Date: Sat, 14 Jun 2003 13:14:01 -0700 (PDT) From: Author James Subject: Judgments of a Real Dark Knight 19 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. Other stories set in this universe: "Marvel Knights" "Tales of a Young Mutant" (no new postings in a while) "Tales of a Superhero Band" "Tales of the New Phoenix" 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. If anyone has artistic talent and/or design capabilities, check out the "Real Dark Knight" Contest. Chapter 19 Into the Fray The team moved two tables into the main room. Batgirl and Robin climbed onto the tables and laid back. "Just so everyone is aware," Robin said, "I'm scared shitless right now." "Don't worry," Nightwing comforted, "It isn't as bad as it sounds. Just use your imagination." "Yeah, right," Robin answered sarcastically. "It will take a few moments for the spell to take effect," Kara said. "You must be patient and be on your guard." Batgirl and Robin both nodded. Freeze and Nightwing took up their monitoring positions. Kara placed the book she needed on the podium, held up her hands, and began the Sumerian incantation. "That isn't what I did," Freeze whispered to Nightwing. "The spell she's using is a more ancient spell. It will help the two be completely in his mind and completely enable them to have complete control over themselves. Believe me, it's all good." Freeze nodded, watched and waited. Kane looked up at the ceiling of the penthouse apartment. His followers looked upon him and one asked, "What is it, Master?" "Hmm," Kane muttered. "Interesting." "What?" another asked. "They are attempting to access my mind through magic. None of them seem like the mystical bunch, although they were able to send one into my mind to retrieve their Slayer and Watcher. Still, they must have had some kind of help." "What does this mean?" the first questioning vampire asked. "What it means, you dolt, is that they wish to enter my mind again. They wish to face me in that realm. Too bad I am the master of the mind." "What should we do, my liege?" "Prepare to attack them. If even one enters my mind that will give you three to deal with. You are strong enough and numerous enough to take on three and come out victorious." "Yes, my lord." Kane turned from his followers and headed to the center of the room. With the curtains pulled, the sunlight could not enter and burn him or his followers. He sat on the couch while his vampire cohorts headed out after the vampire hunters. "You want to play this game, Slayer, we'll play." The vampire closed his eyes and opened his mind to receive his victims. Robin looked around at the club. He looked to his left and found Batgirl standing looking around as well. "My dream," she said. "The club was his mind. My dream told me that I would face him here." "You had a dream about a club? So?" "The dreams of a Slayer are sometimes prophetic." "Really? What did your dream prophesy about me?" "Your death," a familiar voice stated. Both looked up to see Kane standing on the stage smiling down upon them. "Kane," Batgirl said. "Hello, Slayer. Who do you have with you? It isn't the same one who rescued you earlier. He would have been more formidable than this boy." "This boy has seen a lot of action. I can take you." "I've heard that phrase before, 'Take you.' Doesn't it imply some sort of sexual act? If so, then, no thank you. Not that you aren't tempting. You are a young, strapping boy, with a nice brown skin and a very handsome face, though why you cover it with a mask is beyond me. You would be a perfect young male to dominate. But this is my mind. And as much as we would both would feel the physical sensations of 'taking one another,' I don't have time for it. Plus, there is something to be said for having a young boy underneath you writhing in pleasure." "Shut the fuck up, bitch," Robin said. "Now, now, temper, temper. What? Are you, what's the word, homophobic?" "No," Robin answered. "In fact, I think I'm bisexual." Batgirl turned and looked at him. Last she heard, and by the impressions Nightwing gave her, Robin was very much heterosexual. She shrugged her shoulders shrugging off the thought. It was something she would have to ask him about later. "I wouldn't have sex with you, ever, vampiric bastard. I don't do evil people." Kane smiled at the young boy. "Poor, deluded boy. There is no such thing as evil or good. Choices are all that remain. That's what I tried to tell Batgirl earlier. I'm not evil. I'm merely making a choice to make humanity better through a fellow vampire coming to power. I could stand here and explain it all to you, but I don't think it would help. My words would fall on deaf ears. I even doubt you would be able to understand or comprehend it." "It's a good thing you're a soulless bastard, or I'd have to kick your ass for that." "Soulless? My dear boy, who ever told you I was soulless?" "His species has a soul," Batgirl said to Robin though her eyes never wavered from Kane's. "Oh, shit, that's right. You must be a sociopath, then. Or is it psychopath? It could be megalomaniac. I can never remember which means what. If Eric were here, he would know." "Let's get back on topic, shall we?" Batgirl said. She took a step forward. "You know why we're here." Kane nodded. He then took a step toward the edge of the stage. "Let's do this." The vampire smiled at Batgirl and leapt at her. As he came at her, she grabbed his collar and fell backwards, placing her foot in his gut. Using his momentum, she flipped him off course and tossed him into a nearby wall. The wall smashed with the impact and the Slayer flipped to her feet, turning to face the vampire. As the dust cleared, both heroes realized the vampire wasn't there. Suddenly, the vampire grabbed Batgirl from behind. "Did you forget? This is my mind. I'm in charge here. No one has control over my mind, especially a Slayer." The sound of scuffling was heard through the walls of the lair. Freeze aimed his hand at two separate locations waiting for one of the two places to be breeched. Nightwing stood with silver bird-shaped boomerangs in hand, ready to toss them at the first sign of vampiric movement. Kara stood over the two bodies making sure that all was fine with them. "Get ready," she said to the young heroes. I think we're about to get company." A