Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2003 13:19:45 -0700 (PDT) From: Author James Subject: Judgments of a Real Dark Knight 11 Disclaimer: This story, though maybe not in this chapter but in subsequent chapters, will have celebrities in it. I have no knowledge of their sexuality and this is not intended to imply their sexuality. This is all from my own mind. Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel and all related characters created by Joss Whedon. Copyright 20th Century Fox. Batman, and all related characters created by Bob Kane. Copyright DC Comics and Warner Bros. X-MEN, and all related characters created by Stan Lee. Copyright Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox. The Vampire Chronicles and all related characters created by Anne Rice. Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice. Star Wars and all related concepts created by or based on the universe created by George Lucas. Copyright 20th Century Fox, LucasFilms Ltd. and Lucas Books/Ballantine Books. I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in case, I have myself covered. I have received many emails from people who have enjoyed it and some from those who do not. I would enjoy hearing from you. Any emails you send, please tell me what chapter and story you are commenting on. Thanks. authorjames2002@yahoo.com I also have several online messenger services. If you want to chat with me in real time, email me and tell me the services you use and I will tell you my screen name. Chapter 11 Species "A vampire?" Robin and Mr. Freeze exclaimed in unison. "How could it be out in the daytime?" Robin asked. "Shouldn't it be dust about now?" "Not this species. We were afraid this would happen." "What should we do?" "Robin, do you know which student turned into this creature?" "Yeah," Robin answered. "Its partner is back at the school in the gymnasium unconscious." "There were two?" "Yeah." "Get back to the school and make sure it's gone. Then return here. We have some serious training to do." "Over and out," Freeze replied. Turning to Robin, he said, "Let's get back to your high school and make sure everyone's safe." Robin nodded. "This one's a bust," Miranda said as she and Robert stepped out of another abandoned nightclub. "Can you remember any details about the club in your dream?" Miranda shook her head but closed her eyes trying to remember exactly what she saw. To her chagrin, nothing came to mind. "I've seen too many today to remember details." "It's almost sunset. Perhaps we should go back, find out if Kara found anything and suit up for patrol tonight." Miranda nodded and the two headed back to Miranda's penthouse. When they arrived at the penthouse, they found Brian and Ryan talking with Kara. "What brings you two here?" Robert asked. "Oh, wait, never mind. We work together." "There's more than that," Kara said. "What the Council wasn't sure would happen definitely has happened. The species of vampire that is not harmed by sunlight and the traditional weapons of war against vampires have arrived in Orlando." "What?" Miranda exclaimed. "Robin encountered two at his school earlier today." "Oh my gosh, are you okay?" Miranda asked. "Yeah. Brian bailed me out." "Thank God for you!" "Why are you getting so worked up?" Robert asked. "What's up with these vampires? So we can't dust them the traditional way. I'm sure there are other ways." "Other ways," Miranda said. "But they are very dangerous ways." "What do you mean?" "Please, sit down," Kara said to the two. "I'll inform everyone on what we must do to stop these creatures." After everyone settled in, Kara related to them the species of vampire they were up against. "These creatures look very much human. And they can move about in daylight unharmed by the sun. Traditional stakes, crosses, and holy water do not work against them." "Are they demons?" Robert asked. "In the traditional sense, yes. In the vampire sense, no. When they are ready to feed, they transform into bat-like creatures. They become very strong and the only way for them to die is for them to lose mass amounts of blood." "That isn't a problem. We can still use wooden stakes." "Hardly," Kara answered. "Their skin is very tough. The only way to damage it is with pure silver weapons, swords being the best. A well-placed slice would cut the creature in half and the blood would pour out." "Do you have any of these swords?" Ryan asked. "I should be receiving some soon. When the Council heard these creatures might be involved, they raided their armory and also ordered from several smiths dozens of swords. They were to send them to Watchers and Slayers throughout the world to help with this battle in case this species were to show their face." "Do you have a time frame for receiving these swords?" Brian asked. "Again, all I know is soon." "Then we'll have to make due with what we do have that's silver. Remember the silver stakes and throwing