell him.
"Self-esteem is a person's self-image at an emotional level. The term differs from ego in that the ego is a more artificial aspect. For example, one can remain highly egotistical, while underneath have very low self-esteem." Bea-004 recited.
Jup nodded "Well... I have none..." he said, walking along the street.
The Street
"Just as detected." Bea-004 replied, saying nothing else.
Jup was still following her "You said you were man made... you don't look man made. Apart from your eyes."
"I am sheathed with a titanium alloy. However it looks like skin." Bea-004 held out her arm for Jup to touch it and feel it's cold temperature.
Jup reached out and touched the hand, his own skin felt leathery. "Cold..." he noticed.
Bea-004 couldn't actually feel his skin. Her senses picked up that it was leathery though. "Exactly. Under the outer shell is my robot casing. However my brain and heart are human."
"Oh..." Jup said, staring up at the lights "Im sorry for calling you a what before. I thought you were one of mine..."
"Apology accepted." Bea-004 told him, "You never gave me a word that I can identify you with though."
Jup sighed "They called me the Jupiter Mantrap back at the base. Mainly because of my large eye. Sometimes they called me Jup though..."
"Jupiter, 142,984 km in diameter which is about 11 Earth's. Containing 60 moons and is the fifth planet in out galaxy from the sun. It contains the 'Eye of Jupiter', a storm. Ironically you have one eye as well." Bea-004 explained.
"Not ironic, evil humoured scientists who think that just because they create things that are freaks they can treat them like freaks." Jup said, kicking a railing. His root wrapped round the railing and he ripped it off.
"I am sincerely sorry for your position." Bea-004 told him.
"Thank you, it is nice to hear that for once." Jup admitted.
Bea-004 didn't say anything else. Her eyes were looking straight ahead.
The Rooftops
Azrael looked at the tracker and noticed that she was still in range. "Well best to keep a closer eye on her now than have to wait until something happens." He fired his grappling gun and took to the skies, swinging across the rooftops as though he were more at home here than on the ground. In many ways he was. In the skies he was free to be who and what he was, but ont he streets he had to hide it from everyone.
The Loft Luna and Batman had parted ways and she unlocked her door. On the step she saw a file box. "Dosen't waste and time does he?" She asked herself
This is good... LUe said We are helping the coolest fucker in the freakin' word!
"What do you mean we?" Luna asked "you weren't any help." She picked up the file box and took it to the coffee table where she began to lay out the files.
WEll with you going all Will Graham on me what was I supposed to do?
"Who?"
The FBI agent from Red Dragon. Lue said You know, Dr. Lectre, Hannibal the Cannibal?"
"When did you read that?"
<i> I wathced it when you where asleep the other night. But back to the subject. What the hell was that you did?
"I don't know? I just knew it."
What are the files telling you?
"I need time to read threw everything." Lue said "Sorry but your gonna have to occupy yourself while I do this."
Go ahead. Lue said setteling in for the long night of reading and profiling THis is interesting.
"Really? youre interested in something I'm doing?"
Don't flatter yourself. Lue scoffed "It's the killer that's interesting, not you."
The Streets
Jup looked round, he senced a familiar smell. He looked up at a building, unknown to him where Luna lived, and extended his tongue. He smelt the air, recognising Luna's smell from the tree. He stared at the building with his large eye, he knew from his training that if you met someone on multiple occasions something was up. They had never exactly met though... but this one needed watching.
The park
Being much more careful about who she let see her, Black Pearl slipped into the crime scene, stippling her blood mercury so it wasn't as reflective. She reached out a tendril and scraped the treebark, leaving acidic residue accidentally on the crimescene. She glanced over her shoulder at the cop guarding the area, his back turned to her, and silently stole away into the surrounding forest.
The Streets
"My sensory nose is picking up small traces of blood in the air." Bea-004 told Jup as she headed where he was headed.
Blood? Jup thought, still looking at the building "Should... should we go check it out?" he asked Bea, unsure about such a crowded place.
Bea-004 nodded, "Affirmative." She walked casually(about as casual as a robot can walk) up to the building.
