Vol III | Chapter XVIII

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The ongoing fighting immediately came to a halt when it became evident that a third party had joined in - the sudden intrusion increased their wariness at any other suspecting surprises - as Batman took the first hint of clue and said the perpetrator's identity; "Jason."

Batman had said it so casually, and it nearly made Nightwing do a double take just to be certain, but a familiar voice beats Dick to it. "Hey, Dick! It's been a while hasn't it?"

"What's the meaning of this?" Bruce questioned, as he kept an eye on both Jason and the Guardsmen. With squinted eyes - a normal sight on Batman whenever he had questions; any Robin knows too well - Jason took a quick glance at the soldiers before meeting Bruce's as he spoke.

"Surprising you aren't updated, yet understandable, especially since you're currently busy engaged in a rather relevant topic at the moment."

Before Batman could demand Jason to elaborate, the man under the red hood had already started and placed the radio for them to hear the hot topic going around. "Breaking news! A report has just come in and captured the appearance of - what would be familiar as it is still a hot topic - familiar soldiers on Central City; the Space soldiers! Are there more and is Earth under attack?! Tune in with us on-"

"Maybe you knew about them hours ago before the news caught on, perhaps not, but even then it was an immense shockwave. The people are in a state of panic. Chaos will take the street and the scumbags; burglars and thugs wouldn't waste the advantage. On my way here, I even had to deal with Black Mask and several others."

The Guardsmen listened intently, while Batman and Nightwing waited for Jason's punchline; "Your clubhouse should start making statements to calm the people, else a nationwide uproar is in queue."

"Those are the politicians' roles and I have more important matters to tend to." Batman replied while a gunshot rang out, a pistol that belonged to Jason as he held it pointed at the floor beside Bruce - there was still smoke coming out from it - before he adjusted the aim and had the barrel corrected; targeted to blast Bruce's brains out.

It seemed like Jason had something to say, but with the red hood it was difficult to tell before he lowered the pair of pistols he wielded. "Your important matters; have just become my business."

Nightwing was just about to interject as tension seemed to rise between Jason and Bruce, but Bruce let Jason explain himself before the man acceptedly took the chance and began. "A client of mine wants a word with your 'friends' that you're keeping."

"Let me guess… Lockwood…" 

But Jason only shrugs - neither denying nor admitting to it - before he continues. "The whole situation. The whole sudden appearance of them. It can't be contained. Just like how that psychotic freak almost killed Lois and Superman nearly destroying the world at it. You can't put a stop to something if you're not going to."

The history between them remained like a scar, Jason's death was devastating and yet Bruce still has made the choice of letting the Joker live. It questioned Jason's worth. 

"Enough with the chitchat and let's get back to business. Hand them over."

Batman puts an end to their conversation and demands, but the people that are being fought over have their own plans and goals when the Watchmaster and Grenadier take Jason's side as they stand next by him - side by side - as Jason shot a glance at them as he kept his finger on the trigger and barrel at the end on Bruce's face.

"I don't think so, Bruce."

Then with that, he reached for a bomb that was attached to his belt and pulled the pin on it, and smoke soon filled the room as they made their escape. "Catch you later!" When the smoke dissipated there was only the hard cold fact that he had allowed them to escape. But maybe that was the point.

"Why didn't you make chase?!" Nightwing asked, confused until Batman revealed it to him.

"They can't hide forever and certainly not when they have to make contact with the 'others' that Flash has kept in captivity."

Just like that a game of cat and mouse began.

◹][◸ ~ Astra Militarum ~◹][◸