The Midnight Case

Chapter 14 : The Darkest Hour

Our shadows fell and ran along the rooftop as we neared the scene where the explosion has decimated. Sirens of police cars and ambulances cleaved through the night, a symbol of collateral damage caused by the bomb. Reaching the Baxton building our hearts sank to see the devastation. People lying injured on the ground, paramedics doing their job to evacuate with the wounded while the police quickly went into buildings nearby to evacuate the residents. In the center of the blast stood Dimitri Lermentov, as his men started shooting.

The city can now be described as a wreck, cars overturned and buildings in flames. Commissioner James Gordon is already there, dressed in his usual clothing with body armor and commanding his men. Shadows soared and jumped from a black aircraft, landing on the ground and engaged the men shooting. "What now Raven?" Christian asked me.

"They're not prepared, they can get injured easily." I said. "I'll give them a warning shot." Taking out my M82 Barrett sniper rifle I removed the silencer and take a shot in the skies. The sound was loud without amplifiers and the men whirlled to see us on the rooftops.

"It's them, kill them!" The lead mercenary shouted in Cuban-Spanish. Firing a zipline I jumped, making my way down and threw a sonic device. The device sends out a deafening sonic scream, sending the thugs to the ground, covering their ears and dropping their weapons. Landing I drew my sword, preparing as they stood up for the offensive.

"I felt being my grandfather again, fighting in World War II." Christian said after making his landing. "But just dealing with mercs arming with modern weapons."

"Take them down." I commanded. The merc took his first strike, taking a dagger and throwing it towards our direction. Moving in front I blocked the blow, the dagger ricohetting of my arm.

"What the...?" I heard him cursing. Sprinting forward I grabbed his arm and swings it upwards forcibly, fracturing his arm and with a spin kick, sending him crashing into a dumpster. Katrina threw out her rope dart, impaling a merc at the shoulder and whirled, dragging the rope and pulling the merc towards her. With a kick she sent him flying, crashing on top an unmaned police car. Sheathing my sword I sprinted, slashing past the mercs in my way. The sword cuts through their body armor, penetrating their weak points and each dropped to the ground. Marching through the mercs and taking them down I made eye contact with Lermentov and he lets out an evil grin.

"So you figured it out don't you?" He asked, laughing evilly.

"We have you surrounded, surrender and the judge will give you a lighter sentence."

"Of all of you people I thought you are the most cold blooded one."

"You want to see it?" I said, my sword glinting in the dark. "Then you deserve no mercy." Then we fought, blocking each other's blow after blow. Fighting a former KGB agent wasn't always that easy as I have learned the hard way. Blocking his leg with my arms crossed I pushed back and kicked but he blocked the blow while the force sent him sliding backwards. Taking a knife he swiped left and I moved right, right and left, again and again. He swiped me of my feet and brought down the knife but I blocked while kneeling with a knee. He pressed but I pushed back, locked in a stalemate that refused to give an upper-hand to each other.

"You don't lose do you agent?" He asked with a snarl.

"I'm not, not to any evil force." I replied. Taking the opportunity Katrina threw her rope dart and impaled Lermentov in the shoulder. When I saw his injury I pushed back, punching him in the jaw as she retracted her rope dart. But I heard a shot and Lermentov was shot in the head. Holding the body I looked up and saw Jonathan Mace shouldering a sniper rifle.

"Damn, he killed him." Katrina said, examining his body.

"We can't question him like this." I said. "Get a S.H.I.E.L.D. paramedic squad."

"I had him Agent Raven." Jonathan Mace dropped down.

"You killed a wanted man that needed questioning. Are you out of your mind?"

"I was doing my job. Fury told me to shoot to kill."

"Where's the goddamn paramedic team?" I asked with a scowl.

"Isa, I... oh my God." Christian said. "What did you do?"

"He killed him. We need S.H.I.E.L.D. paramedics now."

"Don't move. I won't say it again." We turned and saw dad, now clad in a deep blue combat armor and aiming his gun at his brother. "What the hell happened here agents?"

"I almost got Lermentov but he killed him before we could detain and question him." I reported. "He was the mastermind behind all this."

"And the law enforcement agencies?"

"They're securing the scene as we speak, they have been evacuating the civilians away from here, the danger zone."

"And the vigilante team?"

"They arrived before we attacked the men. I'm not sure where they are."

"A quinjet is heading here to take us to the helicarrier. Agent, arrest him."

"... Yes director." When I took out a pair of handcuffs and cuffed Jonathan Mace he didn't say anything and the quinjet approached.

Insight Helicarrier (Hours later)

Sitting in the briefing room the five of us didn't say a word to one another as dad interrogates his brother in person while I contacted Bruce through the holographic screen on the desk. "I'm sorry Bruce. I didn't tell you my suspicions." I only see him sigh as an answer.

"Since when did you suspected him Isa?"

"I have been. The evidences didn't mount up until now. Still I'm sorry about the collateral damage my team have done to the city. We didn't know that he had detonated a vibranium bomb."

"We have a lot of worst case scenarios that has happened in Gotham before. How did you and your team didn't take any collateral damage?"

"Remember the possibility about a hybrid I told you? We were using the prototype."

"That's impressive." He commented. "There are officers telling Gordon that they have seen supermen and superwomen in battle."

"This hybrid is more stronger than Arctic vibranium. I'll make the deal with you Bruce, tell me where and when."

"Next week?" He suggested. "At the cave?"

"I'll check my schedule." I replied. "Goodbye Bruce."

"Goodbye Isa." He said, ending the transmission. The holographic screen on the desk disappeared and I sat back on the chair. Then the door opened and dad walked in.

"Dad, what did he say?" I asked.

"Fury was right all along." He said. "He was undercover the entire time of his supposed death."

"So, you trust him?"

"Only time will tell." He merely replied.