The Midnight Case

Chapter 8 : Don't underestimate

Gotham Merchants Bank

Standing on the rooftops of an apartment building we scanned the bank's building from top to bottom. "All right, let's see what we have here." Christian said, tapping his gauntlet and a holographic map appeared. "GCPD aren't showing up. We're on our own."

"Where's Batman?" Katrina asked.

"Hold on, I have a feed." I said, pulling up the security camera feed from my gauntlet. "Well, Bruce is down. Trapped along with Nightwing and Batwing."

"Huh? Batwing and... Nightwing?" Camilla blurted. "What kind of name is that?"

"You go and ask them." I said. "Suit up everyone. It's time to go." Our suits materialized with a vibranium blue glow and spreads around our body while we locked our weapons on our ultility belt. "Black Alpha." I said, drawing in a breath. "Let's go and take them down."

"On it." Said Camilla.

"I'm born ready." Christian affirmed, displaying his cane-sword.

"Just like Leonidas of Sparta."

"For the people." Katrina swore. "For the greater good." Taking steps backwards we sprinted forward, firing a zipline and flying towards an opened roof panel. Christian landed first, stepping on the broken glass shards as we followed.

"They didn't came alone." He said, closing a deceased guard's eyes. "Must be more than ten."

"Keep your blades sheathed." I said in a whisper. "We're heading into a territory that we doesn't know it's dangers yet."

"Is the shields ready?" Camilla asked, doing a quick check. "There might be innocents trapped in there."

"We follow the boss' orders." Adrian said to Camilla.

"My scans doesn't show dots but we must be careful." I warned. "Down there, the vault." I whispered. Pulling on our hoods we ran downwards silently, down to the vault by the staircase. I heard noises and raised an arm to stop them.

"Now you're trapped and nowhere to go Bat." Said a hoarse voice.

"Move out now." I commanded.

"Why?"

"He has a bomb." Our blood turned icy upon my answer and we slowly backed up the staircase. "Wait at the vantage point first. Observe before attack." Holding our breath we waited as I saw a thug shoving Bruce with a rifle.

"Damn, the weapons are protected with..."

"Vibranium I know. Prepare yourselves." I leapt off, body arching downwards and screamed. Glass crackled and shattered, disorientating the thugs as I landed on one. "Now!" Adrian swings down from the beam, sending an unsuspecting thug flying with a flying kick. Bo extended I blocked the incoming butterfly knife and threw out one towards the one who threw the knife. Turning I ran forwards, sliding past a thug and tripping him with the second bo.

"It's them! Fire!" Then a glint caught my eye from above.

"Take position now!" I yelled. Positioning ourselves in front of them our holographic vibranium shield formed, shielding from the gunfire. Gaze swiping towards the men up top they frantically reloaded. Sharing a nod we used our scream together, sending the thugs flying and dropping from the floor or knocked unconscious. "What happened?" I asked Bruce after the counter-attack.

"It was a set up."

"Lucky that we've got a heads up." I said. "We're not done yet." A grenade rolled in, prompting us to duck and the explosive exploded, sending clouds of ash around the place. As the smoke clears the five of us were surrounded by armed thugs wearing body armors. Drawing our bladed weapons we positioned ourselves with our backs pressed against each others in a circle. Light reflected on the body of my sword, giving out a deadly and warning glow to the assailants. "Take them down." In a heartbeat the first thug fired, the bullet flying towards me.

Swinging my sword downwards the bullet deflected from the blade and small sparks flew. Camilla dashed, throwing out her army knife while Adrian took out a xiphos, punching a man before slashing him in the abdomen. Christian threw his cane-sword while Katrina drew her dagger, slashing efficiently at the thug attacking her but not killing him. Slicing the weapon apart in half I spin kicked the thug and screamed at a bullet flying towards my direction. The bullet ricohetted back to the shooter, hitting him in the shoulder while I positioned myself as a pouncing tiger with a sword.

A thug flew past my head, landing on the thug that pulled his gun out. Camilla smiled at me and we threw out our weapons, each hitting an enemy behind us. But a knife hits me on the shoulder, penetrating the fabric. I screamed out but shuts out the pain and Camilla ran towards me. "Raven!" She screamed when she saw the knife plunging deep into my left shoulder.

"I'm fine." I said, holding her tightly by the arm while shutting out the pain. "Get them now." Her gaze flickered as a gunman appeared then an escrima stick flew past her ear, hitting the thug on he forehead.

"Waiting too long for an attack." Nightwing complained from the back. "That's all of them I think."

"That's good." I staggered, kneeling down in one knee after Camilla reluctantly lets me go.

"She's injured." Said Bruce as he moved past Camilla and caught me before I fell. "Hang on for a while Isa." He whispered. He pulls out the knife and I gritted my teeth in respond. "We'll need to get you to treatment. Can you walk?"

"I'm fine." I said, forcing myself to stand up while still holding my wounded shoulder. "Where to?"

"Clock Tower's nearby. We can call them in but not now."

"It's best we leave now." Adrian said, unsheathing his xiphos. "I don't like the idea of cops seeing us here."

"I'll take Raven with me." Bruce said, his voice stiffening as he helped me up. "The rest of you, head home. We'll reconverge tomorrow for new clues."