Post by Batman (Bruce Wayne) on Nov 13, 2013 17:38:27 GMT -5
#? The Sword of Azrael
Story By: Batman
Heroes: Batman, Azrael, Alfred Pennyworth
Villains: Biis, Nomez, Carleton LeHah
Plot: The death of a mysterious man leads Batman on the adventure of discovering a secret society with an avatar who's vigilance must be put to an end.
The Fallen Angel - "It is by suffering that human beings become angels."
'It was glorious to see watch and see you grow. You became a stronger man than what I could imagine. You succeeded in academics, a level of intelligence and genius worthy of my bloodline.'
It was October, the War Games had passed, Gotham had settled on its ruling Crime Lord. Where old names died, new ones merged and risen from the ashes. An ocean of deep water blanketed the sky with a submerged moon gazing down upon the city. A soft October breeze whistled as a Carleton LeHah sat in a crimson chair secured of his nudity by a maroon robe that did well to conceal his heavyset body type. A powerful flame danced only seven feet from his chair. a transparent glass door allowed his crystal glowing eyes to gaze towards an empty outdoor swimming pool on the 6th floor of his home. Almost immediately next to his building was a neighboring apartment smaller than his own building, with a clear visual shot of Wayne Enterprises just two miles out.
He flies with the night, crimson wings protruding from his back shaped and sculpting around his frame like a bird of prey, but he is much worse than any talon. A red hood, yellow flames surrounded the elbows and wrists of him. A suit of Kevlar molded and shaped with a tabard with a bloody red cross upon his chest. He draws his sword and prepares to strike. 'You've always known that there was more for you in this life than that of an average man.' His white chest makes for the perfect target. He wants them to shoot him there, the strongest point of his armor, impenetrable by most.
He is divine and powerful he slides open the glass door and approaches Carleton LeHah. "The Order of St. Dumas sends their regards!" His target raises a pistol by doesn't fire, instinctively he prepares for the final strike with his sword; a blade of divine origin, feathers of gold form a hand guard,, fire breathes from its thirsty blade. He will deliver vengeance, death, and serve a greater good. Lehah grins and speaks to him, a taunting tone of cockiness. "You and your order are done for..." He responds with courage and fearlessness. "Do you think your mortal weapons can harm one such as I? I AM AZRA--" He swipes his blade while shots scream through the air.
Blood flies through the air, he's surprised for once and only for a minute as it is, for once, not his victims. He stumbles to the ground grasping at his sword as five holes within his chest as a bourbon river leaked from him. Carleton grinned and approached. "It would seem my gun works just fine. All I need now is one more right between the eyes and--..." He doesn't forget his training, he doesn't lose ground and swings that searing blade that mangles Carleton's left side forcing the man into a tuck and curl across the room. "PATRICK!! RYAN!!" The screams don't faze him, but the thunderous roar of double wooden doors breaking open doesn't. He forces himself push off the ground and race out the balcony. He barely hears the shout "Kill him!" from behind, as his single hand thrusts his body over the fence, a song of bullets crackle the stone fence behind him.
'I prepared you for this day, when my time was done, you would be there, ready to complete the mission I could not.' He falls towards a parade of people cheering and screaming the ending of the Halloween celebration. He reaches out for a hand, someone save him from his descent. He grips onto a banner, his weight and momentum doesn't cease rather it slows allowing for him to kick off the wall and land upon a moving truck. He leaps from it, a crowd of people panic seeing the angel falling from the skies now leaping above. Once pearly white tabard began to transform into a thick clot of red, his symbol of a red cross no longer defined. He shuffles through back alleys, clinging to his sword before dropping at his door.
"I have failed. You must do as I have told you, my son."
"N-no! Father, let me call the hospital! They can save you, they can-..." He is young, handsome with flowing blonde hair, unlike his father's short scalp trimmed blonde shave. He removed the outfit, but somewhere in the alley's other pieces must've been lost too. His fathers eyes were once fearless and strong, unlike Jean Paul's, innocent and holding back tears that were beginning to form. Behind circular glasses his hand held to his father, the only blood whom he shared in this world.
"No! Do as I told you. Do as I-..." He gags as his lungs fill with his own blood, poisoning himself from the inside. He begins to chant and I listen. "Spirit...le-leave me. T-take...take my son...and he-will be your new...new vessel. I...have failed you..." With a whisper he gargles his own blood as it seeps from the folds of his lips as those blue eyes near set themselves upon his son within those last moments. Ashamed of his defeat.
They came and took him away, two mysterious men who he had never seen before. The sorrow upon his face, he went to retrieve the box that would reveal to have $50,000 and for forty different countries. Instructions as to his next step after calling the mysterious men. His journey lead him to Switzerland where, within the forest of white blanketed pine trees he would tread. Stopping just moments before reaching hunters lodge.