Jup looked nervously up the building "Bea... what floor is the blood on?"
"Forth" Bea-004 replied, "However, the blood isn't new." She paused when she reached the police line. It was as if she didn't know what to do. Almost like a child.
"Which window?" Jup asked, he was planning to climb it from the outside instead of taking the stairs inside.
"Window?" Bea-004 asked, "The forth as well."
"You go up the inside" Jup said, then pointed upwards "I'll climb the outside and go in the window to let you in."
Bea-004 nodded and did just that. She slipped by the yellow band and went inside. It was abandoned. Bea went upstairs and waited for Jup.
Jup had slowly walked up the side of the building, his roots digging into the surface to help him climb. He tried the outside window, luckily it unlocked. Slipping silently into the room he crept over to the door and unlocked it for Bea.
Bea-004 walked in. Their was a bloodied mattress in the corner of the room. In another corner were three posts with bloody ropes on them. Several areas of the wall were smeared with blood. "Jub." she said, turning to him, "Do you know anything that might tie in with this? I escaped from the laboratory last night. This is my first time out in public." Bea walked over to the mattress and rubbed together some small pieces of brown, dried blood between her fingers. "This blood is about three days old."
Jup drew his tongue out again, tasting the air. Threw the sharp tang of blood he couls smell others. Luna and Batman were the most recent ones here, so he could smell them. He tasted the air more, finding what he was looking for. Retreating his tongue he looked very serious "There is a serial killer... he kills woman and stuffs their mouths with fruit. He must use this place to kill them or something."
Jup's display didn't seem strange to Bea-004 at all. She had only broken out last night. Bea knew many facts, such like the facts about the planet Jupiter that she displayed earlier but she lacked a lot of common sense and knowledge. "Shall we take some sort of action?" Bea asked.
Jup nodded "Yeah... we need to stop him. I dont have a good enough scent to track him threw these streets, millions of people would have walked over it." He looked thoughtful "I could track this other one... this woman. She has been round the crime scenes."
"A woman?" Bea-004 asked, "Take me to her if you will."
Jup nodded "I think she's looking for the killer too..." he said, looking out the window again "Maybe I'll take the stairs this time..." He walked over to the stairs.
Bea-004 followed calmly. When the two reached the streets again, a gust of wind blew by. Her shirt blew and lifted a bit, revealing her upper thighs. Bea didn't even seem to notice. She awaited Jup.
The Street
Jup came back onto the street, extending his tongue. He hadn't seen what had happened to Bea so concentrated on Luna's smell. He followed it along the streets, following Luna's walk home.
Bea-004 followed. Many people walking along the streets stared and gawked at Jup's strange appearance but Bea hadn't noticed.
Jup did notice though and tried to hide in the shadows more. He grimiced every time they stared, and sighed sadly when they didn't. He walked faster, wanting to get this over with.
"Why do you cower at the eyes of men?" Bea-004 asked.
"Why do they cower from me?" Jup answered, the scent was getting closer "I'm a freak..."
"I'm sorry, that word does not register." Bea-004 admitted.
"Freak" Jup said again, his hands trembling slightly "FREAK! An outcast, different, not the same as everyone else."
"Am I-" Bea-004 paused, "a freak as well?"
Jup sighed "Yes... you are too. You are less noticeable though. You can pass as normal, I can't."
Bea-004 turned her head as they walked, looking back at the many watchers. She turned back, "I am not ashamed of my own being. However, I must admit that I do not know it."
Bea was getting looks too, but mainly because people were wondering who she was and why she was with him. "Come on" Jup said, hurrying.
Bea-004 hurried with Jup. She got to thinking. She rethought what she had said. I do not know who I am. Why was I created? What purpose do I serve? All these thoughts circled within her.
Jup stopped outside Luna's residence "She's here..." he said.
Bea-004 replied, "Good." as she walked up the steps. She walked up to the door but paused. Bea didn't know what to do next. Should she just go in? Should she call for her? The right thing to do in this situation escaped her.
