Vol III | Chapter XX

Author's Announcement

The previous chapter and this chapter, as well as possibly the next chapter will not be fully checked for any grammar mistakes, etc.

Anyway, still enjoy! You don't have to vote, but the story will appreciate the 'star' like it's a medal.

◹][◸ ~ Astra Militarum ~◹][◸

After being told that someone wanted to meet with them, Masha wondered for a moment and Hylric looked to his superior for her choices, before her silence was broken as she replied.

"Does the man - the Director - wield any sway with the people?"

Although she was uncertain about the government of Earth being split into many factions, and each government to a nation entirely differently composed, if the Director Benjamin Lockwood - Agent Liberty - could be assumed to be an ally and able to contact the Imperium: It would be something too great to pass on.

This was possibly her only and best chance at getting a shot at it, but she needs to know if the Director would be reliable and dependable.

"The man is quite a charmer with words and the people, let him do a public speech and watch the crowd jump and cheer almost immediately after. It is almost worrying that some don't even understand what truly is at stake or is being said, but what the heck. Politics and politicians are not my thing."

Jason shrugs barely giving it anymore thoughts, before he focuses back again on the main subject. "Well, what do you say?"

Upon careful thinking, and though there weren't many choices to choose from anyways it did not hurt Masha to give herself several moments before finally concluding that it was the only path that would see them through, either that or mindlessly search other ways before being caught and imprisoned by Batman.

"Take us to him."

"Alright, now let's get a move on - this place stinks - but we will continue to navigate through these large sewers. I can't have you walking around out on the streets with your outgoing setup." Jason explains, before pointing at the gas mask that they wore and his as he started to lead them through the dark wet tunnels of Gotham.

◹][◸ ~ Astra Militarum ~◹][◸

As they continued to traverse the awful stenching sewers that were plagued with rats, trash and human waste, they seemed to be unbothered and unaffected by the strong smell - possibly thanks to their gas mask - as their boots were wet and submerged but then something got their attention.

There was someone following them, and each to their own wondered if it was Batman or someone else entirely, but the question was who, before they finally reached a part of the sewer that had a faculty room that was empty. Aside from the lockers and several terminals that controlled the gates and stream, it was large enough that it should be perfect to hold out against whatever that is tracking them.

Although Masha and Hylric would prefer to keep on the move, both understood that it would be unwise to fight in the narrow tunnels, then again if only it became close-quartered combat which otherwise meant that whatever it is would have to evade the live-rounds of bullets before it got any closer. Then again, they were following the Red Hood.

They were prone to the old habits of following orders, and second to that to face battle with courage and valor, but with Masha proving so far in their journey here was more flexible and to a degree began to display more unorthodox things - things that Hylric have very much taken notice - as they settled in.

"I don't have to babysit you both, do I?"

With a snort he averted his eyes on the entry, snickering at the deadpanned face that the mask had to offer from Masha and Hylric that stared at him unbelieving at the comment. "Because I don't think we would be having it easy."

As the guardsmen and the vigilante kept their weapon traced at the door, the light to the faculty room suddenly turned off - it became dark and only the sound of the water streaming through the sewer could be heard - before then and there they heard it.

"Everyone is afraid of something, but what everyone commonly shares is their fear of the dark."

It spoke deep and slow, growly and heavy as it let its footsteps be heard and tell its approach to ensue more fear and uncertainty. Then it was silence once more, and not a single sound to indicate where their pursuer is here. There was no talking - boasting or incredibly long talks - and it almost seemed like that the man must still be at the same spot he had stopped.

Jason grips the dual pistol on each hand, before he raises from his cover and shoots at the last location he last heard and hopes that the man remained where he stopped, but there was nothing - no reaction at all - and not even a mocking response at the failed action Jason took.

In a hurry he ducked back behind his cover before he started to look around, yet the dark was too much and it was difficult to see through them, so as he holstered a pistol and began to pat around his pocket with his free hand he retrieved a lighter.

With a small and flickering source of light, it illuminated the area only just a bit but enough that it was drastically much better than being completely in the dark. But not a mere moments later he hears running footsteps - dashing towards him - and he aims his pistol at the direction, until he was tackled from the side and the lighter was lost from his grip.

The dark returned and consumed all, but not the sound as although faintly multiple people could be heard talking. "Masha?" Jason asks until he receives a resounding 'no' from Hylric that had tackled him to the ground.

"Damn it, what's the deal?!"

"They are waiting for us to make a move, they want us to reveal our location."

Jason groans in frustration and annoyance, seriously what smart lunatic that was waiting for them in the sewer thought of that. 'Perhaps, it could be Killer Croc?' Jason wonders until he immediately crosses that thought when he figures that the person that they were up against is someone that was not all about ferocity and wildness.

Instead, the person that was hunting them was someone with a wit and edge to them, and seeing that the culprit wanted to keep them uncertain it just had to be him.

"Is that you, Scarecrow?!"

Jason shouted as he received a look of disapproval from Hylric - although he couldn't see the guardsman's expression it felt like it - before he shouted yet again. "Among the people that fights Batman, you're the only one that seems to use tactics such as hiding behind the scenes, aren't I right?"

Of course, that was partially false since in other cases that he had fought against Scarecrow, the cunning man was just waiting for the right opportunity to strike, but that did not mean Jason could not provoke him to act recklessly.

"Talk all you want, the Red Hood. I will get you all regardless."

The Scarecrow responded, but the voice was everywhere and the person seemed to be able to restrain himself from falling into Jason's bait to lure him out.

It was quiet once again and several minutes must have gone by, and the Scarecrow could almost hear their heartbeats and the gears of their brain searching for a way out of the situation that he had them cornered in.

However, suddenly what happened next slightly caught the Scarecrow off guard when the Red Hood and the guardsmen bolted. Surprisingly, the Red Hood boldly flickered the lighter open and started to run with the guardsmen. Unbeknownst to the Scarecrow, his plan has just been figured out, just because he said something so simple and minor that it leaked his agenda.

Before he and the guardsmen bolted, Jason whispered for Hylric to retrieve Masha and bring her here, and upon their arrival he explained.

"He is keeping us here, and if I'm right the air that is surrounding us is sleeping gas."

As if Jason was a moron, both Masha and Hylric simply stared at him with their gas mask, before Jason had to be explicit with the full reasoning he was going to explain.

"He is waiting for something to arrive, something that would definitely break these masks we have on. So what I'm proposing is that we go, now."

As the guardsmen got it and retrieved Jason's lighter, the three of them proceeded to at Jason's signal - that was after he flickered his lighter open - they ran. At their action, it incited a response from Scarecrow. "You can't outrun fear."

◹][◸ ~ Astra Militarum ~◹][◸