metal plate in the ceiling fell to the floor followed by several vampires. Freeze fired at the first one and froze it in place. They watched as the vampire turned to dust within the ice block. Nightwing looked at Freeze with curiosity. "I had my tanks blessed," he replied. "Sort of like holy ice made from holy water." Nightwing shrugged his shoulders and turned to see the vampires pulling themselves up from the floor. He tossed his two silver weapons and they spun around and around heading for the necks of the demonic creatures. The sharp blades sliced through the necks of the vampires and they turned to dust. The blades came full circle and Nightwing caught them. He put one away and pulled out his stake. As another vampire stood and attacked, Nightwing dodged a punch. He quickly shoved the stake in the unsuspecting vampire's chest and moved on to the next one, not even bothering to watch as it turned to dust. Freeze swung his fist and hit the vampire in the face. The punch had its desired affect. His freeze suit also amplified his strength, making him strong enough to hold his own against the creatures of the night. He spun around and clothes lined another vampire, knocking it to the ground. He turned again and fired off a quick blast from his freezing gun. The blast created a small patch of ice where a vampire slipped and fell backwards onto the patch. Because the ice was somehow blessed, it burned the vampire. It tried to scramble away but to no avail. Freeze went over and staked it moving on to the next creature. Batgirl elbowed the vampire in the stomach and flipped him over her head. He landed with a smash on a nearby table. He swung his leg up and connected with her face knocking her backwards. The vampire spun around onto his stomach and crouched, ready to strike again. Batgirl looked over at the young man who was supposed to be helping her. "You want to get involved here sometime?" "Sure," Robin replied adjusting his gloves and mask. "Why not?" As Kane leapt, Robin grabbed a chair and swung it with all his might. The chair connected with Kane in mid-air. The impact deflected Kane ever so slightly as the chair splintered to pieces. Kane flew slightly to the right of Batgirl and landed in a table. "Thanks," Batgirl said. "No problem," Robin replied. Kane stood from the wooden rubble and looked at the two. "You'll pay for that." "I think I am already by simply being in your mind, ass," Robin replied. Robin stepped up and swung his fist at Kane. Kane blocked and countered. Robin blocked his move easily and countered again. Batgirl watched in amazement as it seemed Robin was able to know Kane's thoughts and block as he attacked. And Robin wasn't even breaking a sweat! Nightwing grabbed onto a hanging light and swung forward kicking a vampire in the face. He swung backwards high enough to hook his legs onto a bar. He let go of the light and reached for two wooden stakes. As he swung downward, he held up the stakes and his momentum brought him around to stake two vampires. They turned to dust and he unhooked his legs flipping to land on his feet. A vampire came up and swung at him. Nightwing ducked and rolled forward away from the creature. As he rolled into a sitting position, he spun around so he was facing the oncoming vampire. He put his legs together and, when the vampire's legs were on either side, he spread his legs causing the vampire to fall forward. As the creature came down, Nightwing brought his knee up and hit the vampire's chin. The vampire cried out in pain as the hero flipped the vampire over him. "I couldn't have hit him that hard," Nightwing said as he hopped to his feet and turned around. "I'm not that strong comparatively speaking." The answer to his wonderment was answered when he looked at the vampire. He had hit the vampire when it was about to bite. The impact closed the creature's mouth and the demon's fangs sunk into its lip and out the bottom. Nightwing could see the end of the vampire's fangs sticking out the bottom of its lip. Nightwing ran forward and flipped in the air. As he went over the vampire, he staked it and landed on his feet. "You don't have to worry about any pain now," Nightwing responded. Freeze tossed a vampire into the air and it landed on a newly arrived crate. As the creature landed, the wood splintered and a piece entered its chest turning it to dust. Freeze noticed that the contents of the box spilled out onto the floor. "Swords," he muttered. Then he ran over and grabbed one hefting it and enjoying the feel of it. A demonic shriek rang out and the remaining vampires stopped. They looked over at the elevator shaft, as did Nightwing and Freeze. Out flew the gargoyle vampires. "Oh, shit!" Nightwing said. "Nightwing!" Freeze called out. Nightwing turned to see Freeze tossing him a sword. "Toss me another," he asked. Freeze complied and Nightwing swung the two swords around, ready to fight these creatures. Freeze grabbed a few more swords and rushed over to Kara. "Here," he said, "Just in case." Kara nodded, seeming half in this world and half not. The spell she used to monitor Batgirl and Robin kept her mind in two separate places. She was observing the events in both reality and Kane's mind. Freeze turned to the winged vampires and moved closer to Nightwing. "Remember," Nightwing said, "hard slices, go for the heart or neck. Masses amount of blood loss is what we are looking for." Freeze nodded. "Not a problem." The two young men readied for the war. Robin ducked a punch from Kane. His hand flew up and connected with the vampire's chest and the vampire stumbled backwards clutching himself. Batgirl looked on amazed at what Robin was doing. "How the hell are you doing that?" Kane exclaimed. "This isn't possible!" "Haven't seen the Matrix, have you? Excellent movie. It taught me how to open my mind. This reality, your mind, is no different than that place. I knew coming in here that I could do whatever I wanted. That's what Kara knew." "That's why she wanted you to come in here with me," Batgirl said. "It won't save you boy." "Want to test that theory?" Robin said raising and lowering his eyebrows in an inviting manner. A corner of his mouth raised in a smirk. To Be Continued... Awesome stuff! Has anyone seen the Matrix Reloaded yet? Good movie! More to come here!