The stair case echoed the footsteps as Alfred Pennyworth followed the leading man of a tall dark figure. "An angel falling from the sky in a fiery blaze. Perhaps a biblical message for all of us to cease putting off the inevitable." "The mysterious angel that fell from the sky was a man succumbing to wounds, Alfred. He caused a mass panic during the celebration, thankfully no one has been killed. Regardless I need to find out what happened and who's behind it." Bruce Wayne took off his shirt revealing a black skin tight shirt underneath it that was form fitting. He entered into the armory and began suitting up into his armor. Alfred stood nearby speaking.
"No doubt, the GCPD have a record of evidence uploaded to their computer database." Batman stepped out of the armory and approached towards the Batcomputer, sitting down he opened the GCPD files revealing a bloody bulletproof vest penetrated by 5 bullets. "It would seem you were correct in your assumptions of an injured suspect but, I do not believe a body was recovered sir." "That's a reinforced Kevlar vest, the only type of bullet would be a metal jacket coated bullet. They're relatively outdated these days and not many manufacture such..." Alfred would stroke his chin curiously. "Hmm...I suppose this is an instance where we encounter a one in a hundred..." "Carleton LeHah, a new face in Gotham, almost nothing is known about him other than he surfaced after the War Games. He specializes in illegal weapons and ammunition. According to my sources, LeHah's hideout is directly where the angel was seen falling."
"Well done sir, but now what?" "We find the victim. Look at those shots...The victim's willpower and strength must've helped him flee the scene. In any case...we're not dealing with an ordinary man. One with a mission and a purpose..."
It minutes Batman was landing upon the balcony, moving towards the glass door Batman placed his hand against the glass and took notice. "Ace, the glass on this mirror has been replaced...as though it had been broken. If this is the scene of the crime, there will be evidence somewhere." Batman moved towards the stone fence of the balcony and leaned down towards the ground, brushing his gloves along stone until it found a chipped segment, he tapped his helmet activating the detective vision allowing it to highlight a brass jacket of the teflon coated bullets. "I found it. As I suspected, a brass shell casing." "Very good sir. Never doubted you for a moment." Batman approached the glass door and pulled out a Batbug and placed it in a hidden location before leaping from the balcony towards the police barriers below.
Landing Batman spoke "Ace, I found a trace of blood, most likely the victims trail. Calibrating the cowls vision to follow the trail." A targeting box of a ghostly white locked onto the DNA and became highlighted as Batman looked around the area, surveying everything. He followed the trail into the alleys where Batman felt them twisting and winding when he stopped at the end of the blood trail. He looked around the alley and then approached a cellar door. 'A new lock is on this, someone has been through here recently.' Pulling out his lock picking kit Batman would open the lock easily and then open the cellar to see the trail of blood leading to a door.
He is taken to a man within the mountains of Switzerland. Dressed in a snow coat Jean Paul follows the man towards a logged cabin where he meets with a dwarf, Nomez is his name. "Hyeh-You have come...Lets see if your father did his job with you hyeh-better than his last assignment..." He feels anger pooling within him. "My father died honorably. He believed in what he was doing." "He did not believe enough-hyeh. Azrael and St. Dumas were disappointed-hyeh, in him clearly. No matter, you are to be the next Azrael...We must hurry and prepare you to complete your father's assignment."
In minutes Jean Paul faces a crucible of challenges though the physical pain of a large man punching him in the face is laboring, his intelligence struggles and battles with images dormant within his mind. A decisive strike to his face disarms Jean Paul of his glasses causing them to clatter across the floor. "What is wrong with you? Hyeh-what a disappointment...Your father must've-hyeh failed you too..." Blue eyes begin to burn and with a sear of vengeance he feels a barrier breaking, a wall of instincts flow through him. Another large fist swings towards him, but his face does not prepare for a blow as it tenses out of reflex. His bare hand catches the hulking man's fist and with strength unknown to him, he swings the 7'0" man into the wall behind him. His muscles burn as the dwarf is left with satisfaction that his guard had been bested.
The Dark Knight enters the cellar to find only a sword with a golden hilt guard, its handle made of red with a golden crescent circle on its bottom. White lens narrow upon the crest, nothing like Batman had ever seen before. The Dark Knight would return to his cavern within the hills of Gotham where he would review the information. His humble squire standing nearby next to the laboratory computer. "The outfit in which many have claimed to have seen resembles that of the Knights Templar, though they are thought to have been all but extinct. Perhaps another vigilante seeking to dawn a new crusade." Batman's gaze analyzed the bullets from the crime scene. "As I expected, Teflon coated bullets found at the crime scene indicate that a fight broke out at LeHah's place." "If that's true, perhaps to avoid suspicion."
