[b]Thank you. Time for Protocol 10 itself.

[center]Chapter 12: Streets of Fire[/center][/b]

[i]The ruins of the back entrance to the Sionis Steel Mill, Amusement Mile[/i]

Talia... the Lazarus Pit... Joker...

Thoughts drifted through his mind. As per usual since his infection with Joker's blood, it was difficult, if not impossible, to think very clearly beyond his reasoning. The reasons for anything he did, were muddled.

"Now," the teasing voice of Selina Kyle awakened his perceptions. "what do we have [i]here[/i]?"

The native Batman's eyes opened. He could see the rubble on his chest, rubble that she helped off of him as he pushed it off and stood. Unlike him, she didn't seem to have much on her but dirt in terms of the effects of the night. On the other hand, he had blood on one cheek, dirt on the other, a tattered cape, and various dents and cuts all over his armor.

Explosions in the distance, helicopter flying, probably firing more missiles. Still, his attention was brought back to Catwoman as she spoke while he stood up.

"Figured [i]you[/i] could use my help."

His stony face did [i]not[/i] mesh with the comment he made next, too stoic. "You're right. I think I chipped a [i]nail[/i] back there."

She rolled her eyes, swinging her hips from side to side as she did the same with her head. "You stick with the brooding, [i]I'll[/i] handle the wisecracks." The humorous nature disappeared at that, replaced by seriousness as she turned and started toward the only exit, a high pathway that he could reach by grapnel. "I guess we both know what Protocol 10 is now, right?" She looked back to him. "If you want to stop it, you need to hurry." She sauntered over to the exit, and, with her usual pouncing, climbed it, exiting once more.

She saw them. Saw the helicopters firing on the rooftops, though luckily not this one. Saw the machine gun fire and missiles tearing up the districts, all but Wonder Tower itself. Strange was insane. There was no other way to say it. Killing [i]everyone[/i]? She just wanted to get her jewels and get out! And she almost had them too... damned conscience.

She flipped her goggles on then, looked down at the streets below, the safest place. TYGER guards were down there too, firing indiscriminately as the prisoners all tries to escape or fight them off. Only one she saw seemed relatively successful.

Stab a rapier through one of them, duck under gunfire that hits him and kills him, turn around and yank it out only to slit a throat, fire a blast of white fire at another's face, sentence the helmet off before a white whip of fire took him out... There she was! Jessica!

No, she couldn't bring attention to herself in this, couldn't shout. It would--

The gunshot, among many in the city, made Jessica stagger back, fall to her knee before she scowled and tripped another of them, forcing him to drop his gun before she snapped it forward, back, left, right, diagonals. Her own whiplash move, the one she's taught the neko. But it was only a stalling tactic, and she knew it. She could see the blood pooling under Jessica, going down her jacket. Another burst took her. She had to act. Now.

Three moves. First, throw down the caltrop bomb to the left, tripping up those guards there. Next, the bola to the right, disarming that one guard and leaving them open. Third, pounce. She landed on the only unoccupied TYGER guard on his shoulders, slamming him into the ground, where he was knocked out instantly. Front flipping, she landed on the one with the bola as he freed his wrists, turning around and putting his arm over her right thigh.... [i]snap![/i]

Finally, the others were up. They raised their guns, and, as Catwoman grabbed up Jessica, opened fire. A bullet grazed the thief's hip, making her hiss, but she shouted back to them, snapping out her whip and disarming the one who had shot her by yanking his weapon away, then the other two. "I'm warning you! Don't back me into a corner!"

[Spiderman save, with some minor banter between them before they split up]

Selina dragged Jessica, arms under hers, into the nearest intact building, through a broken brick wall that had remains of green paint on it. She just hoped the building would be intact long enough for Batman to fix this.

Slowly, she set Jessica down. There was a wince, and she almost shouted. She would have, if not for the glove on her mouth, muting her.

