Batman: Knight of the Hunt

Issue 8

Predators

"Kanjar Ro, where are you?"

Batman tosses the glowstick down the tunnel ahead. It lands about 15 feet from where they are now. In the little circle of green light, the group can see the tunnel open up into a cavern of some kind. A big one from the look of it. They move forward slowly, weapons ready.

As they step into the light, Green Arrow picks up the glowstick and holds it over his head. They are standing in the mouth of a truly massive cave; the wall on either side of the tunnel entrance continues indefinitely into the darkness. Green Arrow steps forward, trying to see further into the emptiness. He looks up; the ceiling rises up at least 40 feet above them. He looks around again. Kanjar Ro is nowhere to be seen.

He spots something from the corner of his eye. "Back in the tunnel!"

Too late. A bolt from some energy weapon strikes Katana in the chest.

From unseen hiding places and rocky ledges above them, a barrage of laser weapons open fire on them. The cavern is now a disorienting, psychedelic swirl of red flashing light. Bolts of visible energy striking the rocks around the group, some dangerously close. From the volume of fire and the multiple shrieks of glee, Green Arrow guesses there are at least ten attackers.

He dodges behind a bit of rock near the center of the cavern, and fires a quick burst from his rifle at one of the flashes of light. He looks toward the tunnel. There's no way he can get to it through the storm of laser beams around him. Most of the enemy fire is directed toward the mouth of the tunnel itself.

Crouching in the tunnel, Batman presses a bandage against Katana's wound as Deathstroke and Bane return fire with their assault rifles. Robin stands watch further back in the tunnel, hoping nothing comes at them from behind.

From the light of the gunfire only yards away, Batman watches in horror as the dark stain spreads across Tatsu's white t-shirt. Groaning, she lifts her head off the rough stone floor and looks at the wound.

"Well, that doesn't look good," she sighs weakly.

Batman grunts, using his teeth to tear the glove from one hand while keeping the other pressed against her chest. "It's high," he mumbles. "Missed your organs. I think."

He curses silently as the blood keeps flowing, running over his hands and down to the stone beneath. He's been in this place before, with another Yamashiro.

Ripping her shirt open, he wads up a piece of it and forces it into the gaping wound. That's when a flash of light from Deathstroke's rifle reveals something he hadn't noticed before: blood soaking the ground from underneath Katana's back. The blast went straight through.

He looks at her face, pale beneath the mask. She's watching him intently, and forces a smile when he turns to her.

"You couldn't help it," she whispers. "Not now, not before."

He looks away, unable to think of the right thing to say. She knows. She knows what he did, she recognizes him as the Black Ninja.

"I've made peace with my husband's death," she continues. "Lady Shiva told me what it was like to serve Ra's al Ghul." She reaches up to grab Batman's arm. "It was not your fault."

Bane holds his rifle at the hip, hurling bullets into the darkness. It's enough cover for Deathstroke to charge. He lets out a savage roar as he leaps into the cave. Hellfire seems to dance from the muzzle of his gun, and as he runs he tosses hand grenades left and right, into the hiding places of the space pirates. Explosions and a couple screams. He laughs as he drops down beside Green Arrow.