The communication within Batman's helmet set off a ring. "Batman, I finished searching for that symbol...It wasn't easy--...when do you ever give me something easy to do?--Don't answer that. It belongs to a brother organization of the Knights Templar known as The Order of St. Dumas. Dumas was allegedly a Knights Templar who disagreed with their means and sought out a means of creating more profit by becoming assassins. Or so that's the tail..." Batman listened as he approached the Bat computer, looking at the screen full of information Oracle had found. "Have you found anyplace I can start to look--..." "Yes, Switzerland. There's a single bank account with an address out in the middle of no where. Do you want me to get--Robin..." "No. Its a school night, I'll deal with it, besides...Bruce Wayne needs to check a few investments in Europe anyway."
Batman began walking into the armory as Alfred followed behind. "Sir, if the Batman were to venture out into the unknown whilst jumping in league with a mysterious organization of assassins, perhaps its best if someone were to watch your back. Someone less threatening to the eye than one would suspect." Batman took off his cowl and cape to look at Alfred. "What do you mean?" "Perhaps I could accompany you, if you'll have me." Bruce Wayne looked at the wall for a moment and smiled. "Your company will be appreciated, Alfred."
He walks upon hills of snow dressed in a suit that once was his fathers, torn and damaged of his fathers wounds. A tunic and tabard once drenched in blood now cleaned, carrying a sword in hand he marches on with weight that isn't his own. "What was my fathers assignment?" Nomez would cringe at the young avatar, the new bearer of Azrael "Azrael does not ask so many questions. Azrael avenges, Azrael serves Dumas." His thirst for knowledge isn't sated. "No, well...maybe Azrael doesn't. But I need to know--" "Quiet!" The dwarfs hand grabbed Azrael's chest pulling him down to a height of five feet."Do you hear that?" He listens and with hearing never before experienced he could listen to the crunching of snow beneath a deer's hooves, certainly he could hear the sound of metal propellers spinning rapidly while carrying a cage of metal.
A human transport; a helicopter, drifted into the valley casting its vision over trees trimmed and sculpted into the shape of a crescent found on Azrael's sword. The very center sat a log cabin. "A helicopter-hyeh...There are supposed to be any helicopters here...Come!" Nomez grabbed him, tugging him through the snow towards the log cabin for shelter.
"I would say this must be the place, sir..." Alfred spoke into the microphone within his headset, his gloved hands occupied by maps and GPS devices. Bruce Wayne's eyes were concealed behind aviator glasses, gracefully examining the field where a log cabin resided in the very center, isolated and alone. "This place is particularly isolated. If they didn't know we're here, they should by now." Meanwhile...They settled upon a mountain ledge staring down upon the log cabin. "Alright sir. The tactical missile is ready." LeHah sat within the small cargo space of a helicopter, hidden amongst brush. He stood up and approached an assembled miniature missile launcher. "Excellent."
"My god--sir! Look out!" Alfred's heart lept into his throat as a stream of magma colored flames streaked across the pearly ocean of snow flying towards the log cabin. A large explosion erupted and Bruce adjusted his course. "Alfred, I see a ledge upon that hill, I'll set her down there. We can check for survivors."
"Watch out!" With speed unknown to him he pushes Nomez into the snow, Jean Paul feels his body struck by a shockwave of kinetic energy as a missile blew apart the cabin creating a crator within the valley. Nomez peaks through the space between himself and Azrael. "Hurry! We must hurry!" Azrael stood up and looked at Nomez. "Hurry to what? The base is demolished..." "Hyeh-Have you learned nothing? The Order of St. Dumas has not survived centuries without methods." They would return to the crater to see a large metal door slightly exposed. Upon entering Azrael finds himself within a bunker and armory. The ground begins to shake and tremors upon the compound cause the shelves to rattle with objects. Nomez grumbles "hyeh--Hold on to, something!" Azrael's hands grasped a door frame. "The rocket must've set off something--..."
...On the hill side LeHah and Patrick felt the ground trembling. "An Avalanche! Get in!" the helicopters engines revved and within seconds the vehicle took off just as the snow smashed the missile launcher, however Patrick would struggle with the controls as a shockwave of wind blasted the helicopter forcing it towards a tree. "We're going down!" the tail end smashed causing the helicopter to spin towards the ground before barrel rolling away.
"Master Bruce!" Alfred exclaimed as he pointed towards the mountains where a typhoon of snow raced down the peaks of mountains. Bruce growled and lept into the helicopter seat. "Get in Alfred!" The ground shook as the helicopter blades began spinning. "Hold on to something!" Bruce's teeth clutched against each other as he pulled away, Alfred buckled himself into his chair and gripped the ceiling of the helicopter for support. The lifting up a river of snow washed underneath the helicopter barely enough to clear it, but a boulder would surface from the snow and smash into the tail rotor causing the helicopter to stall and spin slowly.
"Sir! Sir! Sir!!!" Where the last words Bruce heard as the helicopter smashed into the side of the mountain, plopping down in wreckage. Bruce woke up only a few minutes after the crash, his gaze shifted around before seeing Alfred lying unconscious next to him, safely in his seat. "Al-Alfred." Bruce spoke softly, reaching to his friend's shoulder to wake him. "We made it through the avalanche." "Ohh...Thank Heaven." Alfred unbuckled and stepped out into the snow. Bruce went to the back of the helicopter and began shifting through the supplies in order to make snow shoes, assembling them both for Alfred and himself the pair would find themselves salvaging what they could from the helicopter.