Outside Luna's apartment
Jup had followed her, mainly because people were starting to crowd him. He ran up to the door and rapped on it quickly, a kneejerk reaction. He realised what he'd done and gasped at his hand. He hid behind Bea in a second, waiting, hoping.
"Is your state well?" Bea-004 asked observing his motions.
"Crowds downstairs..." Jup said "I dont like crowds."
"What is this emotion you are displaying?" Bea-004 asked.
"Fear... fear and shyness" Jup said, peeking over her shoulder at the door.
"Fear." Bea-004 repeated. She turned her head and looked at him. Although her eyes were half open, they were pink and almost glowing. Her face turned back.
Jup's pupil was the size of a pin prick by now, he REALLY hated crowds. If he wasn't a plant he'd be sweating buckets and his leaves were shaking violently.
"Do not fear those who cannot harm you. Fear those who can." Bea-004 told him.
The Loft
Luna was still reading the files on the murders when she heard the nock on the downstairs door. She wasn't expecting anyone so ignored it. One of the other tennants would get it or the night doorman. When she heard the nock again she decided she might as well take a break and answer the door before anyone was woken up. She slipped on her shoes and left her apartment, taking the elevator to the lobby. She crossed the polished tile floor and tip toed passed the sleeping door man. She opened the door to see a young woman with hazy pink eyes. "May I help you?" She asked
Bea-004's expression was blank still. Her hands were to her sides. "I am Bea-004 and the figure behind me is Jupiter. We have discovered a murder scene in an abandoned building across town." she informed, "However it is apparent that you already know of this." A light breeze slightly blew the T-shirt the young woman wore. Ir was the only thing that she was wearing. It was large enough to act as a baggy dress.
Wayne Manor
Azrael came to a landing outside of the Wayne mansion. He pushed the button beside the gate. "Alfred, I need to see Bruce."
Luna looked passed Bea-004 seeing a figure that looked much like a tree. She almost allowed herself to looked shocked but she remembered that this was Gotham and as a psychatrist at Arkham she has seen far more frightening things. She almost asked if Batman had sent them then opted not to in the open street. "Come inside." She said "But be quiet, the doorman is sleeping." SHe held the door open for them.
Alfred Pennyworth woke from his bed hearing the gate button. The aging butler dressed in a dark blue robe and pressed the button to answer the guest "Who may I ask is calling?"
"It's Jean Paul, Alfred. I need to talk to Bruce." Azrael told him, a bit of agitation in his voice. "It's a bit cold out here you know."
"Mr. Valley, Master Bruce is out for the eavening." Alfred said "May I take a message." Just then the alarm in Alfred's room signaled, a subtle beep telling teh butler that the Bat had come home to roost. It was about that time in the morning when he usualy arrived home. He saw no need to tell Jean Paul Valley that the Batman was indeed here but he did activate his comm into teh batcave "Master Bruce Mr. Valley is at the gate. Shall I see him in or take a message?"
The Batcave
Batman hat just gotten out of the batmobile when he heard Alfred's comm. He sighed, he figured Valley would show up eventualy now that he was wearing the costume in Gotham again. For three months he had been conducting an investigation on Cain to find out why Cassangra had gone rogue. She was back to normal now, her brainwashing regressed. She was back to her usual partoling of the Narrows. But now Bruce toyed with the idea of just going to bed early rather than dealing with teh volitile Valley. "You told him I wasn't here right?" he asked knowing how Alfred always told uninvited guest that he was out.
"Yes." Alfred answered
"If hje refuses to leave let him in." Bruce said "I'll meet him upstairs."
"Yes Master Bruce." Alfred complied and awaited Jean Paul's answer.
"Alfred, let me in. I know he's here, right on schedule." Azrael replied, tapping the backside of his wrist, where a watch would be. "Any room in particular I'm to see him in this time?"
"The drawing room." Alfred answered and tied his robe. Without waiting an answer he buzzed the gate open and went to meet Valley.
Bruce was dressed in a pair of jeans and a black turtleneck when he went to the drawing room to await valley.
