[center] [img]http://i.imgur.com/u6FMR53.png?1[/img] [h1][color=aba000]Justice League Origins[/color][/h1] [/center] Doesn't matter how powerful the engine, or how capable the driving, throw enough shots in a cars direction and eventually it's going to get hit. Batman was enough of a pragmatist to be aware of this probability, hell he even expected it. The Car wouldn't have as much armour plating as it did if he hadn't. Still, he couldn't help but experience a shock as first of the red energy beams cannoned into the Car, shaking the entire chassis with violent force. [color=DarkSlateGray][b][/b][/color] chimed the voice of the Car's VI, a voice manipulated to sound like Marilyn Monroe for no other reason than Bruce's own personal quirks. He was thankful for that choice now, as Miss Monroe's dulcet tones went someway to blunting the direness of the situation. If one shot could eat into fifteen percent of his armour then this could end a lot messier than he had hoped. Tires squealed as he spun the wheel, car drifting in a tight arc around the extraterrestrials as he fire HEIAP rounds, the high payloads tearing through the bot's like they were made of construction paper. For every one that he took down there was always more to take their place though, their sheer numbers meaning that eventually some of their massed fire was getting lucky. [color=DarkSlateGray][b][/b][/color] [b][color=black]"VI Voice off!"[/color][/b] Bruce didn't need a running commentary of how badly things were going. He was quickly running out of HEIAP 's, and after they were gone he'd be down to no more than the surface-to-air missiles and his anti-personnel non-lethal rounds, which he didn't think were going to cut it here. [color=black][i]Some use all those billions of dollars are going to do me now, sitting pretty in all those bank accounts while I get blown up for want of a grenade.[/i][/color] Even with his fantastic mind, Batman was struggling to create a plan for this. How could he? He'd trained to fight criminals and gangsters, he'd never expected to match himself against seven foot tall death machines. [center][h3]THUD![/h3][/center] Another energy beam thundered into the vehicle, this time striking the hood. Sparks exploded from the point of impact, smoke billowing in a noxious cloud, a touch of red at it's base. The engine gave a last pained growl before dying completely, wheels slowly grinding to a withering halt. [i][color=Black]Damn it![/color][/i] A tapping of keys and several switch flicks told him that this wasn't a problem that could be fixed from the drivers seat. He needed to assess the damage, perhaps even get the vehicle back to the cave and replace the engine, two things he just didn't have time for right now. He began to fire the last of the HEIAP rounds, knowing that the car's armour wouldn't last long under a prolonged assault. He readied himself to evacuate the vehicle quickly, resolving to finish this fight on his own two feet. [b][color=aba000]“You are not wanted. Perish!”[/color][/b] [center][h3]FWOOM![/h3][/center] Golden energy arced between the massed automatrons, some falling to their knees whilst others exploded entirely. [Color=Black][i]What now?[/i][/color] Floating in mid air was a figure dressed entirely in blue and gold, a faceless helmet upon his head and a heavy cape draped around his shoulders. He would have appeared faintly ridiculous, if not for power inherent in his stance and the gold fire burning in his hands... or the way his voice echoed and boomed. [b][color=aba000]“You will not be allowed, this is not this world’s fate.”[/color][/b] The robots turned to face the newcomer, some charging him head on while others aimed their arm cannons on his position. Batman took his moment, exiting the Car and swiftly assaulting the robot's rear. Palming two batarangs in a reverse grip he attacked the first robot's knee joints, figuring that if they were shaped like a man then they would have a man's weaknesses. His assumption paid off, the thing buckling under it's own weight as it's supports gave way. With a growl he drove his weapons into the robot's metallic forehead, hoping that whatever passed for it's nervous system would be located there. Again he was lucky, bipedal life seeming to share some constants no matter the species. The light in the automatron's eyes died, and Batman moved onto the next opponent, a wraith on the field. Whatever was going on in this newcomer’s head remained to be seen as the helmet-bearing mystic came down harshly and swiftly against the synthetics that maintained their attention on him. It probably came to no surprise to the caped crusader that they were felled much easier by the strands of gold energy than his arsenal on hand. Whoever this individual was… it was good that he was on his side, but for how long? Where did he come from? Eventually he became aware of a fourth party on the field, though he at least had an idea of who this one was. Reports had been coming in about [i]'Green Lantern'[/i] for some time now, mostly centered around the Coast City area. Though his background and reasons for acting how he did were still a mystery, there was no denying the power of his ring. Between Lantern and this man in gold there were entirely to many masked men in Gotham for Batman's liking. He would need to discover their identities and agendas as soon as possible. He didn't get as much time to mull over these issues as he would have liked, the automatrons finally beginning to realize that the golden newcomer wasn't the only danger. Two broke off from the pack and began to stomp towards Batman's position whilst a few others focused on the arrival of this Green Lantern, their fixed-metallic faces displaying not a shred of emotion as they bore down upon them. The Caped Crusader remained nearly perfectly still, a narrowing of his eyes being the only hint that he was aware of his impending doom. The lead robot threw a fist forward, almost to fast for the human eye to follow. Almost. The Dark Knight swayed under the strike, spinning off to the left, a batarang licking out to cut at the bot's armour. The second robot was on him in an instant, big hands clasped together and coming down like a hammer blow. Batman threw himself backwards, only narrowly avoiding the blow. He hit the ground and without pausing began to roll to his side, just missing the foot that came stomping down from the first foe. [i]Beep, beep, beep, beep.