"Master Bruce, I don't think we can last long with the supplies we have..." "I know, Alfred. That's why we should find out what was in that cabin." Alfred would shiver causing Bruce to frown. "Are you alright?" "I-I am just a little chilly, sir. God willing, you can handle being struck by knives I can handle a little bit of cold weather." Bruce took off his jacket and wrapped it around Alfred. "Here, put my coat on. It will help you keep warm." "But, sir. You will--..." "No, I have another suit Alfred and a job to do." Bruce pulled apart his shirt revealing a yellow bat symbol underneath it. Reaching to the back of his head he pulled over a cloth cowl. "This suit is insulated and has internal batteries for warmth. I'll be fine."
LeHah sat by the helicopter as Patrick stumbled through the snow. "Sir, there's a village not far from here. We can make it before night if we get moving." He stares as the whispers of evil seep into him. "Yes...You-you...are Biis? I-I have you to thank for sparing me? No, no! I would be honored to serve you my Demon Lord...What is it that you want me to do?" Patrick furrowed his eyebrows. "Boss, are you okay? Talking about Demon Lords and--..." Carleton LeHah reached forward to grasp each side of Patrick's face before twisting the man's head to release a bubbly crackle from his neck dropping the man into a limp state. "Yes, my lord...I will kill the remaining members of St. Dumas and then I will kill Azrael!"
Nomez and Azrael had assembled the supplies needed and arrived in the hanger bay where a hover craft sat in waiting. Nomez prepared to pilot the vessel as Azrael carried the supplies. "Hurry-hyeh...We must seek out the others. Your father's failure could ruin everything!" Azrael narrowed his eyes upon Nomez. "You keep saying that my father is to blame for all of this and yet you still have not told me what he has done!" "Shush! Azrael does not need to understand." "I DO if I am to protect you!" "Hyeh-Azrael doesn't not protect. He is vengeance. He is death." The doors above would push the snow aside and a lift would raise the hovercraft to the surface where it would prepare for take off.
Batman and Alfred trekked through the snow to arrive at the crater. "It would appear there's nothing left except..." Batman's eyes would widen. "An underground bunker. Why am I surprised?" "Perhaps the Order of St. Dumas hasn't been extinct much like their brothers." "No, but what could the Order want with LeHah?" "I think we may find out soon enough sir!" Alfred pointed towards an opening within the snow revealing a hover craft of sophisticated technology. Alfred backed away from it as the aircraft's engines caused wind to throw Batman's cape into the air. Arming his grappling hook Batman studied the aircraft and the two inhabitants of its cockpit.
"Hyeh-Who are they?" Azrael's gaze shifted from Nomez to the Dark Knight and then his hand opened the cockpit. Nomez's redish eyes glared upon Batman and instructed. "They are intruders! They want our secrets." Azrael lept from the Hovercraft allowing his crimson cape to flow like a river of blood behind him as he landed in the snow to stand face to face with Batman. Reaching to his side Azrael drew upon his burning blade, its design with a gold hilt guard, a red handle and flames upon its blade. The outfit he wore damaged with holes from gunshots. Azrael's eyes filled with passion and anger. "You do not belong here!" Azrael dropped the sword's blade upon the Dark Knight slashing towards his right shoulder with a cross-cut.
Narrowing his eyes equally, Batman watched the blade drop and dodged to the side. "You don't have Snow shoes...The advantage is in my favor!" The Dark Knight examined the blade, remembering its design and purpose. Angelic in appearance and its intimidating factor was very convincing to be the work of a divine or celestial body, but he was a detective and everything was deductible by science and reason. Batman pulled off his cape and held it in front of himself preparing to be attacked again by the sword. "Put down the sword before I make you put it down!"
The threat did not come well to him. He feels the blood of an angel surge through him and with conviction his sword jabs at the Dark Knight's abs behind a pathetic piece of cloth. The burning blade should've seared through the Dark Knight's cape if it were not fire resistant. Azrael would be prepared to deliver a power punch towards Batman's face should his sword strike fail, taking up a defensive posture with his fists in order to counter an incoming attack from the caped crusader. Allowing Batman to feel an incredible amount of power behind Azrael's fist.
The sword came towards him as the Dark Knight planned, his cape whipped around the blade and swiftly used the momentum of the jab to swing the blade away, the ends of the cape gave Batman full reign and control of Azrael's sword and with Batman's arms he yanked the blade along with his cape to throw them both a great distance away from the fight. "Lets see what you can do without your sword." Batman raised his fists before a single punch from Azrael struck and gave Batman an idea of how hard the man could strike. "That's the first and last hit you get." Batman would deliver a punch towards Azrael's ribcage, while he body ducked underneath Azrael to avoid being struck by any incoming punches.