weapons you were given?" Brian said to Miranda, Robert and Ryan. They nodded. "That is all we have to fight these creatures for now. That and our ingenuity." Kara looked over at her monitor. The time read a little after 6:00 p.m. "The sun should be set. You should suit up and patrol." The group nodded and went to change. Once they were finished, they headed out into the night. Once the four were out, Mr. Freeze turned to the others. "Maybe we should find out where those students live. We could then find out where Kane might be, then." "Agreed," Batgirl said. "But don't get too close. You haven't fought these creatures head on." "Um, excuse me," Robin said lifting his hand. "I fought them." "They weren't after you. I don't know what they were after. Let's all go to the school and figure out what happened. From there, you," Batgirl looked at Mr. Freeze, "and Robin can find out where the students live." The men nodded and followed the woman's plan. They headed off toward the school. When they arrived, they found the school empty, which was normal. Aside from evidence that repairs needed to be made, all looked secure. Batgirl pulled out her flashlight, as did Nightwing and Robin. Mr. Freeze reached up and flipped the switch on his helmet and a light turned on near the side of the faceplate. "Where were you when you saw the creatures?" Batgirl asked. "I followed them behind stage. There wasn't any reason for them to be going in there." "That we know of," Batgirl replied. "Show me." Everyone followed Robin down the corridor to the entrance backstage. Robin opened the door and Batgirl shined her light in. Nothing could be seen, so she entered. The stage was dark and still, nothing out of the ordinary to indicate an inappropriate presence. "Spread out," Batgirl said. Mr. Freeze and Nightwing continued to look backstage. "Tell me what happened." Robin went through the events that transpired earlier in the day while he was at school. He told Batgirl about the vampire attacking him and the other one that was flying around. "What part of the ceiling was it flying around?" Robin motioned and Batgirl shot a line up to the ceiling. The grapple pulled her up and she looked around. Finding nothing, she released the grapple from the ceiling and dropped to the floor. "There's nothing up there. Maybe it was just stretching its wings. Where was the other one?" "Here's where it hit its head," Robin pointed out. Batgirl checked out the damaged concrete. "Hmm," she muttered. "What?" Robin asked. "There are trace amounts of blood here. I'll collect a sample to take to Kara. She can analyze it and see what is in it." "Why would you want to do that? It's just vampire blood." "A vampire doesn't have its own blood. For a person to be made into a vampire, their blood must be drained. Then they feed off the vampire. To sustain the dark blood, they feed off of others. That is how they replenish their blood supply. "Kara can analyze this blood to find out who or what the vampire has been feeding upon. Using what we know of the city, we can determine where these vampires stalk the night." Robin just looked at her in amazement. "Nothing up here," Nightwing said as he and Mr. Freeze jumped down to the floor. "Then let's find out where those students live." Batgirl, Nightwing, Robin and Mr. Freeze made their way to the offices across the hall. Robin and Nightwing tapped into the computer systems and located the students that were more than they seemed. Looking through their files, the heroes found where the students reported living. "That's the first place to check," Batgirl said. "Do you want me to get the sample back to Kara?" Mr. Freeze asked. "I could assist with the analysis. I major in chemistry in college." "That would be great," Batgirl said handing the sample over to Mr. Freeze. "We found them," Nightwing said. "They live in the northwest side." "Then let's get going." The group split up and headed in their separate directions. Batgirl, Nightwing and Robin found the students' address only to discover it was a bar. "Great," Robin replied. "Doesn't the school board ever check this stuff out? I mean, who would live in a bar?" "Barflies," Nightwing replied. "True," Batgirl said. "Sadly there are many who come to places like this to drown their sorrows and weep over their lost opportunities. Too bad they don't realize that they have power over their lives to take charge and change things. They turn to alcohol for their strength to get through their lives, but instead the alcohol just makes everything worse." "How are we going to go in and ask about our vampire children?" Nightwing asked. "Good question," Batgirl said. She walked up to the door and went inside. Nightwing and Robin looked at one another in surprise, and then they headed in behind her. The bar was smoky and dingy, the perfect atmosphere for being drunk. Batgirl went up to a barstool and touched the shoulder of the nearest