"Thanks." Azrael replied under his breath. The comm link was closed but it was still the right thing to say. After all, he did just wake the poor old guy up. He walked through the gate and down the long walk to the front door. As he walked he thought about just what he'd be saying to Bruce. He really didn't have anything planned, but then again, he rarely did
Alfred Met Valley at the door. With a coy "englishness" he asked "May I take your cape sir?"
"I still have a locker here?" Azrael asked him curiously. He walked inside and pulled his mask off. "Last time I checked, I wasn't exactly a welcome guest."
"No but I thought I'd put it in the hall closet." Alfred said accepting his mask
"Fair enough." Azrael replied with a polite nod. "Thank you Alfred." He turned and proceded to the drawing room
Jup was attempting to hide behind Bea, his face and arms were hidden but the long leafy stem couldn't be. He pushed Bea forward into the room, still hiding behind her. He still hated showing his face to new people.
Alfred placed the mask in the closet and followed Azurel
Bruce was sitting in an armchair with a snifter of brandy warming in his palm. It was the perfect size to throw at Valley if the situation called for it.
"Bruce. Welcome back." Jean-Paul said as he entered the room. He had always admired the man who sat before him, admired him as much as he loathed him.
"I hear you've been busy while I've been gone." Bruce said "I guess I should thank you." He wasn;t exactly saying thank you. Just throwing the idea that he should out there.
"Someone had to pick up the slack. Don't ask me what happened with Dick and Tim. They disappeared about the same time you did. I've seen your girl around, but not too often. She's usually out with The Question." Jean-Paul replied as he took the seat across from Bruce. "I didn't come here to gloat. Alot of stuff has happened and you know I'm not that good of a detective. Some shit's gone down as of late and I can't explain any of it. This Devil's Gardener guy for one. Intergang crime rate has gone up too. You wouldn't believe how many of their thugs I've taken down this last week alone. And since your whole group has gone missing, I was thinking that you could use a hand."
"Dick's been in deep space with Starfire. Something about a rip in the fabric of space." Bruce said "Tim had some business with Conner to deal with. Catmus decided to activate a programming chip inside his head. My kids saved the universe and stopped a government conspiracy. A guy like you wouldn't have noticed how important their being away was."
"A guy like me stays behind and picks up their slack, Bruce. A guy like me is what has kept Gotham from returning to the dark ages while all of you were away. A guy like me is all this city had left." Jean-Paul stood up at that final part and stuck his finger in Bruce's face. "I know that the fabric of space-time has an awful big habit of repairing itself more often than you think. I said I wasn't a good detective, I didn't say I was stupid. It doesn't take a great detective to see that even the batman needs help every once in a while. If he didn't, he wouldn't have had a Robin in the first place, let alone a 4 and sometimes 5 person team to protect Gotham City! Everyone else is away, I'm offering you some additional help. Are you going to take it, or are you going to be stubborn old Bruce?"
Bruce stood calmly, setting his snifter down. "Just don't make it a habit of getting in my way." He said cooly "The kids will be back in town soon and you won't have a job any more. I coud probably get you a position in my company... do you know how to sort mail?"
"Funny Bruce." Jean-Paul said "Real funny. You always where a smug sonofabitch."<Hr>
Bruce smiled "I've been called worse." He said "Don't let the gate hit you in the ass on your way out."
"You always have to have the last word don't you?" Jean-Paul said
Bruce nodded "Yeah I do." He turned and left the room. Content that he had indeed gotten the last word.
As Bruce left the room Jean-Paul muttered beneath his breath "Ass."
As Bruce closed the door he said "I heard that." The door closed with a sharp snap. Signaling that he had won their debate.
Jean-Paul turned and said "Sonofabitch." he groweled.
Alfred Was waiting at the door with Jean-Paul's cape and mask in hand "Good morning sir." He said
Jean-Paul donned his cape and mask again "Sorry for waking you Alfred." He said and left silent not waiting for an answer.
The Loft
"It's ok." Laura said noting the fear of Bea-004's companion. "Come inside."
That is one sereiously fucked up creature. Lue whispered inside their head.
Jup continued hiding, feeling foolish "We... we have the same goal."
