The Bad Batch: Gargoyles

Chapter Five - A New Alliance

After their encounter with one another, the Manhattan Clan leads the Bad Batch to the Clock Tower which was located above the 23rd Precinct. As the Clone Commandos settled in at the Clock Tower, Goliath speaks to them.

Goliath: It won't be long until the Sun rises, so time is short. Who are you?

Hunter: My name is Hunter, commanding officer of Clone Force 99, otherwise known as the Bad Batch.

Elisa: So you're special forces. What country do you represent?

Tech: We're not from your planet.

Hudson: So you come from the stars?

Tech: In a manner of speaking. Your planet is located in an unexplored and isolated region of Wild Space, which is rather impressive given that Wild Space is mostly unmapped in most Galactic maps. 

Upon hearing this, the Gargoyles were at a loss for words. Elisa was especially shocked at this. In her line of work, she had seen people at the police station claiming to have been abducted by aliens and spacemen. She never thought they exist, yet here was the Bad Batch who were clearly not from Earth. 

Elisa: Never thought I'd see aliens. 

Echo: We're technically not aliens. We're Clones. 

As Echo said this, the Bad Batch removed their helmets to reveal their faces. The Gargoyles and Elisa were speechless as the faces of the Clones were revealed. 

Broadway: Whoa! They really are Clones! 

Tech: Technically Echo is the only regular Clone among us. The rest of us were genetically modified with desirable mutations. 

Goliath: Why are you here? What purpose do you have?

Hunter: We came here looking for an artifact. The one that was stolen by those two criminals. 

Hudson: I know what artifact you speak of. You speak of the Sword of Beowulf. Why do you seek the sword?

Hunter: We've been hired to retrieve it. All was going well until those two criminals stepped in and threw our original plan out the window. Then you came in and you know how that turned out. 

Wrecker: You should've taken me with you! I would have flattened those two like Clankers!

Tech: And most likely cause a scene that would've ended in the same outcome. 

Broadway: Still doesn't explain what you want with that sword. That sword belonged to a legendary Hero. You're telling me someone out in the stars hired you guys to go steal this sword? 

Tech: A simplified summary, but yes. 

Hunter: Look, we just want the sword. Help us get it and we'll be out of your planet. 

The Gargoyles were hesitant about this. They knew the history behind the sword and questioned the intentions of the Bad Batch. Goliath was unsure whether to trust them. He then turns to Omega.

Goliath: Child. You have traveled alongside these warriors. I ask you this. Do they mean well? 

Omega: Of course. You can trust them!

Goliath looked into Omega's eyes and saw no deception in them. Though he was still unsure about whether to trust them, he believed in Omega's words. 

Goliath: Very well. Bad Batch, we will aid you in your efforts to acquire the Sword of Beowulf. But I will give you one warning. If you intend harm on those precious to me, then you will know the wrath of a Gargoyle. 

Hunter couldn't help but feel intimidated by Goliath's imposing stature. Despite this, he kept his composure. 

Hunter: You watch our backs and we'll watch yours. 

Hunter then extends his hand to Goliath as a sign of respect. Goliath accepts the gesture and shakes Hunter's hand, signifying the beginning of the alliance between the Bad Batch and the Manhattan Clan. As this happened, the rays of sunlight could be seen. 

Goliath: The Sun rises. We must prepare for our slumber. We will speak more when the Sun sets. 

As Goliath says this, he and the other Gargoyles assume their position as the Sun begins to rise. Omega watched in awe as the Gargoyles turned to stone. Curious, Tech walks over to one of the petrified Gargoyles and scans them. 

Tech: Hhm. Interesting. 

Elisa: I'm assuming you have a place to stay?

Hunter: Yeah. Our ship's stationed on the island where that big statue is. We'll head back to the ship and wait until nightfall. 

Elisa then glances over to Omega. She couldn't help but be concerned about the young girl. She recalled at how Omega threw herself into danger when she rushed to protect Hunter from Goliath.

Elisa: Where are her parents?

Hunter: It's...it's complicated.

Elisa: I'm not sure if I like the sound of that. 

Hunter: Omega's safe with us.

Elisa: I'm seeing a little girl traveling around with five highly trained special forces soldiers. 

Hunter: You don't know the half of it. But I can assure you that Omega's safe with us. 

As Hunter said this, she wasn't convinced. But at this point, it was clear that Omega shared a strong bond with the Bad Batch. For now, Elisa would go along with this. As the Bad Batch left the Clock Tower, Omega voiced her opinion. 

Omega: They seem nice. 

Hunter: We'll see about that. At least we have some help. 

Wrecker: Can someone tell me about what happened to those Gargoyles?! They just turned to stone!

Tech: I'm not quite sure. When I scanned the statue, I found no heartbeat. 

Hunter: Let's just get back to the Marauder. Once nightfall hits, we'll regroup with the Gargoyles and continue our search for the Sword. 

In that moment, the Bad Batch had formed an alliance with the Gargoyles of the Manhattan Clan. What the Bad Batch didn't know was that they had inadvertently attracted the attention to some powerful and dangerous forces.