Story By: Batman
Heroes: Batman, Azrael, Alfred Pennyworth
Villains: Biis, Nomez, Carleton LeHah
Plot: The death of a mysterious man leads Batman on the adventure of discovering a secret society with an avatar who's vigilance must be put to an end.
The Fallen Angel - "It is by suffering that human beings become angels."
'It was glorious to see watch and see you grow. You became a stronger man than what I could imagine. You succeeded in academics, a level of intelligence and genius worthy of my bloodline.'
It was October, the War Games had passed, Gotham had settled on its ruling Crime Lord. Where old names died, new ones merged and risen from the ashes. An ocean of deep water blanketed the sky with a submerged moon gazing down upon the city. A soft October breeze whistled as a Carleton LeHah sat in a crimson chair secured of his nudity by a maroon robe that did well to conceal his heavyset body type. A powerful flame danced only seven feet from his chair. a transparent glass door allowed his crystal glowing eyes to gaze towards an empty outdoor swimming pool on the 6th floor of his home. Almost immediately next to his building was a neighboring apartment smaller than his own building, with a clear visual shot of Wayne Enterprises just two miles out.
He flies with the night, crimson wings protruding from his back shaped and sculpting around his frame like a bird of prey, but he is much worse than any talon. A red hood, yellow flames surrounded the elbows and wrists of him. A suit of Kevlar molded and shaped with a tabard with a bloody red cross upon his chest. He draws his sword and prepares to strike. 'You've always known that there was more for you in this life than that of an average man.' His white chest makes for the perfect target. He wants them to shoot him there, the strongest point of his armor, impenetrable by most.
He is divine and powerful he slides open the glass door and approaches Carleton LeHah. "The Order of St. Dumas sends their regards!" His target raises a pistol by doesn't fire, instinctively he prepares for the final strike with his sword; a blade of divine origin, feathers of gold form a hand guard,, fire breathes from its thirsty blade. He will deliver vengeance, death, and serve a greater good. Lehah grins and speaks to him, a taunting tone of cockiness. "You and your order are done for..." He responds with courage and fearlessness. "Do you think your mortal weapons can harm one such as I? I AM AZRA--" He swipes his blade while shots scream through the air.
Blood flies through the air, he's surprised for once and only for a minute as it is, for once, not his victims. He stumbles to the ground grasping at his sword as five holes within his chest as a bourbon river leaked from him. Carleton grinned and approached. "It would seem my gun works just fine. All I need now is one more right between the eyes and--..." He doesn't forget his training, he doesn't lose ground and swings that searing blade that mangles Carleton's left side forcing the man into a tuck and curl across the room. "PATRICK!! RYAN!!" The screams don't faze him, but the thunderous roar of double wooden doors breaking open doesn't. He forces himself push off the ground and race out the balcony. He barely hears the shout "Kill him!" from behind, as his single hand thrusts his body over the fence, a song of bullets crackle the stone fence behind him.
'I prepared you for this day, when my time was done, you would be there, ready to complete the mission I could not.' He falls towards a parade of people cheering and screaming the ending of the Halloween celebration. He reaches out for a hand, someone save him from his descent. He grips onto a banner, his weight and momentum doesn't cease rather it slows allowing for him to kick off the wall and land upon a moving truck. He leaps from it, a crowd of people panic seeing the angel falling from the skies now leaping above. Once pearly white tabard began to transform into a thick clot of red, his symbol of a red cross no longer defined. He shuffles through back alleys, clinging to his sword before dropping at his door.
"I have failed. You must do as I have told you, my son."
"N-no! Father, let me call the hospital! They can save you, they can-..." He is young, handsome with flowing blonde hair, unlike his father's short scalp trimmed blonde shave. He removed the outfit, but somewhere in the alley's other pieces must've been lost too. His fathers eyes were once fearless and strong, unlike Jean Paul's, innocent and holding back tears that were beginning to form. Behind circular glasses his hand held to his father, the only blood whom he shared in this world.
"No! Do as I told you. Do as I-..." He gags as his lungs fill with his own blood, poisoning himself from the inside. He begins to chant and I listen. "Spirit...le-leave me. T-take...take my son...and he-will be your new...new vessel. I...have failed you..." With a whisper he gargles his own blood as it seeps from the folds of his lips as those blue eyes near set themselves upon his son within those last moments. Ashamed of his defeat.
They came and took him away, two mysterious men who he had never seen before. The sorrow upon his face, he went to retrieve the box that would reveal to have $50,000 and for forty different countries. Instructions as to his next step after calling the mysterious men. His journey lead him to Switzerland where, within the forest of white blanketed pine trees he would tread. Stopping just moments before reaching hunters lodge.