Bea-004 walked inside, "Him and myself had just met seventeen minutes and twenty-one seconds ago. We seek information about the current murderer that you may bestow upon us. In contrast, we may help you in any way possible." The girl's expression had been still and blank this entire time.
Jup blinked his large eye "That murder in the park... We are looking for him." He peered over Bea's shoulder slightly "We want to bring him to justice... hopefully like you."
"Ok ok." Luna hissed "Keep it down, i'm not the only one who lives in this building. My neighbors are looking for reasons to have me evicted as it is." She lead them pass the sleeping doorman and into the elevator. Her loft was on the top story. She ushered them into her apartment. She could now see clearly what Bea-004 was wearing. "Let me get you some pants." She said and departed. moments later she returned with a pair of jeans. "Would you like something to drink?" She asked. She looked at Jup, "I have a sun lamp."
Jup finnaly gave up hiding, coming out from behind Bea and smiling nervously. His mouth opened slightly, showing the rows of large teeth. "Thanks you..." he said, his body a dark green from all the energy spent at night.
Luna Took the lamp from the kitchen where she had been growing silantro, oreggano and chives. When she reached for her container of plant spikes she noticed her hand was shaking. She wasn't exactly firightned but after dealing with Batman, learning about her unusual talent concerning The Gardener and now meeting thest two she was a wreck. She'd have to hold it together or she'd inadvertantly give Lue control. And the two had agreed that Luna was the proper one to handle this sort of thing. She plugged the lamp in next to the chair by the couch. "Have a seat." She said and waited for them to accept what hospitality she could offer. "Oh uh..." She offered the plant spikes to Jup. They where concentrated mineral spikes that could be put into the soil of a potted plant to help it grow. "I don't know if you... um... Here." She handed the spiked to Jup trying her best to keep her hand from shaking.
Jup stared at her hand and took the spikes. "It's Ok" he said, his eye focused on her hand "Most people are scared of me... You are taking this rather well." He sat down carefully on the chair, his legs creaking as he did from being upright for many days "I, uh... dont know what these are." he said, staring at the spiked.
Bea-004 did as she was told and sat down on one of the couches. She noticed Luna’s hand shake. She remembered the talk that Jup and herself had just a few moments earlier. “This is fear once more, is it not?”
Jup nodded slowly, looking slightly sad. He focused the sun lamp on his leaves, drawing energy from it.
Bea-004 stared at what Luna had given Jup. She has no knowledge of what food is.
Jean-Paul pulled his mask down over his face as he exited Wayne Manor. He took the long walk down the front yard and promptly exited the gates. He should have changed at the Manor and just walked home, but seeing as he was in his suit, he grabbed the grappling gun from his belt and swung through the night
"There plant mineral spikes." Luna said "I thought maybe you might eat them?" She shrugged, trying her best to be hospitable. HEaring Bea-004's comment about the meotion she was showing was fear she turned to her "This is not fear." She said "It's ainxieity. IN the last four hours I've met Batman, learned I have to help catch a serrial Killer and now ... Well I;m not really sure about this moment." She said sitting down "I'm not used to all this attention."
"It appears that we have all been entangled in this murder case." Bea-004 stated. For a moment, she was silent but then uttered the word, "Eat?"
"To consume nurishment for energy." Luna explained "If you don;t mind... but what are you?"
Bea-004 stood up, "Bio Electronic assistant, model 4." she said plainly. The collar of her extra large shirt shifted a bit and fell off her shoulder.
The Rooftops
Black Pearl sat on a flying buttress of a cathedral, letting her blood mercury loose to play on the church roof. Nothing. Not a single lead anywhere. This was useless.
Luna nodded. "I understand." She said "But if you two are investigating the murders also why come here?"
"Their was nothing left of the scene." Bea-004 repeated, "Him and I could only gather so much. We were wondering if you had found anything we might have missed." This entire time, Bea had neglected the pants given to her. She had no idea when they were. "If you deny me, I will be abblidged to leave."
"All I can do is profile him." Luna siad "Batman is the one with the clues. What I did was just speculation. The onlything I can offer as helpful would be if Mr. Juiter here steaked out the parks. He leaves hisn victims in wooded areas."
