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"Always think ahead. The opponent is never as strong as your strategy."
— Azula (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
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<{Inside a Hidden Facility somewhere in Gotham}>
<(Omniscient POV)>
"We're running out of time, Francine. Langstrom needs to finish the serum—soon. Is he close, or do we need to... push him along?" The man's face was completely obscured by a gold-colored owl helmet as he spoke to a woman in a white lab coat.
"No, Kirk is close—really close. He was only missing a key component till now. However, that special compound from the xenobots that Mr. Cain brought, whatever it is, even in its extremely diluted form, is the most complex substance we've ever encountered. In fact, it's so intricate that we can't hope to successfully replicate it from scratch without its formula. All we can do is use the already present sample, enhance it, and apply it to the enhanced human project." She spoke with confidence, a smirk forming on her lips. "But we'll likely need to get rid of my husband once he finishes the project. After all, he still thinks we're doing this to cure deafness." She couldn't help but release a quiet giggle at his apparent foolishness.
"Don't worry, that will be handled. And as promised, once Dr. Langstrom is dead, you'll inherit everything—his social status, his assets, and even the fortune he would've made from the project's success if he had remained alive." The man nodded, not even sparing the female scientist a glance. "Now, go back to your husband, Mrs. Langstrom. After all, we wouldn't want anything to go wrong when we're this close to the finish line, would we?"
"Of course." She bowed slightly at his words before turning away, leaving the room with what almost looked like a skip in her step.
"Do you think we can trust her?" David Cain asked, his voice low as he stepped forward from where he had been silently waiting behind the door. The woman was well out of earshot now.
"She's a materialistic woman—loyal to nothing but wealth and status. So, no, we can't trust her… but what we can trust is her greed. As long as we keep feeding it, she'll stay in line. She knows exactly what the Court of Owls is capable of. Her loyalty might waver, but the promise of riches—and the fear of what we could do to her if she were to betray us—will keep her from even considering betrayal." The masked man replied coolly.
"Hmm, that's fair. I guess the Court has its own way of handling things. The League used to brainwash all its members to be loyal, which was honestly more effective, even though a lot more time-consuming." David shrugged, "Anyway, you remember our deal, right? I bring you the secret compound, and you give me the serum when it is ready. Just make sure to keep your end of the bargain." He warned, "Otherwise, everyone knows how common accidents are in a city like Gotham."
The owl-masked man frowned at this, "... Don't threaten me ever again, Cain! I don't like threats. What you and I have between us is a respectable business deal, and you should know that, like every other member of the Court, I, too, always keep my word. After all, that's what business is about: sticking to our words." He snapped back with an annoyed voice.
"I understand..." David smirked, "... even though I am not a businessman like you." He quipped, "Just a really good killer." He chuckled.
"Hmm," Cain hummed. "But I still don't understand why you're so invested in the enhanced human initiative. Last I heard, you accepted an assassination contract on Bruce Wayne—from some dictator in the Middle East, wasn't it? And yet, Wayne's still alive and kicking." His tone was pointed, almost amused. "So, I'm guessing you failed to deliver."
He tilted his head slightly. "Is that why you want the enhancement formula so badly? Because you think it'll make you a better assassin? Or…" The masked man's voice took on a mocking edge. "Are you afraid of Bruce Wayne so much that you think this is your only shot at taking him down?"
"Afraid of the kid?... Heh, yeah, I guess you could say that." Cain let out a low chuckle. "My master used to tell me there are two kinds of people in this world—the ones you can predict, and the ones you can't. Bruce Wayne… he's the kind no one alive can truly read. He's like a... shadow. You might know everything about it—its shape, its nature—but when you get close, it still unsettles you." He paused, his voice dropping. "No matter how much you prepare, there's always fear—fear of the unknown that lurks in the dark. I'm hoping this serum will help me silence that fear once and for all."