The stair case echoed the footsteps as Alfred Pennyworth followed the leading man of a tall dark figure. "An angel falling from the sky in a fiery blaze. Perhaps a biblical message for all of us to cease putting off the inevitable." "The mysterious angel that fell from the sky was a man succumbing to wounds, Alfred. He caused a mass panic during the celebration, thankfully no one has been killed. Regardless I need to find out what happened and who's behind it." Bruce Wayne took off his shirt revealing a black skin tight shirt underneath it that was form fitting. He entered into the armory and began suitting up into his armor. Alfred stood nearby speaking.
"No doubt, the GCPD have a record of evidence uploaded to their computer database." Batman stepped out of the armory and approached towards the Batcomputer, sitting down he opened the GCPD files revealing a bloody bulletproof vest penetrated by 5 bullets. "It would seem you were correct in your assumptions of an injured suspect but, I do not believe a body was recovered sir." "That's a reinforced Kevlar vest, the only type of bullet would be a metal jacket coated bullet. They're relatively outdated these days and not many manufacture such..." Alfred would stroke his chin curiously. "Hmm...I suppose this is an instance where we encounter a one in a hundred..." "Carleton LeHah, a new face in Gotham, almost nothing is known about him other than he surfaced after the War Games. He specializes in illegal weapons and ammunition. According to my sources, LeHah's hideout is directly where the angel was seen falling."
"Well done sir, but now what?" "We find the victim. Look at those shots...The victim's willpower and strength must've helped him flee the scene. In any case...we're not dealing with an ordinary man. One with a mission and a purpose..."
It minutes Batman was landing upon the balcony, moving towards the glass door Batman placed his hand against the glass and took notice. "Ace, the glass on this mirror has been replaced...as though it had been broken. If this is the scene of the crime, there will be evidence somewhere." Batman moved towards the stone fence of the balcony and leaned down towards the ground, brushing his gloves along stone until it found a chipped segment, he tapped his helmet activating the detective vision allowing it to highlight a brass jacket of the teflon coated bullets. "I found it. As I suspected, a brass shell casing." "Very good sir. Never doubted you for a moment." Batman approached the glass door and pulled out a Batbug and placed it in a hidden location before leaping from the balcony towards the police barriers below.
Landing Batman spoke "Ace, I found a trace of blood, most likely the victims trail. Calibrating the cowls vision to follow the trail." A targeting box of a ghostly white locked onto the DNA and became highlighted as Batman looked around the area, surveying everything. He followed the trail into the alleys where Batman felt them twisting and winding when he stopped at the end of the blood trail. He looked around the alley and then approached a cellar door. 'A new lock is on this, someone has been through here recently.' Pulling out his lock picking kit Batman would open the lock easily and then open the cellar to see the trail of blood leading to a door.
He is taken to a man within the mountains of Switzerland. Dressed in a snow coat Jean Paul follows the man towards a logged cabin where he meets with a dwarf, Nomez is his name. "Hyeh-You have come...Lets see if your father did his job with you hyeh-better than his last assignment..." He feels anger pooling within him. "My father died honorably. He believed in what he was doing." "He did not believe enough-hyeh. Azrael and St. Dumas were disappointed-hyeh, in him clearly. No matter, you are to be the next Azrael...We must hurry and prepare you to complete your father's assignment."
In minutes Jean Paul faces a crucible of challenges though the physical pain of a large man punching him in the face is laboring, his intelligence struggles and battles with images dormant within his mind. A decisive strike to his face disarms Jean Paul of his glasses causing them to clatter across the floor. "What is wrong with you? Hyeh-what a disappointment...Your father must've-hyeh failed you too..." Blue eyes begin to burn and with a sear of vengeance he feels a barrier breaking, a wall of instincts flow through him. Another large fist swings towards him, but his face does not prepare for a blow as it tenses out of reflex. His bare hand catches the hulking man's fist and with strength unknown to him, he swings the 7'0" man into the wall behind him. His muscles burn as the dwarf is left with satisfaction that his guard had been bested.
The Dark Knight enters the cellar to find only a sword with a golden hilt guard, its handle made of red with a golden crescent circle on its bottom. White lens narrow upon the crest, nothing like Batman had ever seen before. The Dark Knight would return to his cavern within the hills of Gotham where he would review the information. His humble squire standing nearby next to the laboratory computer. "The outfit in which many have claimed to have seen resembles that of the Knights Templar, though they are thought to have been all but extinct. Perhaps another vigilante seeking to dawn a new crusade." Batman's gaze analyzed the bullets from the crime scene. "As I expected, Teflon coated bullets found at the crime scene indicate that a fight broke out at LeHah's place." "If that's true, perhaps to avoid suspicion."
The communication within Batman's helmet set off a ring. "Batman, I finished searching for that symbol...It wasn't easy--...when do you ever give me something easy to do?--Don't answer that. It belongs to a brother organization of the Knights Templar known as The Order of St. Dumas. Dumas was allegedly a Knights Templar who disagreed with their means and sought out a means of creating more profit by becoming assassins. Or so that's the tail..." Batman listened as he approached the Bat computer, looking at the screen full of information Oracle had found. "Have you found anyplace I can start to look--..." "Yes, Switzerland. There's a single bank account with an address out in the middle of no where. Do you want me to get--Robin..." "No. Its a school night, I'll deal with it, besides...Bruce Wayne needs to check a few investments in Europe anyway."
