[CENTER][COLOR=GRAY][SUB][sub][h3][I]We will put to the pyre your precious law and order. We will show you how truly vulnerable your nation really is.[/I][/h3][/sub][/SUB][/COLOR]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/vtNDce0.jpg?1[/img][/CENTER]
[COLOR=black][indent][sub][B]Location:[/B] [COLOR=#FF3B2D][I]University District[/I] - [I]Founder’s Island, Gotham City[/I][/COLOR][/sub][sup][right][b]Mass Panic Tie-In:[/b] [COLOR=#FF3B2D][I]Quiet Riot![/I][/COLOR][/right][/sup][/indent][/color][sub][hr][/sub][INDENT][color=black][sub][B]Interaction(s):[/B] [COLOR=#FF3B2D][I]None[/I][/COLOR][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][b]Previously:[/b] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4915962][COLOR=#FF3B2D][I]Meta Brawl![/I][/COLOR][/url][/right][/SUP][/color]
[INDENT][COLOR=#808080]Scrambling off the vehicle’s hood, Terry clambered into the backseat. He barely had time to get situated before Dana slammed the vehicle into reverse and put the gas pedal to the floor. Despite the amount of pain he was in, Terry had to admit, it was hot watching Dana handle her Jeep like she had just stepped out of an action film. 

Suddenly the vehicle turned sharply. Bringing the Jeep to a brief halt, Dana slammed the shifter into forward. Flattening the accelerator against the floor, the rear tires squealed while the back end slid around in a sharp ninety-degree turn. Now facing forward, Dana continued to guide the vehicle towards safety. Hammering on the horn while the group continued towards escape, Dana screamed for the rioting Mutants to get out of the way.   

Without any warning from Dana, the vehicle lurched to a sudden stop. Terry could feel the wheels spinning beneath the chassis, protesting as the car was unexpectedly forced backwards. The smell of burnt rubber overpowered his nose, prompting Terry to look forward. His gaze was met by a Mutant in front of the vehicle. The Mutant had a hand firmly hooked in either wheel well. The hood of the Jeep crinkling like tissue paper beneath the man’s mammoth hands. 

Terry had run into this character before, it wasn’t the slapper from earlier, but he knew this one too. He was a runaway from Arkham, Aaron Helzinger. As Terry recalled, Bruce had found that Aaron had undergone a procedure to remove his amygdala. It had been hoped it would cure him of his homicidal tendencies.

It hadn’t.

Instead, it had left Amygdala prone to violent outbursts. Just like the one he was no doubt currently experiencing while crushing Dana’s graduation present like a toy between his palms. Terry grimaced, ignoring the pain wracking his body. He didn’t have a choice. Looking at the three girls, Terry met Max’s gaze in the rearview mirror. She gave him a knowing look, shaking her head but Terry defied her wishes. Lunging forward, he swung himself over the front seats. Launching over the windshield, Terry delivered a flying kick to Aaron’s face, prompting the Mutant to drop the Jeep. 

Rolling across the ground, Terry came to a stop atop his feet. Raising his fists, he stared Aaron down. Each pained breath reminded him why this was such a terrible idea, but there was no way Terry could have allowed Helzinger to stay focused on the Jeep. He would have rolled it into a ball and crushed them all inside. Terry couldn’t allow that to happen to Max or Carrie, let alone Dana. 

[i][color=#ff3b2d]Better make this count![/color][/i]

Terry urged himself forward, dodging a blow from Aaron. Conventional strikes wouldn’t register, Aaron wouldn’t feel it. Terry had fought this guy once before, but he had the batsuit then. That time Terry had tasers, restraints and smoke pellets. Right now, he had nothing but his fists and his training. 

Steadying himself, Terry dodged another blow. Looking for an opening, a nerve strike, a groin shot. Anything that would provide optimal damage.  Switching his stance, Terry saw his opportunity and prepared to strike. Fear filled Aaron’s eyes as Terry raised his fists again. The fight draining from the larger man as he turned tail and unexpectedly ran. Sighing in relief, Terry allowed himself a small chuckle before noticing the rest of the Mutants dispersing just as rapidly.

A sudden gust of air ruffled his jacket. Turning around, Terry came face to face with the Batmobile hovering above the street. An exasperated groan escaped from between his lips while Terry shook his head. Saluting the Batmobile before it flew away, he turned back towards the three girls, slowly walking towards them. 

[color=#ff3b2d]“Anyone else hungry?”[/color][/COLOR][/INDENT][/INDENT]
[hr][COLOR=black][indent][sub][B]Location:[/B] [COLOR=#FF3B2D][I]The Iceberg Casino and Lounge, Tricorner[/I] - [I]Bleake Island, Gotham City[/I][/COLOR][/sub][sup][right][color=#2c2c2c]PLACEHOLDER[/COLOR][/right][/sup][/indent][/color][sub][hr][/sub]
[INDENT][INDENT][COLOR=#808080]The pale light of the moon reflected off the face of the towering crystalline structure. The Iceberg Casino and Lounge was Gotham City’s most prominent gambling establishment. Born out of the ashes of the Siren’s Club, the Iceberg had been a towering monument on Gotham’s edge since the mid eighties. 

It was also home to one of Gotham’s most prominent crime lords; the Penguin.

The Penguin had consolidated power in the void left by the original Batman’s takedown of the Five Famiglia. The Five Famiglia were made up the Falcones, the Maronis, Bertinellis, Sabatinos and Sullivans at the height of their power, before the Batman. They were the original crime in Gotham, before the Batman, before metahumans. Now they were nothing but a memory. The Famiglia’s children fighting for scraps left by the likes of the Cartels, the Triads and the Yakuza.

