Summary:
November 22, 2014: Ozymandias checks in on an old debt… Hawkeye and Oracle get to help….
Burnley - Gotham City
Burnley was once a gleaming gem that signified change and growth of industry; the origin point for Gotham's Uptown Jazz scene back in the 1930s when it was covered in theaters, restaurants and jazz clubs. A place people used to go to escape and get a taste of something new and progressive.
Now Burnley and most of it's connected neighborhoods are horrible poverty stricken slums covered in housing projects and an overshadowing sense of dread and desparation. The Burnley of the 21st Century is comparable to Harlem during it's worst days.
Closer towards Bay Side the separation line of Grand Avenue divides the African American populace from the Hispanic (before the '09 quake there was also a strong Irish population that has since relocated to south Chelsea). This general area, with it's massive amounts of housing complexes is called the Hill. It's a constant source of gang related violence and trouble for the GCPD and just about anyone else.
A noteable landmark here is the small neighborhood of Toxic Acres named as such due to the Kane Chemical Plant meltdown that made the neighborhood uninhabitable. That facility still stands to this day but is now Ace Chemicals.
Characters
NPCs
- None
Mood Music:
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Gotham is not one of Ozymandias's favorite places. He tries to stay away from the place as much as possible, but tonight he has decided to go against his better judgment and venture into the cesspool known as Gotham. What could make him do this? A promise he made to an old jazz band mate that he would always look after his family. Even promises that are over eighty years still hold value to Ozymandias. So that is why he is sitting on a rooftop overlooking a house that has been turned as a makeshift outreach center for young prostitutes trying to escape pimps, women and children escaping abusive husbands, and junkies trying to get clean. It is a beacon of hope in Gotham, and like most beacons of hope in Gotham, someone wants to destroy it.
The owner of the home stands defiant in front of the house as several cars and a van pull up in front of the building. About twenty gang members pour into the street, and stand in front of the house. The leader with a black inked tattoo over his face calls to the man on the porch, "Cletus, I told you dat your house was on our territory, and you got to be out of here tonight. It look like are hard headed. Like my mama said hard head makes for a soft ass. The leader raises his hands, "Boys, light dis fool up.
Before the order can be heard, smoke bombs cover the porch as Ozymandias cover Cletus with his shield.
***
Kate Bishop knows first hand the dangers that shelters can face. She keeps one running in New York. So when she caught wind that there was likely to be trouble at this one, she took a field trip into Gotham. Besides, she needs to track down a certain Robin. Promises to friends and all that. She's arrived just in time to see things start to go to hell, but she came prepared this time, with some new arrow she sniped from Clint. Based on riot-stopping technology, the tips contain a rapidly expanding foam, meant to immobilize the target once it hits. She's found a perch on a nearby rooftop, and is picking out her first target.
***
In the Clocktower, Oracle is doing what she does best… monitoring the streets of Gotham, watching for where trouble breaks out so it can be dealt with. The video feeds and windows of scrolling data on her monitors reflect in her glasses and anyone could be forgiven for thinking the red headed woman was actually sleeping, she's so still in her wheel chair.
One of the video feeds gets her attention… the Vans pulling up out the front, the owner standing firm and then the smoke bombs go off. Oracle sits forward and pulls that window to centre stage and enlarges it, for a better view. Checking who's in the area, Oracle starts a scan for mobile and communication devices, the results will take a few minutes to process. In the meantime, she watches.
***
As the smoke bombs cover the porch, some of the group begin to fire on the porch where they think Cletus once stood. Ozymandias has already pushed Cletus back inside and yells, "Stay down!" The bullets crash through the windows, and bounce off his shield as he reaches for another smoke bomb.
The gang's second in command shouts as he runs for cover, "Fuck, I knew this shit was going to happen. It is the Bats! I am calling for more our boys." He pulls out his smart phone and begins to start calling for more men.
The second's in command absurd declaration that is the Bats does give some of the gang member's pause as some wait to fire. One of the members looks at the second in digust, "Don't be such a b.. His words are cut off as he falls to the ground immobilized by Kate's arrow.
***
"No, just people far less emotionally damaged," Kate snorts to herself at the exclamation that bats are on the scene, firing off another arrow as someone stumbles out of the smoke. She doesn't usually communicate with anyone while she's out in the field, but she's taken to keeping a bluetooth unit in, in the interest of being reachable.
***
The scans of comms devices comes back, Kate Bishops name pops up and Oracle puts out the call. Kates phone should now ring…
Whilst searches and calls are being placed, Oracle has connected to the Emergency Services computer systems and logged calls. Police and Ambulance are despatched, the wail of their sirens can be heard in the distance.
***
This is not one of his better plans. Ozymandias did not have enough time to see if how many of Cletus's people are still in the house, so this makes the matter a bit more dangerous. Ozymandias cannot hear the ambulance and police sirens in the distance, so he makes another encrypted radio call for the ambulance and police. He lets them know to use caution, because there are costume friendlies on the scene.
