It didn't take long for Galahad to don the Knight armour, not with Aaron's intelligent design making the whole kit as simple to slip on as a pair of comfortable old jeans, but it still felt like it took forever. Maybe that was because he knew that every second wasted was just one more that Deadshot had those hostages at his mercy, or maybe it was just apprehension for the nights activities. After all, its not everyone that can boast about getting into a gun fight with the worlds greatest sniper, though there might be a reason for that. 

He could hear Dr Kitchell fussing in his 'Smithy', the portion of the abandoned underground station that he'd set aside for his lab and survey equipment. A set of beeps and whistles sounded, indicating that the direct link between Aaron's lab and the Knight armour was initiating. Galahad was fully decked out now, and about as ready to party as he was likely to get, so he stepped up to the raised blasting pad which would allow him to egress from the base. 

"Open the hatch," he ordered. Despite the fact that this was Kitchel's operation, Kitchel's suit and Kitchel who was bankrolling the whole thing Galahad just naturally assumed a leadership role, but then he was accustomed to having his orders obeyed in his last life. Aaron tapped a few buttons and a hatch above Paladin's head slid open, revealing a metallic tube that would lead all the way up to a fake sewer grate in the East End.

The Armoured Vigilante was preparing to jet off when Dr Kitchell began to cough awkwardly, obviously desiring his attention. Paladin swung his head round, willing the Docter to be quick. 

"So, uh, Deadshot huh? He's supposed to be good. Real good. The best, or so a lot of people say." 

"Uh-huh." responded Galahad. It had become a small tradition of theirs, for Aaron to voice his fears of the coming mission, and for him to dismiss them with casual nonchalance. Galahad had come to realise that it gave Kitchell some measure of peace.

"Do you think he's the best?" Aaron looked about as worried as his friend had ever seen him, which was impressive because Aaron always looked worried about something. 

"Are you asking if I think he's the best, or if I think he's better than me?" Aaron merely bit his lip at that, but Galahad could tell he'd hit the crux of the matter. He smiled, knowing that it would never show through his helmet. 

"Well I guess there's only one way to find out." And with that Paladin blasted off with Dr Kitchell watching him a mixture of cold dread and grim respect.

-----

Paladin had traversed the sky with the easy grace of someone who had been born to fly, dodging news and police copters like they were static. Though he wasn't trying to create an urban legend about himself he still didn't see the need to announce his presence to the world, especially when he'd made so many enemies in the past. 

He was coming up on the building Deadshot had chosen to take his hostages in now. Aaron was right, Deadshot wasn't called that for irony, he really was the best shot in the world. Galahad was good, damn good, but he doubted even he could take the infamous Floyd Lawton on in a straight up shooting match. No, he'd have to mix it up with this one, and hope he was better of the two in CQC. 

"Blacksmith, have you located the target?" 

"Easier said than done, but not impossible for someone like me." Bragged Aaron, a red reticule flashing up on the HUD onto the side of the high rise building, indicating were Deadshot should be standing. "By the way, I'm getting reports of another couple of 'capes' on the scene. I'm trying to pull up some info on them, but they must be some new players in town because I can't find a darned thing."

"Good work Blacksmith. I'll deal with him if he gets in the way. Now you might wanna close your eyes, I think I'm about to void the warranty on your suit." He could hear Kitchell's panicked demands for what was going on, but he chose to ignore them as he accelerated. The suit picked up speed at an alarming speed, so he had to slow it some to get it back under control and aim himself straight for the red reticule. If this worked then he would torpedo straight through the plate glass windows and cannonball Deadshot off his feet. If it didn't then he was likely about to get a whole lotta people killed.

Himself amongst them.