"No," Selina whispered, waiting for any of the remaining TYGER mercenaries to get away. "Don't scream. [i]Survive.[/i] You got that?"

Jessica nodded, her gaze lowering... and she closed her eyes.

"Catgirl.... [i]Jessica[/i]."

Eyes snapped open again. "Mmmph..." The mumble was nigh inaudible. She had to do some emergency work, stuff she normally didn't do. She just hoped that nobody would come here...

=====

[i]Krank Toys Co., about a block from the Gotham City Police Department[/i]

Bane's attempted treachery and theft of the TITAN had been averted a minute or so ago with his imprisonment, but his was not the only problem in the city by a long shot.

Batman was stunned.  TYGER helicopters were firing on Arkham City and missiles were being launched from Wonder Tower.  "Strange...  You're going to pay for this."  He activates his communication tab.  "ALFRED, have you found a way to gain access to Wonder Tower yet?"

[i]"Not yet, but I have come across something of interest.  I was able to track the transmissions of your counterpart from this world."[/i]  The Bat-G's AI quickly responds.  [i]"I am currently receiving transmissions from him.  Patching you through to receive."[/i]

[i]"Oracle, Strange is launching missile strikes on Arkham City from Wonder Tower.  You shut this place down; Joker's taken Talia, I'm going after them."[/i]  Immediately, Batman recognized the voice.  It was his own.

[i]"You can't.  Hundred will be killed.  I need your help to stop the attack."[/i]  This had to be Oracle, he surmised.

[i]"He'll kill Talia."[/i]

[i]"You need to think this through.  Batman can't let all these people die."[/i]  Another familiar voice.  Alfred.  This world's Alfred.

[i]"My tracker's not activating.  Re-route all Wayne-Tech satellites to boost the signal."[/i]

"ALFRED, patch me through so that I can speak to him."  Even he knew that this wasn't right.

[i]"I can't do that.  I realize it is difficult, sir, but you need to decide if one life is worth sacrificing to save a thousand?"[/i]  This world's Alfred is trying to pierce through with logic.

[i]"Don't do this, Alfred."[/i]

[i]"Batman must save Gotham.  I'm sorry, but deep down, you know I'm right."[/i]

[i]"But..."[/i]

Finally, he speaks up.  "No 'Buts'.  You have a duty to Gotham, and that is the highest priority.  Greater than any one person, even if it is someone you care about."

Oracle's voice comes through clear.  [i]"Who is this?  How did you get this transmission?"[/i]

"That's not important at this time.  What is important is that you need to realize that your actions are inheriantly selfish.  Wake up, and realize that you have a job to do.  Now, do it, Bruce.  Save Gotham."

The line goes silent.  Alfred clears his throat.  [i]"Whoever he is, he is right.  Your duty to the city is paramount."[/i]

[i]"Oracle...  Do not lose Talia's signal."[/i]

Batman releases the tab.  Hopefully, he took the hint.  "ALFRED, see if you can open a link to Azumi."  Waiting a few moments, he tabs again.  "Azumi, come in.  Are you receiving?"

The sound of rushing water, of the whizz of bullets cracking through. Some breathing, but it was somewhat panicked, explosions seemed in tandem with some crashes near the GCPD.

"Azumi, if you can hear me, tell me your location.  I'll be en route."

Water breaking at last, and a gasp for breath. [i]"No, I got it. You tell [b]me[/b] something while I'm on this freaking ice bridge Fries made."[/i] Well that solved that somewhat. [i]"What the [b]hell[/b] is going on here? I only know one of your rogues who'd try to kill everyone in here, and I haven't seen him anywhere."[/i]

"Hugo Strange.  He's seems to have activated Protocol 10, and it seems to be something akin to a Scorched Earth scenario.  He's going after every inmate in Arkham City.  We need to shut down his operation, and it seems to be centered around Wonder Tower.  It's more than likely locked down, so we'll need to find a master control program in order to gain access."