Jup had been trying the spikes, but put them aside when he had decided they tasted horrible. "I live in the park so that would not be a difficult thing to do. I even have his scent so if I could isolate him from a crowd." He cocked his head gently "Who is this Batman anyway?" he asked "The man I saw you with earlier? And why would you have a profile on this killer?"
Bea-004 sat back down, this time on top of the pair of pants.
"Batman protects the city." Luna answered "Like how Superman protects Metropolis. He's a vigilantie. I don't have a profile on the killer I can profile him. It's what an investigator does when they take into consideration the information on a murder scene. What clues left behind can tell you about the murderer." She noticed Bea sit on the pants she had given her. "You wear those hun, not sit on them."
Jup nodded "So you are some sort of polceman?" he said, still slightly confused. "I am sorry If we seem stupid... we seem to be rather lost in these places."
"It's ok." Luna said "No I'm not a cop, I'm a psychatrist. Someone who studies the human mind. I worked at Arkham Asylum. It was a maximum security hospital for the criminaly insane. Batman figured that I could have some insight on the killer if I looked at the materials."
Jup nodded slowly, he'd never met a psychatrist before. They'd not been very keen on mental health checks at his old base.
The word, 'Psychartrist' was registered in her brain. Bea-004 brought the pants back onto her lap. "I don't like the men in white."
Jup shivered, he didn't like men in white coats either. Too many other experements had dissapeared that way.
Bea-004 brought her knees up to her chest and stared blankly still.
The Rooftops
Azrael came for a landing atopt he cathedral, on the other side as Black Pearl. He saw the mysterious metallic liquid move around he moved closer to investigate. He saw her sitting there and grinned to himself. "Fancy meeting you here. Have you had any progress on this Weapon X thing of your's?"
Black Pearl glanced up at him. "Of all the cathedrals in Gotham..." She muttered, her blood mercury forming sharp mouths that snapped open and shut in irritation. "Do you have anything useful pertaining said 'Weapon X thing'?"
"Haven't done much research on it, but I have found out a thing or two about going ons around the city. There's a serial killer on the lose. The Devil's Gardener. Gruesome fellow." Azrael told her as he leaned back against one of the many gargoyles. "You and your metallic stuff give me a hand ith the murderer and I'll give you a hand with this Weapon X project. I have my theories concerning who in this city could be involved."
"Y'know, I heard of this really famous detective here in Gotham. Tracks down some real high-profile criminals, world renouned for bringin' killers to justice. Dresses a little like you, actually." Black Pearl tapped a finger against her lips thoughtfully. "Mousefellow? Ratboy? Something like that. I know! You could ask him!"
"Already have. But it's always a good thing to have an extra set of hands." Azrael replied. He looked at her with all seriousness. "By the way, it's Batman. And don't you forget it."
"THAT'S the one!" Black Pearl didn't bother to conceal the complete sarcasm that enveloped her words. "Knew it was some flying rodent." She stood and faced him, her blood mercury swirling around her. "Can you actually find any information about the Weapon X project here in Gotham?"
"I'm not known for my detective skills, but I know people who know people. If I looked, I could find some things." Azrael replied, standing up to face her. "But nothing comes without a price."
Black Pearl cocked her head to the side, considering his offer. "The Devil's Gardener, eh?"
"He stalks red haired women, kills them, removes a rib, and stuffs a rare fruit down their throat. Then he hangs them from a tree with their own hair. Apparently they are alive for all of it." Azrael explained and looked at her, "So are you in?"
"I wore a white coat."Luna said "BUt I tried to help people. Not hurt them." Luna noticed Bea pull her legs to her chest. It seemed that the onlything she was wearing was that white t-shirt. She sprang up from her seat and stood hiding Bea from Jup. She pulled the pants out from under Bea. "Put these on please... it'll make me feel better."
"Sounds fun." Black Pearl mused. "I'll look into it."
"That's the spirit." Azrael replied with a nod.
"If you'll excuse me." Black Pearl slid off the flying buttress and launched herself in the air as she was apt to do, stretching her blood mercury out and grappling from rooftop to rooftop.