Batman began walking into the armory as Alfred followed behind. "Sir, if the Batman were to venture out into the unknown whilst jumping in league with a mysterious organization of assassins, perhaps its best if someone were to watch your back. Someone less threatening to the eye than one would suspect." Batman took off his cowl and cape to look at Alfred. "What do you mean?" "Perhaps I could accompany you, if you'll have me." Bruce Wayne looked at the wall for a moment and smiled. "Your company will be appreciated, Alfred."
He walks upon hills of snow dressed in a suit that once was his fathers, torn and damaged of his fathers wounds. A tunic and tabard once drenched in blood now cleaned, carrying a sword in hand he marches on with weight that isn't his own. "What was my fathers assignment?" Nomez would cringe at the young avatar, the new bearer of Azrael "Azrael does not ask so many questions. Azrael avenges, Azrael serves Dumas." His thirst for knowledge isn't sated. "No, well...maybe Azrael doesn't. But I need to know--" "Quiet!" The dwarfs hand grabbed Azrael's chest pulling him down to a height of five feet."Do you hear that?" He listens and with hearing never before experienced he could listen to the crunching of snow beneath a deer's hooves, certainly he could hear the sound of metal propellers spinning rapidly while carrying a cage of metal.
A human transport; a helicopter, drifted into the valley casting its vision over trees trimmed and sculpted into the shape of a crescent found on Azrael's sword. The very center sat a log cabin. "A helicopter-hyeh...There are supposed to be any helicopters here...Come!" Nomez grabbed him, tugging him through the snow towards the log cabin for shelter.
"I would say this must be the place, sir..." Alfred spoke into the microphone within his headset, his gloved hands occupied by maps and GPS devices. Bruce Wayne's eyes were concealed behind aviator glasses, gracefully examining the field where a log cabin resided in the very center, isolated and alone. "This place is particularly isolated. If they didn't know we're here, they should by now." Meanwhile...They settled upon a mountain ledge staring down upon the log cabin. "Alright sir. The tactical missile is ready." LeHah sat within the small cargo space of a helicopter, hidden amongst brush. He stood up and approached an assembled miniature missile launcher. "Excellent."
"My god--sir! Look out!" Alfred's heart lept into his throat as a stream of magma colored flames streaked across the pearly ocean of snow flying towards the log cabin. A large explosion erupted and Bruce adjusted his course. "Alfred, I see a ledge upon that hill, I'll set her down there. We can check for survivors."
"Watch out!" With speed unknown to him he pushes Nomez into the snow, Jean Paul feels his body struck by a shockwave of kinetic energy as a missile blew apart the cabin creating a crator within the valley. Nomez peaks through the space between himself and Azrael. "Hurry! We must hurry!" Azrael stood up and looked at Nomez. "Hurry to what? The base is demolished..." "Hyeh-Have you learned nothing? The Order of St. Dumas has not survived centuries without methods." They would return to the crater to see a large metal door slightly exposed. Upon entering Azrael finds himself within a bunker and armory. The ground begins to shake and tremors upon the compound cause the shelves to rattle with objects. Nomez grumbles "hyeh--Hold on to, something!" Azrael's hands grasped a door frame. "The rocket must've set off something--..."
...On the hill side LeHah and Patrick felt the ground trembling. "An Avalanche! Get in!" the helicopters engines revved and within seconds the vehicle took off just as the snow smashed the missile launcher, however Patrick would struggle with the controls as a shockwave of wind blasted the helicopter forcing it towards a tree. "We're going down!" the tail end smashed causing the helicopter to spin towards the ground before barrel rolling away.
"Master Bruce!" Alfred exclaimed as he pointed towards the mountains where a typhoon of snow raced down the peaks of mountains. Bruce growled and lept into the helicopter seat. "Get in Alfred!" The ground shook as the helicopter blades began spinning. "Hold on to something!" Bruce's teeth clutched against each other as he pulled away, Alfred buckled himself into his chair and gripped the ceiling of the helicopter for support. The lifting up a river of snow washed underneath the helicopter barely enough to clear it, but a boulder would surface from the snow and smash into the tail rotor causing the helicopter to stall and spin slowly.
"Sir! Sir! Sir!!!" Where the last words Bruce heard as the helicopter smashed into the side of the mountain, plopping down in wreckage. Bruce woke up only a few minutes after the crash, his gaze shifted around before seeing Alfred lying unconscious next to him, safely in his seat. "Al-Alfred." Bruce spoke softly, reaching to his friend's shoulder to wake him. "We made it through the avalanche." "Ohh...Thank Heaven." Alfred unbuckled and stepped out into the snow. Bruce went to the back of the helicopter and began shifting through the supplies in order to make snow shoes, assembling them both for Alfred and himself the pair would find themselves salvaging what they could from the helicopter.