man. "Excuse me," she said. The man turned and laughed when he saw her costume. Then he looked her up and down and a lustful smile came to his face. "What can I do for you, pretty little thing?" "I need some information." "You come to pump me for information?" the man chuckled. "There's a room in the back where you can do all the pumping you want on me." "I want to know if you have seen any teenagers hanging around here." "Not until we do some pumping, girl. I'd say maybe fifteen minutes worth of pumping." "Is that all you last?" Nightwing asked as he approached the bar and stood next to Batgirl. "Why you son of a bitch!" the man said. The drunkard balled up his fist and swung at Nightwing. He and Batgirl stepped back and watched as the man fell off the barstool and landed on the floor. Batgirl placed her foot on his back and held him down. "We need information," she said loudly so all in the bar heard her. "There are two teenagers who are from this area. We need to find them." The countenance on everyone's face changed. They went from expressing sadness and joy to no emotion at all, almost as if they were turned into zombies. "What the hell?" Robin said. "They are under control of the vampires," Batgirl answered. "Get ready for a fight. But remember, disable. I don't want any casualties. They are innocent of what they are about to do." Someone grabbed Robin's shoulder. He swung his arm around and clutched the man's wrist. Then he spun and hit the man right under his armpit impacting the man's pressure point. The man clutched at his side. Then Robin elbowed him in the face and knocked him unconscious. A woman at a table stood and hit her bottle of beer on the end of the table. The bottom shattered leaving her with a jagged weapon. She swung the bottle at Nightwing. Nightwing swung his leg up and caught her wrist causing her to drop the bottle. Then he used the same foot and kicked her in the stomach knocking her into the table. She fell to the floor with a crash. Batgirl kicked the drunkard she was standing on in the face, knocking him unconscious. Then she somersaulted over a table and landed in the middle of several bar patrons. She ducked as a fist came for her. The fist impacted the person behind her and knocked them to the floor. From her crouching position, she thrust her leg upwards and kicked the person who tried to punch her. The woman went flying into the air and landed on a table, which splintered underneath her. Batgirl then swung her fists to her side and connected with the genitalia of the men standing to either side of her. They clutched their privates and fell to their knees beside her. She swung her fists up and caught them in the face, knocking them out. The bartender stood up from behind the bar with a gun in his hand. Nightwing and Robin didn't notice, but Batgirl did. She took out one of her bats and hurled it at the man. It caught his wrist and imbedded into the wood behind him pinning his now empty hand to the wall. The two young men were always amazed at the abilities of the Slayer in Orlando, whether it was the previous Batgirl or the one that lived there now. Batgirl stood up and walked over to the bar. "I need information," she said. "You're a bartender. Chances are someone has talked to you about something that I need to know. I want you to tell me anything and everything you know about two new teenagers that live in this area." It didn't take too long for Mr. Freeze to get back into the downtown area. The neighborhood near the school was quiet. But as he neared downtown, people were still out and about. He had to stick close to the shadows so he couldn't be seen. Mr. Freeze headed down an alley that was across the street from the hotel. There was a manhole nearby that he could climb down and head to the hotel. From there, he would have access to Batgirl's underground lair. "Excuse me, Mister?" a young voice said to him. He turned around to see a young girl. "Can I help you?" he asked. The young girl nodded. Mr. Freeze approached her. "What can I do for you?" "I seemed to have lost something." He looked at the girl and noticed a gash on her head. "How did that happen?" The young girl reached up and grabbed him by the neck. "Your friend made me hit my head," she said as she lifted him off the ground. "Oh, no," he muttered. "You're the vampire." Before his eyes, the girl changed into the vampire creature. "How did you find me?" "I've been following the scent of my blood." The vampire brought Mr. Freeze close to its face. "I've lost a lot of blood. Now I need some of yours." The vampire opened its muzzle to bite Mr. Freeze. As it brought him closer, he turned his hand and fired a beam into the creature's eyes. It shrieked and tossed him into the building, literally. Mr. Freeze heard the shriek of the creature outside. He pulled himself up from the rubble and saw the creature look up at him. "This isn't good," he muttered. To Be Continued...