As another gang member is taking down by a form arrow. The other gang members turned their back to the porch to search for the bowman.
Ozymandias decides to make his move by throwing another smoke bomb by the cars and van. He follows that up with a knock out gas bomb at a group of six gang members. During the confusion, he places his shield on his back and removes his gladius and sicklesword as he jumps on top of the van. "Now, let the battle truly begin." The second in command is still trying to fire his gun and phone calls. While the first in command along with the rest of the gang members have left the protection of the cars and vans are now in wide open.
***
"The smoke bombs are not helping," Kate mutters from her perch, pushing up from her crouch to dash further down the roofline in hopes of getting a better look. The number her bluetooth recites for the call isn't a familiar one, but she picks it up anyhow. "Hello?" she asks as she's running, lining up a shot at another of the stragglers in the back, trying to drive them all toward the center of the smoke.
***
As Kate answers her phone, Oracle detects Ozymandias' radio call. "Kate, this is Oracle, offering assistance. Emergency Services have been notified, you've got approx. 17 minutes till they arrive. I need ears on the ground, you're them. What do you need from me?"
Connecting to Ozymandias' radio takes a few seconds. "This is Oracle. I can see you may need assistance." There's little to do right at the moment, till the responses come back.
***
The first thought that enters Ozymandias' mind is that he really needs to work on a better encryption program for his radio, and the second thought is that assistance would keep him from having to kill someone which he heard is normally frowned upon on Gotham. Ozymandias smirks behind his masks as he answers the voice on his radio, "I did not realize that the voice of Apollo troubled in such mortal affairs, but at the moment I cannot refuse such a request. There is a person shooting arrows around me, if you could make sure that a person does not hit me will be greatly appreciated. Let the person know there is knockout gas on the ground, so stay down wind. I am trying to lead the gang members away from the house.
Ozymandias brings his sicklesword to cut one of the guns in half of one gang member and slams the flat part of the gladius across another gangster's face. Ozymandias says, "Can you make sure the police are routed to the back of the house to help with evacuation?
A gang member that was trying to escape the knock out game is immobolize and stumbles back into gas and causes another another gang member to fall into the gas as well.
***
"Yeah, you could point out that smoke is not a sniper's friend," Kate snorts over the line to Oracle. Apparently Oracle's job now is the throw blame between the two angles of the fight. "Otherwise, I think we're pretty good here. Unless any of them have, like, cybernetic limbs that you can hack into and make them start punching themselves," she adds as she fits another arrow to the string, guarding the boarders of the smoke still. "Is that thing you can do?"
***
Oracle laughs at the two who should be working together and with a few keystrokes, conferences the comms systems "This is Oracle, you're now conferenced to each other. Further introductions can come later… we have a job to do and that requires we work together. Kate, our archer," Oracle adds to ensure they know who is being addressed "the gentleman assisting you tells me there is knockout gas on the ground. Please stay down wind of it." A few more commands are entered on her terminal before she continues "Sir, your name would be helpful, now you two can communicate with each other perhaps less of the smoke bombs will be of benefit. Emergency Services have been routed to the back of the house as requested." Kates question about cybernetic limbs brings a curious look to the red heads face… could she?
***
A part of him once to go into a lecture on how an archer overcomes not the most ideal situations, but he has an overwhelming love for anyone who still uses one of his favorite weapons. He thinks to himself that he really needs to figure out a way to bring more weapons into battle with him, but that thought will have to wait. Ozymandias calls over his radio and says, "My name is Ozymandias. Thank you for your assistance, Kate." Ozymandias scans the street and jumps on the van, "The smoke will dissipate in a few moments. Keep everyone from approaching the house, and I will stop everyone else. Apollo's priestess can let us if more backup arrives. Ozymandias dives back into the fray just as the person that was about to fire on him is taking down by one of Kate's arrow.
***
"Hawkeye in the field," Kate corrects absently, fingering a few of the shafts in her quiver as she tries to decide on her next trick. "I'll try to keep them corralled in the gas, keep them from getting too far out of the circle." She settles on an arrow with a grappling line, shooting it and another like it across the space to literally corral the area off.
***
The sirens from the Emergency Services are now clearly audible to all on the street. "Hawkeye, Ozymandias. Acknowledged. No incoming backup detected and I've got eyes a long way out." All over Gotham in fact. "Emergency Services ETA 7 minutes." Nodding in appreciation at Hawkeyes tactics, Oracle maintains radio silence. These two are talking and the interruption and running commentary will be a distraction.
***
Ozymandas thought Kate was an odd name for a hero, unless it was short for something. Ozymandias has put his weapons away and has decided to get down and dirty as he slams one gangster against the van, and hit a flying knee on another's jaw. Ozymandias watches Hawkeye fire her two lines corralling the gangsters in the near the gas off. Any gangster that was in the gas or close by it are either going to be knock out by the gas or soon will be because of Hawkeye's corralling. Some gangsters begin to retreat to the vehicles in attempt to flee.