Azrial watched her go and couldn't help but chuckle. This strange woman had been in Gotham for only a few hours and already she had picked up how the heroes moved so quickly. Grappling was the preferred mode of transportation here.
Jup stared at Luna as she jumped up, not wuite sure what she was fussing over. He was a plant and Bea was a cyborg, he wasn't even sure if they could...
Bea-004 stood up from the couch. "If you desire so." she said. Bea although her IQ was high, their were some things that can't be taught be a book, but rather by a parent. At times she seemed rather childish because she didn't know what to do.
"like this." Luna said She lifted the hem of her sweater to show how the pants went on.
Bea-004 guessed and it took a few minuetes, but she got the pants on. "They are coarse."
"You'll get used to it." Luna said then figured that a more sientific expination was in order "It's a material called denim. Made into a pair of pants they are called Jeans. Your sensors are probably tuned to be sensitive to touch. They'll get softer as you wash them and wear them more."
Bea-004 was still staring at the pants she was now wearing. She didn’t care for them very much, but accepted them because Luna preferred her to wear them. “How did you know I was a mechanical device?” The pants were a bit baggy on her and practically slipped off of her hip.
"Your eyes mostly." Luna said. But it's in your manerisms, or lack of really. You don't move when you talk. as if there is no reason to spend excess energy on fruitless motion. The way you talk also. Monotone with an indestingushable north american accent. You over clinicalizs and anlize emotions and your name is a model number.... I've studied people... a lot."
"This is my first day outside. I am still attaining knowledge, unable to forget anything learned. I apologise for my unacceptable behavior." Bea-004 said.
Jup had been thinking about the killer "Should we leave now? I need to stake out the park... but Bea could stay here, you could teach her how to blend in more."
"Unacceptable." Bea-004 replied. Her pants hung onto her hip just barely. "By 'we' you mean all of us. But you speak that only you will go." she corrected.
"No your behavior isn't unacceptble!" Luna sid quickly "It makes you stand out buy the more you stay around people you'll understand how to blend in more." she thought that she might need to get Bea a belt. "Each of the three victims have been found on the directional corners of Gotham park. North, South and West. If your going to steak out the park I'd take teh East side. If we don't catch him dumping the next victm then he'll probably move to Highland Park. He's interested in being heard of. HIghland Park is the perfect upscale neighborhood." she tured to Bea. "I can help you blind in a bit more if you like."
Jup nodded "Shall I exit a less public way?" he asked, switching off the sun lamp and heading towards a window. "You should stay here Bea... you have a better chance of being normal if you learn."
Luna stood with jup "The fire escape exits out teh side alley." she told him and went to the window.
Bea-004 listened intensively to Luna’s plan. She looked over to Jup momentarily, "I refuse your offer to stay." Bea-004 thought for a moment when she actually thought of an idea on her own, "Luna, you say that his victims are women. I am within a woman’s shell; may I use it as bait? The killer cannot hurt me, for I cannot bleed or be cut."
Jup thought about it "Only if you make sure you have backup..." he said, looking out the window "I dont need a fireescape to climb down a building."
"It is possible that he could lead me to where he resides. You two could follow." Bea-004 explained futher.
"That won't work." Luna said "He only targets readheads and he dosen't kill them at his place. He takes them to abandoned buildings in the Narrows."
"My apologies for the idea." Bea-004 said, "A wig?"
Luna looked at Bea-004 and thought for a moment... "Once he knew it was a wig he'd kill you.. try to kill you I mean... He'd run and we'd run teh risk of loosing him. Wait..." She stepped a circle around Bea. Her body structure was perfect, she was demurely built with elegant yet strong curves. "Maybe if we colored your hair... and I could teach you a few tricks to acting more subtle... It might work. The only problem we have is-"
"Me." Batman said stepping threw the opened fireescape window.
Jup wlinced slightly and hid in the shadows as much as he could, not because he was scared but because he hated when normal people surprised him. He could tell Batman was normal by his smell, no matter how hard he tried to disguise it with capes and hoods.