[i]"I doubt it's just Strange. You heard Azrael. And given this plan... Think about it."[/i] The turning of rotors was audible on her end, and machine gun fire bouncing off of metal, along with a grunt of pain. [i]"Just a few minutes and I'll be right over. I'm getting a ride, and this is gonna be tricky. I'll call you back."[/i] The "hold music" of more fire and a rocket being fired were audible, then another grunt and a scuffle of some sort.

Batman merely fires a grapple line over to a nearby water tower, crouching down.  "ALFRED, try and contact Spider-Man and tell him to make his way over to Wonder Tower."

[i]"I have tried for the past few minutes, but he has not answered."[/i]

A helicopter flew by, the light scanning the area below, wobbling a little as if someone were having trouble understanding the controls. It fired at the roof nearby... one with nobody on it, unlike other that had landed fatal blows to roof bound political prisoners and inmates. Another call came in from the radio, Azumi once more, her breath a little heavy, as if from the adrenaline of a recent fight. [i]"Sorry for the dropped call, was a little busy and had to make sure I could work this thing. I think I owe you a lift. Huge tower in the middle of the city, right? Or start somewhere else?"[/i]

Batman is about to respond, but his comm beeps.  "ALFRED, who is trying to contact us?"

[i]"I am."[/i]  The voice of this world's Batman comes through clear.  [i]"If you're going to enter into Wonder Tower, you'll need the Master Control Program.  Head over towards the Processing Center in the Bowery.  I'll meet you there when I have the program."[/i]  The line goes silent for a moment.

"You received that, Sergeant?"  Batman grapples up to the landing skids and grips on tightly.

[i]"Loud and clear.  Heading towards the Processing Center now."[/i] There was a groan on her end... then a smack, and it stopped again. Apparently she had knocked out the real pilot. [i]"Just letting you know, this guy seemed... disoriented when I took his helmet off. Doesn't look all that cleanly either, just had his head shaved. I don't know if this TYGER is all they say. Any word on these guys aside from operations here?"[/i]

"Nothing concrete.  I've heard some whispers about a number of Arkham City inmates being apprehended by TYGER and brought to Wonder Tower."  The sound of the rotors overhead begin to dampen Batman's voice.  "Perhaps Strange was able to place a hypnotic suggestion into them in order to instill obedience to him, turn them into TYGER guards."  He keeps his eyes open.  Passing by Gotham Casino, gazing ahead at the Church in Park Row...  His quick recon suggested that the entry into Wonder Tower was near the Ace Chemicals building.

[i]AT6, report status and confirmed casualties.  Repeat, AT6, report status and confirmed casualties.[/i]

[i]"Ah crap..."[/i] She turned her attention to the radio at that. The best she could do is fake it. She could answer with her own hypothesis later. They could probably make it to the processing center within a minute or so. [i]"Direct hit. That's three more down in the street."[/i]

[i]Roger...  Wait.[/i]  A moment's pause, before Control reacts.  [i]AT4, AT7, AT6 has been compromised.  Recommend immediate sterilization.[/i]

[i]Roger that, Control.  Target has been sighted.[/i]  Immediately, two other TYGER helicopters fly up behind the 'acquired' vehicle.  [i]Proceeding to sterilize.[/i]  Without any hesitation, the machine guns on the twin choppers begin to fire at AT6 and their occupants.

"Make your way towards the Ace Chemicals building!"  Batman continues to hang on as the chopper banks to the left, then to the right so as to avoid damage.  Pulling out three Shock Batarangs, he throws them at one of the other choppers, only for them.  "Make it quick!"  A few 'PING' sounds indicate the situation was becoming quickly more problematic.  The smell of the fuel was permeating his nostrils.  "When you do reach it, keep along the border of Wonder Tower!"  They soon pass the Ace Chemicals building, and the orders are being followed, but he could tell that they were slowing down.  "I see the area!"  Grabbing a flare and loading it into a handheld launcher, he fires it at the location.  "Get ready to jump!"

[To add]