As Ozymandias quickly mounts a gangster and lands some quick elbows on the gangster, he speaks to Oracle, "Priestess, can you do anything to prevent these cars from leaving?" There are three gangsters fleeing, and another five that have regain their composure to reload and focus their attention on Ozymandias. The second in command has given up trying to call for back up and is trying to get a bead on Hawkeye's position.
***
"Oh, I can stop cars," Kate grins, trading out for a small explosive arrow and jogging along the roofline again to pick out the perfect spot to snipe tires. "Although if they've got electronic locks, that might be more fun for the Oracle here. How do you resist the urge just to mess with people with those?"
***
As Ozymandias speaks, Oracle is already hacking the vehicles electronic systems "Let's do it together Hawkeye, really let them know they're outclassed. All cars computer systems are about to be disabled" Oracle holds the final command until she sees Hawkeyes arrows fly. "Oh, the answer to your question Hawkeye…. you don't." is added as an afterthought.
***
Shit, I not gettin' arrested here. I am already on parole! Yo we out!" screams one of the gangsters as he tries to open the doors to the car. He looks at the people trying to get into the second car. "My doors aren't working!" The gangster shouts, "Neither are mine. The gangster in the second car smashes the window shield with his fist, causing his hand to bleed on to the seats. When he realizes that all the computer systems in the car are down that is when the arrows land in the tire. If it is not for one of the smarter members of the gang yelling, "Dat can't be good!, the guy is the car would have really been seriously hurt. He and other are just knocked out by bearing near the cars when they exploded.
Ozymandias watches the cars explode and ponders to himself that he should at least bring one small explosive. Ozymandias wrestles the second in command from behind and slams his face into the ground before he take a shot at Kate. As Ozymandias turns around the first in command has his gun trained on him and spits on ground, "Die Bitch!" Ozymandias calmly states, "Make it count."
***
"You are as stubbornly reclusive as the bats, Oracle, but I like your style," Kate grins as Oracle plays her trick with the door locks on the vans. "You know, I am not okay with people who want to beat on-" Before she can finish, though, she hears that strange statement from Ozymandias. Frowning, she works her way along the roofline, drawing out a blunt-tipped arrow as she searches for the reason. "Got your back," she murmurs into the phone, loosing at the man who has a gun on the other hero.
***
Oracle watches from her vantage point in the Clocktower, a grim smile on her lips. The Emergency Services are just around the corner now… "You have incoming Emergency Services. If you don't want to be seen, now would be the time to go." Oracle doesn't know how these two operate. "Reclusive yes Hawkeye, but it gets the job done and keeps though I protect, safe. If you two are in Gotham and work with me again, I'll transmit secure channels to each of you… they'll be yours alone to use."
Sitting back in her chair now the majority of the action has been completed, Oracle relaxes slightly and watches the clean up begin.
***
The arrow finds its mark and knocks the guy on the ground. Ozymandias speaks over the radio as he approaches the fallen gangster, "Even Pharoah Taharqa would have been impressed by that shot." Ozymandias lifts the gangster up with one arm and places his sicklesword underneath his throat. "Cletus is protected. If I hear about any of your gang members even speaking his name, I will come for you and I will kill everyone last one of you. There is no place you will be able to have from me. My reach is that long and it is everlasting." He places the sicklesword close to enough the man's throat that a trickle of blood appears, before flipping the blade to its flat part and smacking his across the temple with it.
"Thank you for your assistance, Hawkeeye. Thank you, Priestess. If you could honor me with one more request. I need an escape route in about 5 minutes. He walks back to the porch of the house to make sure Cletus is all right.
***
"Mad skills," Kate grins in response to Ozymandias, moving away from the edge of the roof as the sirens get closer. "Good working with you, buddy. Take care, Oracle. Hey, if you've got a line to middle Robin, could you let him know I want to talk to him? And also that I'm way more fun than the intervention team, so he should listen to me."
***
"Of course Ozymandias, one escape route coming right up." and Oracle sends the details to him. "Hawkeye, I have a line to middle Robin he is one of those I try to protect. I'll pass the message on but I would like to speak to you privately, later about that. Thank you both for your good work here today. Oracle out." And Oracle closes down the comms to the two in field, even though she watches them through the video feeds.
***
Cletus explains to Ozymandias that he got his people out of here before the fighting stop. Cletus said he didn't want anyone to get hurt. Ozymandias nods to the man and explains that a benefactor will pay for the damages to the house and provide a private security detail from now on.
Ozymandias uses his superspeed and follows the escape route. He needs to figure out a way to modify his encryption program, so he can get in touch with Oracle again if he needs too, but still has his privacy.
As he makes away from Gotham, he looks over his shoulder one more time at the City and shakes his head. "Feckin Gotham."
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