67

"What is the meaning of this?" Lincoln March's voice crackled through the comm link, his anger barely restrained. "You didn't inform me of your prior arrangement with Jonathan Crane!"

As his Talons wrestled with the traitorous villains, March's holographic display flickered to life, revealing the white-masked visage of a Court of Owls elder.

"You clearly negotiated with him," March continued, his voice low and menacing. "Why send me under the pretense of an inspection?"

In mere seconds, March's mind raced through a series of deductions. Fury surged through him, sharpening his thoughts.

"If not for Penguin's betrayal," he realized, "I would have likely forged an alliance with Scarecrow. His power and influence meet the Court's criteria for collaboration."

The Court's insidious plan unfolded in his mind.

"After some pleasantries, Scarecrow would express interest in a private alliance with me, circumventing the Court's authority."

March's thoughts raced ahead.

"I would refuse, of course. But the Court would orchestrate further events to lower my guard. Once I was convinced I was the sole point of contact with Scarecrow, I would inevitably establish a secret alliance. And when Scarecrow revealed this to the Court, it would be my downfall."

His heart pounded with cold fury, but his face remained impassive, his voice devoid of emotion.

He couldn't risk revealing his anger. He didn't know if the Court had bugged his helmet, if his every expression was being monitored. Every muscle in his body strained with the effort of maintaining his composure.

One day, he swore silently, I will have my revenge.

But as his rage simmered, Bruce Wayne's melancholy face flashed in his mind.

"...I had a younger brother, Thomas Wayne Jr. My parents and I loved him dearly, but he was frail..."

"...They entrusted him to Willowwood Asylum, but he disappeared one day. I've been searching for him ever since..."

"...If you become mayor, could you help me find my brother?"

"...I know it's an inappropriate request, but I miss him so much..."

"...He's my family..."

Finding him would be difficult. He wouldn't go by Thomas Wayne Jr. anymore.

He might be known as Lincoln March.

"I don't understand, Court," Lincoln March's voice held a carefully crafted confusion. "As your loyal Talon, I shouldn't question your decisions."

"But I fail to see the purpose of this charade."

Silence.

The white-masked figure on the screen remained mute.

March fought to control his racing heart, his electrum enhancements doing little to calm his fury.

He'd undergone rigorous polygraph training without the Court's knowledge. With a bit of practice, he could easily fool that primitive machine. He was certain he could pass even now, his deceit undetected.

"It's not meaningless, Lincoln," the white-masked figure assured him. "Merely a test for Scarecrow. Don't dwell on it."

"Now, simply assist Scarecrow in eliminating Cobblepot. That fool. We spared his life when Falcone fell but he overstepped by interfering with the Court's plans. His dying regret will be his impulsive nature."

"It's Batman, Oswald," Scarecrow croaked, rising from the floor, his lanky frame swaying. "He made me realize that strengthening my ranks doesn't equate to weakness."

Without warning, Deadshot opened fire. No longer concerned with capturing Scarecrow alive, he unleashed a hail of bullets. The metal storm aimed to shred Scarecrow's limbs, turning him into a human pincushion.

Even if it meant crippling or killing him, it had to be done before the Talons reached him.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

A flurry of blades met the barrage of bullets, the sounds of metal clashing like a macabre symphony.

Bullets clattered to the floor as Deadshot ceased fire. His expression was grim; such a basic attack wouldn't faze Scarecrow.

Scarecrow straightened his collar, a self-satisfied smirk spreading across his face. "Knowing one's limitations is a form of power," he declared. "And I've long realized that the most effective terror lies in the unknown, in new and unexpected threats."

He spread his arms wide, and Lincoln March watched in disbelief as the seven Talons he'd brought marched past him, as if he didn't exist.

In this moment, Jonathan Crane had usurped his authority, becoming the de facto leader of the Court's forces.

"No way!" Harley Quinn exclaimed, standing beside one of the hulking Talons. "They can't all be muscle monsters, can they?"

Her question was answered as the Talon beside her swung its blade where she had just stood. The oversized samurai sword, dwarfing even the Talon's massive hand, cleaved through the floor with ease.

"Harley! Don't stand so close to that thing!" Poison Ivy yelled, summoning a giant vine to knock the Talon back. "You're a delicate flower, Harley! Leave these brutes to me!"

"I'm a witch too, you know!" Harley retorted, leaping onto the fallen Talon and whacking its head with a baseball bat. "Bonk!"

The blow would have shattered a normal skull, but the Talon simply shook its head, unaffected, and tore through the vines binding it.

"Oops!" Harley somersaulted away, disappearing in a cloud of dust.

"Show them your fury, Talons!" Scarecrow commanded. "Unleash the venom!"

The Talons roared in response, their shadows growing larger and more menacing.

Penguin, watching in horror, fumbled for his headset. "Batman!!! Help!!!"