"Master Bruce, I don't think we can last long with the supplies we have..." "I know, Alfred. That's why we should find out what was in that cabin." Alfred would shiver causing Bruce to frown. "Are you alright?" "I-I am just a little chilly, sir. God willing, you can handle being struck by knives I can handle a little bit of cold weather." Bruce took off his jacket and wrapped it around Alfred. "Here, put my coat on. It will help you keep warm." "But, sir. You will--..." "No, I have another suit Alfred and a job to do." Bruce pulled apart his shirt revealing a yellow bat symbol underneath it. Reaching to the back of his head he pulled over a cloth cowl. "This suit is insulated and has internal batteries for warmth. I'll be fine."
LeHah sat by the helicopter as Patrick stumbled through the snow. "Sir, there's a village not far from here. We can make it before night if we get moving." He stares as the whispers of evil seep into him. "Yes...You-you...are Biis? I-I have you to thank for sparing me? No, no! I would be honored to serve you my Demon Lord...What is it that you want me to do?" Patrick furrowed his eyebrows. "Boss, are you okay? Talking about Demon Lords and--..." Carleton LeHah reached forward to grasp each side of Patrick's face before twisting the man's head to release a bubbly crackle from his neck dropping the man into a limp state. "Yes, my lord...I will kill the remaining members of St. Dumas and then I will kill Azrael!"
Nomez and Azrael had assembled the supplies needed and arrived in the hanger bay where a hover craft sat in waiting. Nomez prepared to pilot the vessel as Azrael carried the supplies. "Hurry-hyeh...We must seek out the others. Your father's failure could ruin everything!" Azrael narrowed his eyes upon Nomez. "You keep saying that my father is to blame for all of this and yet you still have not told me what he has done!" "Shush! Azrael does not need to understand." "I DO if I am to protect you!" "Hyeh-Azrael doesn't not protect. He is vengeance. He is death." The doors above would push the snow aside and a lift would raise the hovercraft to the surface where it would prepare for take off.
Batman and Alfred trekked through the snow to arrive at the crater. "It would appear there's nothing left except..." Batman's eyes would widen. "An underground bunker. Why am I surprised?" "Perhaps the Order of St. Dumas hasn't been extinct much like their brothers." "No, but what could the Order want with LeHah?" "I think we may find out soon enough sir!" Alfred pointed towards an opening within the snow revealing a hover craft of sophisticated technology. Alfred backed away from it as the aircraft's engines caused wind to throw Batman's cape into the air. Arming his grappling hook Batman studied the aircraft and the two inhabitants of its cockpit.
"Hyeh-Who are they?" Azrael's gaze shifted from Nomez to the Dark Knight and then his hand opened the cockpit. Nomez's redish eyes glared upon Batman and instructed. "They are intruders! They want our secrets." Azrael lept from the Hovercraft allowing his crimson cape to flow like a river of blood behind him as he landed in the snow to stand face to face with Batman. Reaching to his side Azrael drew upon his burning blade, its design with a gold hilt guard, a red handle and flames upon its blade. The outfit he wore damaged with holes from gunshots. Azrael's eyes filled with passion and anger. "You do not belong here!" Azrael dropped the sword's blade upon the Dark Knight slashing towards his right shoulder with a cross-cut.
Narrowing his eyes equally, Batman watched the blade drop and dodged to the side. "You don't have Snow shoes...The advantage is in my favor!" The Dark Knight examined the blade, remembering its design and purpose. Angelic in appearance and its intimidating factor was very convincing to be the work of a divine or celestial body, but he was a detective and everything was deductible by science and reason. Batman pulled off his cape and held it in front of himself preparing to be attacked again by the sword. "Put down the sword before I make you put it down!"
The threat did not come well to him. He feels the blood of an angel surge through him and with conviction his sword jabs at the Dark Knight's abs behind a pathetic piece of cloth. The burning blade should've seared through the Dark Knight's cape if it were not fire resistant. Azrael would be prepared to deliver a power punch towards Batman's face should his sword strike fail, taking up a defensive posture with his fists in order to counter an incoming attack from the caped crusader. Allowing Batman to feel an incredible amount of power behind Azrael's fist.
The sword came towards him as the Dark Knight planned, his cape whipped around the blade and swiftly used the momentum of the jab to swing the blade away, the ends of the cape gave Batman full reign and control of Azrael's sword and with Batman's arms he yanked the blade along with his cape to throw them both a great distance away from the fight. "Lets see what you can do without your sword." Batman raised his fists before a single punch from Azrael struck and gave Batman an idea of how hard the man could strike. "That's the first and last hit you get." Batman would deliver a punch towards Azrael's ribcage, while he body ducked underneath Azrael to avoid being struck by any incoming punches.