"Your master sounds wise. Maybe I should've met him—could use someone like that on my side for a change." The masked man snorted.
"He's dead. Killed by someone he couldn't see through." David let out a low chuckle. "That's why I'm careful. I don't plan on making the same mistake."
"Then why not just walk away?" the Court's leader asked, his tone almost casual. "I get it—you've heard about Wayne's elite security detail like everyone has. But if you're that cautious, maybe you should just pass on the contract altogether. Or…" He tilted his head slightly as if to show how curious he was. "Are you more afraid of the dictator who hired you than you are of Bruce Wayne?" He asked, watching David's face carefully to gauge his reaction.
" Me afraid of a mere dictator?" Cain laughed. "How pathetic do you think I am?" He snickered, "I took the contract because I wanted a... challenge. I wanted to do it, and the money was just the cherry on top. It was also a way to let Bruce Wayne know I was coming for him. After all, it's not a real hunt unless the prey fights back with everything it has, right?" David replied, though there was something in his tone that hinted he wasn't telling the whole story.
"You're just as twisted as the rest of the freaks here in Gotham," the Court of Owls member muttered. "You'd fit right in if you ever decided to stay."
"Maybe..." David said with a shrug. "Anyway, it won't be long before your city's newest caped crusader starts sniffing around, trying to find out more about the explosion back at the Wayne Conclave as well as what we are trying to do here. He needs a distraction—something big. Did you prepare what I asked for?"
"I did. Though I still think it's overkill." The masked man scoffed. "Sure, we moved our base out of Gotham like you suggested, but only because you pointed out those unidentified drones hovering near our sites. Still, there's no proof they belong to him. We have plenty of enemies who could deploy tech like that." He shook his head. "That so-called caped crusader is just a clown in a bat costume—playing hero by knocking around a few street thugs. He doesn't have the resources or the connections to take us on. I'd wager he doesn't even know we exist. Word is he's too afraid to even pull the trigger. He seems to be a believer in the system… but a man like that could never stop us." His tone darkened. "Not when we're the ones who run the system."
He pulled a phone from inside his jacket. "But still, we delivered what you asked for—out of respect. We wouldn't want you feeling underappreciated, would we?"
"A man I trained once told me, 'Someone who refuses to kill doesn't mean he can't.'" Cain said calmly. "The Dark Knight is far more dangerous than you can imagine. People think he wears a mask to hide his identity or to protect himself—but only I know the truth. Batman wears the mask because even he is afraid and ashamed of what he's capable of. Others wear a mask because only then can one be their true self, but he wears it because he doesn't want the world to see his true self."
He glanced down at the phone in his hand, voice lowering. "He's not just a killer—he's the perfect killer. The apex predator that my master dreamed of. He just doesn't know it yet. Someone needs to show him."
On the screen were two options—one green, one red.
"The green option triggers every explosive my men have planted throughout the building. The red one deactivates them… though I have a feeling you won't be needing that one."
"Of course, I won't," David Cain said, pressing the green option without hesitation. "Let's just hope the lunatics at Arkham Asylum are enough to keep him busy for a few days—hopefully weeks. Because if he finds us before the project is complete… we're going to be in serious trouble." He released a sigh of exasperation.
***
<{Arkham Assylum}>
*Boom* *Boom* *Boom* *Boom*
A series of deafening explosions ripped through the grim silence of the night as remote charges detonated in rapid succession, tearing through the reinforced walls of Arkham Asylum.
Fire and debris erupted from the eastern wing, sending chunks of concrete and steel flying like shrapnel. The blasts punched gaping holes through the old structure, collapsing corridors and breaching several high-security cells. Loud alarms rang continuously, while emergency lights flickered to life as chaos erupted inside—smoke billowing, sirens wailing, and prisoners flooding out like a tide of madness.
The prison's defenses faltered under the sudden onslaught, triggering a full-scale breakout as some of Gotham's most dangerous and wanted criminals seized their chance for freedom.
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