[/i] The robot lifted and inspected it's foot curiously, no doubt wondering what that beeping was. A small, grey, rectangular section of putty was stuck to the sole, a tiny black bat in the center of the putt, a red light blinking in time with the beeps that had steadily been picking up pace. [center][h3]BOOM![/h3][/center] The explosion too the robots leg off, the metal monstrosity getting blown across the block. Gotham's Guardian didn't get a chance witness the spectacle though, as the second robot had finished with trying to beat him to death, and had instead changed tactics to fire red energy waves. So far Batman had managed to duck and weave out of the beams paths, but the robot only had to get lucky once and then it would be all over. However he couldn't get in close to land a conclusive blow, not with all the fire the bot was laying down. [i][color=Black]Think, dammit. You've got the tools, just have to figure out how to use them![/color][/i] Batman rolled out of the way from another stray shot, at the same time drawing his grapple-gun. Taking a quick aim he fired at the robot's chest, the claw exploding forwards with a sharp [i]*POP*[/i]. The claw sunk into the automatron's armour, the metal head glancing down to gaze at it with a clinical detachedness, giving Batman just the opportunity he needed to retract the reel, the high-powered gas gun yanking the Dark Knight towards his opponent. He used his momentum to drop kick his foe, two hundred pounds of muscle crashing into the automatron at high speeds. The metallic monstrosity toppled from it's feet like, the Caped Crusader using a batarang to tear the thing's head from its shoulder's, snarling as he sawed through the tensile cables that made up it's tendons. Suddenly he was yanked into the air, a powerful grip around his own neck. He kicked out, his boots hitting unyielding metal. [color=black][i]Stupid Bruce. . . Not paying attention.[/i][/color]. He was turned around to face the glowing red eyes of one of those mysterious robots, a third that had entered the fray when he was distracted by his own victory. The grip tightened while he struggled futilely to escape. [i][color=black]Come on Bruce. Not like this. . . Never like this.[/color][/i] However, the Dark Knight’s luck had not ran out quite yet. [center][h3]THWOOM![/h3][/center] A flare of the golden energy from before crashed into the synthetic, however instead of exploding it went limp as if an electromagnetic pulse had been blasted through its mechanical nervous system—effectively disabling it and turning its function off, and the grip around Batman’s neck loosening. The Dark Knight fell to the ground, wheezing and coughing, trying to suck in great lungs full of air. It took him a moment to regain his composure, stashing the tiny laser he had been readying to cut through the robot's wrist back in his belt. [i][color=black]Note to self: reinforce armour around the neck.[/color][/i] A quick scan of the field revealed most of the bot's were down for the count, the golden intruder hovering some feet away. [color=Black]"Who are you and what are you doing in Gotham?"[/color] The Batman cracked, sounding more like a demand than a question. [b][color=aba000]“Matters occurred during visitation.”[/color][/b] The figure paused and his eyes looked up to Green Lantern who was still attending to the last few cybernetics. [b][color=aba000]“The world is in peril.”[/color][/b] Batman followed the figure's gaze to see Green Lantern mopping up the last of the robots. A potent reminder of just how outclassed he was, power wise. [i][color=black]This is a dangerous playing field you're on now Bruce. Remember to tread carefully.[/color][/i] [color=Black]"Gotham's mine. In the future stay out."[/color] It was dangerous ground, making a threat to such a dangerous and powerful individual as this, even as mild a threat as that. Boundaries had to be set though, and set early. Gotham [b]WAS[/B] Batman's, and he wouldn't suffer any interlopers invading his territory, regardless of their intentions. [b][color=aba000]“I care not for your city, dark knight, nor your crusade. My only interest is that of great precedence and this is one that goes beyond any one domain.”[/color][/b] The tone remained constant and untampered by the demands of the city’s protector. [b][color=aba000]“This is only the beginning.”[/color][/b] A small growl of annoyance escaped Batman. He wasn't used to being so casually dismissed, and couldn't say he was enjoying the experience. He exercised his iron control though, turning on his heel to leave the figure standing in the street. [color=black]"In that case get out. I hear Metropolis could use some help. Perhaps that would [i]interest[/i] you."[/color] [b][color=aba000]“If Metropolis falls, so will Gotham.”[/color][/b] There was a flash of light that followed the words from the being and this speaker of fate vanished.