"Batman!" Luna gasped seeing him "What... what are you doing back here?"
"I came to make sure you where doing your job." Batman sid moving threw the room and around Bea-004. "Instead I find you doing mine. It's a good idea..." He said. He'd been listening outside the window for about the last hour now. "But I won't let you endanger yourself... even if you are a biomechanoid."
Bea-004 wasn't very surprised when Batman came in through the window, at least she showed no visable signs of it. "I wouldn't be endangered." she explained, "By the time he realized that I'm not of human exterior, you all would have the man surrounded." She looked to Luna, "I would gladly die my hair for this purpose and am willing to learn from your teachings."
Jup kept his eye trained on Batman "We will only let her do this if she is well protected... and I have seen that she can protect herself."
Bea-004 glanced at Jup, "Is that a request to display?"
Jup shook his head gently "Not just yet Bea..." he said quietly.
"Affirmative." Bea-004 replied with lack of emotion.
"I don't care." Batman said. It's not that the idea wasn't a good one. It would be perfect if he trusted them.
Bea-004 walked infront of Luna. "I am willing to learn what it is that you must teach."
Gotham Cathedral
Azrael drifted downward from the rooftop and came to a landing upon the front step. He walked inside and removed his mask. There were few int his city who knew his true identity, but the men of the cloth were always good at keeping secrets. He had no reason to hide who he was from them either, considering that they were the ones who used to sign his paychecks. He crossed himself as he walked up to the alter. "Ignosce mihi, Pater."
The Loft
Luna looked between Batman and Bea-004 she didn't know what to decide. "I'll teach you how to blend in but... If he says no then I have to honor my first obligation..." She looked between the two again "But I can;t stop you from using the information I've given you."
Jup, after seeing that Bea was safe, climbed out the window. He slowly crawled down the wall, clinging tightly to it in the strong wind. He made his way down to the street and looked up once more, staring at the window. He started to walk back to the park quickly.
Bea-004 turned her head head just the slightest and watched Jup leave. Slowly returning her head back to Luna, "Thank you." she said and awaited further instruction.
Batman glared between the two and allowed Jup to leave quietly. "Just don't let this overshadow your other obligations." He said and ducked quietly out teh window.
Luna sighed. "that is one creepy guy..."
Bea-004 watched the man in black leave. It was almost as if she wanted to form an opinion, but couldn't find the words to. Her eyes went back once more to Luna. "What will you teach me?"
"Bonne nuit, monsieur." A tendril of blood mercury dropped down in front of Batman from ontop of the roof, where Black Pearl crouched, concealed entirely within black, swirling liquid metal.
the Batman's eyes narrowed. Not many people coud sneak up on him... not many normal people... "You must be the new kid in town." He said slowly "I heard someone was around."
"News gets around fast," Black Pearl replied. "I wasn't going to get involved, but...circumstances have arose in such a way. You understand."
"Refresh my memory." Batman said. He knew she was no fool but he wanted to know what she knew.
"Not here." Black Pearl stood. "Come up top and we'll talk." She left the ledge and retreated from sight.
"Batman raised an eyebrow and did as requested.
Black Pearl formed a sketchy sculpture of Azrael. "A friend of yours, Azrael I beleive is his name, came to me for help. Apparently, there's some murderer about town what needs catching, but all the king's horses and all the king's men can't crack the case. He asked me to help in return for information." She dropped the sculpture. "But as you said, I'm the new kid in town."
"Seems like everyone is interested in this guy." Batman said. "It's the Atlanta Children case all over again. Look I have enough help already. Too much in fact. If you and Azrael want to catch this guy you'll take orders. If not, find your information elsewhere."
"I figured you might say that." Black Pearl replied. "I'm just dropping in to warn you. Keep that camera close, detective, he's bound to kiss that cute redhead soon enough. You'll get that paycheck from his wife in no time." She slipped off the roof and across the walls, dissapearing again.
Batman hid his confusion but had no idea what she was talking about. He assumed that she was being srcastic. His eyes followed her off the roof before departing back to the cave.
"Miss?" Bea-004 asked Luna.
Stumble!