When Batman had decimated the Famiglia, there had been no one to challenge the Penguin. It had afforded him a smooth ride to the top where he had remained unchecked after the disappearance of Gotham’s Dark Knight. The Penguin had the mayor’s office in one pocket, and the district attorney’s in the other. Those influences alone made the crime lord the single most powerful man in Gotham.

Outside the Iceberg Lounge and Casino, the bright beams of a large SUV’s headlights nearly blinded the valet. Raising an arm to shield his eyes, the young man lowered it the moment the vehicle came to a stop. From within the blacked out vehicle came two large men, their weapons barely concealed behind the open blazers atop form fitting shirts. 

Opening the rear door, a third man stepped out. Dressed in a white pinstripe suit, the outfit certainly didn’t do the man any favours. It only served to wash out any colour his pale skin might have held. A gaunt face with high cheekbones was topped with a greased mat of hair. Entering into the casino, the man in the white suit took the lead as his bodyguards flanked him on either side. 

[color=white]“Pleasure or business today, Mr. Sionis?”[/color] A hostess smiled towards the three men, approaching them with a tray of champagne. 

[color=#134f5c]“Business, Mr. Cobblepot is expecting me.”[/color]

[color=white]“I’ll let him know you’re here, in the meantime can I prepare a table? Would you like your usual, Sir?”[/color] She asked as Sionis nodded. 

[color=#134f5c]“Have them send over a Scotch as well, neat.”[/color] Roman ordered before making his way towards his table. The Iceberg Casino and Lounge was the unofficial headquarters of Gotham’s criminal elite. Sionis had held more business meetings between the high walls of the corner booths here than he had in his own office. Taking a seat in the far corner, no sooner had Sionis sat than was his drink delivered. Taking a sip, he signalled for his bodyguards to take their place outside of the booth while he waited for Cobblepot and his meal.

After the incident with Tetch and the girl, the Batman had been relentless in slowing down Sionis’ operation. The mere thought of it was enough to make Sionis curl his hand into a fist and quietly slam it against the solid table before taking a swig from his drink. The liquid burned the back of his throat. It was a welcome sensation that went far towards satiating the rage that swelled within his chest. 

With White incarcerated, Sionis was out his best client. The Jokerz were too unpredictable, the Mutants didn’t do business, and the Sons were too busy imitating their idol to be viable. That left the other crime families, but they wouldn’t dare make a move unless Sionis could get the Bat off his back.

[b][color=#674ea7]“Roman!”[/color][/b] A rousing voice broke Sionis from his thoughts, bringing his attention back to the present.  

[b][color=#674ea7]“How have you been keeping, my boy?”[/color][/b] Oswald Cobblepot asked while extending a hearty hand. Roman rose to greet the older man, matching the vigour of his handshake before the pair took opposite seats.

[color=#134f5c]“I’ve had better days, Cobblepot. Business has been suffering, I find myself with a bit of a rodent problem.”[/color] Roman muttered with a snarl at the mention of Batman. Across the table, the most fearsome crime lord in Gotham let out a dark chuckle.

[b][color=#674ea7]“So you’ve come to Uncle Oz, the infamous Penguin. The one crime lord to outlive the Batman. Is that it?”[/color][/b] Cobblepot asked, continuing to chuckle before suddenly leaning over the table. 

[b][color=#674ea7]“What? You expect me to dirty my hands for a pup like you, off this new brat Bat for you? Solve all your problems, is that it?”[/color][/b] He snapped at Roman, [b][color=#674ea7]“Your father never had any trouble handling his own business. How is Janus doing? Stock prices still shit, I imagine. Surprised you’ve managed to keep Wayne privatized this long, that must be a right sinking ship.”[/color][/b]

[color=#134f5c]“I’m not here to grovel-”[/color]

[b][color=#674ea7]“Well you best be starting.”[/color][/b] Oswald growled pointing a finger towards Sionis’ chest. [b][color=#674ea7]“What are you here for?”[/color][/b]

[color=#134f5c]“I need your contacts and your connections.”[/color] Roman stated, standing his ground as a plate of food was placed in front of him. Cutting into his steak, he took the first bite while a plate of salmon was slide in front of Cobblepot. 

[color=#134f5c]“I want to put a hit out, and I only want the best.”[/color]

[b][color=#674ea7]“I’m listening.”[/color][/b] Cobblepot replied, interlocking his fingers in front of his face, keeping his gaze firmly fixed on Sionis. 

[color=#134f5c]“One night to kill the Bat,”[/color] Sionis stated, [color=#134f5c]“And fifty million to the individual who puts a bullet between his pointy ears.”[/color]

[b][color=#674ea7]“Quite the offer, I guess business hasn’t been bad after all.”[/color][/b] Oswald replied, igniting a fat cigar and taking a couple drags while he mused the proposal.[b][color=#674ea7] “What’s my finder’s fee?”[/color][/b]

[color=#134f5c]“Fifty million now,”[/color] Sionis stated while placing a case atop the table. [color=#134f5c]“And fifty million when his bloodied cowl is in my hands.”[/color]

Crackling, Oswald rubbed his hands together eagerly. Opening the case, he nodded his approval before tucking it beside his seat. 

[b][color=#674ea7]“Roman, my boy. Business is looking up for you.”[/color][/b][/COLOR][/INDENT][/INDENT][sub][hr][/sub][INDENT][COLOR=BLACK][sub][COLOR=#2c2c2c]Placeholder[/color][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][b]Next Issue:[/b] [COLOR=#FF3B2D][I]Season Two - Momento Mori: One Night to Kill the Bat[/I][/COLOR][/right][/SUP][/color][/INDENT]