DC Adventures presents: The Batman, Vol. 1

Issue 9: Countdown, Part 1

In Gotham City, at the top of a building with the address two-hundred on fifty-second street, Deathstroke was arming a bomb. As he was doing so, a masked gunman ran up to him.

“Sir, the police have arrived.”

Deathstroke turned to face him. He was wearing high-density body armor. His face was hidden under a helmet. On its left side, it was orange with a hole for the eye. The right side was black, without any hole. Strapped to his back was a katana. “They’re ahead of schedule.”

“What should we do?”

“Kill them. It will be a mercy that they don’t witness what’s about to happen. However, don’t kill Batman. When he shows up, and I want to have a face-to-face with him.”

On the streets below, the police had gathered. They had the building surrounded. Jim Gordon and Harvey Bullock got out of their car.

“What makes you so sure that this place is so important?” Bullock asked Gordon.

“Call it a hunch.”

“I call it listening to a prank call.”

At that moment, every window on the third floor shattered as a hailstorm of bullets rained down on the police. Gordon and Bullock ducked for cover.

“You call this a prank?!”

Back on the roof, Deathstroke was making the final preparations for the bomb. However, his attention was drawn to the voice of someone telling him, “Stop!” He turned, seeing it was Batman.

“Hello, Batman.”

“Slade, this has to stop.”

“Why? With this bomb, I will wipe Gotham City off the map.”

“You’d kill everyone in the city.”

“Of course. That is what the League of Assassins taught me.”

“They’re just a myth.”

Deathstroke chuckles. “They are more than a myth. It consists of the world’s greatest assassin, lead by the great Ra’s al Ghul. I was once a member.”

“Why did you leave?”

“I was excommunicated. Your skills are impressive. For the year you’ve been active, you have gained quite a reputation. I have been studying with you. You would be a valuable ally.”

“Not interested.”

“What a shame.”

“I should thank you. This talk allowed my drones time to get into position.”

Several drones flew toward the building and used stun ammunition to take each shooter. Jim lead the police inside. Deathstroke noticed and was about to pull a gun out to shoot Batman. However, he froze when he heard the sound of a gun being cocked. Behind him stood Harvey Dent with a pistol pressed against the back of Deathstroke’s head.

Batman tried to persuade him. “Harvey…”

“Don’t, Batman. This is when I get my revenge.” Dent pulled out a coin. Both sides were heads, but one side was scratched out. “Heads you live, tails you die.” He flips the coin, but Deathstroke punched him in the face and broke the arm holding the gun.

Gordon came out of the roof access door in time to see Batman punch Deathstroke in the face. The Commissioner aimed at them both with his sidearm. He shouted, “Freeze!”

Deathstroke looked up, seeing a helicopter fly toward them. Someone in it drops a long rope. As it flies by, Deathstroke grabs on to it and takes off with it. Gordon shoots at him, but he never hits him. Batman goes to the bomb and pulls off a panel. As he worked, Gordon pointed the gun at him.
“I don’t know who or what you are, but you’re under arrest.”

“Commissioner Gordon, I am trying to disable this bomb. If you care about this city, you’ll let me work.” The Commissioner knew that Batman was right, so he put his sidearm away. Soon, Batman successfully defused the explosive and stuck a device to it. “That will scrabble any signals to detonate. I could only disable the countdown trigger. I’d suggest getting people here to dispose of it.” He goes to the ledge.

“What are you going to do?”

“I have to stop Deathstroke.” He jumps off.