Rogue9a
The Master
Global user
Registered: 03-2007
Location: Madison
Posts: 13818
Karma: 16 (+19/-3)
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Batgirl: The Bird's Flight
Batgirl
THE Bird’s flight
Gateway City
Two years ago…
Richard Grayson was watching his parents practice their routine as part of the Flying Grayson’s act. It was the trademark part of the act; a triple summersault catch with out a net, his father would catch his mother after she completed a series of three summersaults. He himself never took part in the set; it was too dangerous for the 14 year old Richard to do so he would often watch from the platform. They were coming up on the end of the tour that had started in Gotham City with a near disastrous attack by the man called Joker had it not been for the figure called Batman who knows what might have happened. The practice would be the last one before the show tonight so it was a time for Richard to just hang back as his parents practiced there set with a net incase something happened while they practiced.
Mobster Tony Zucco was also watching, on an assignment for The Roman passed to him from his Boss Sal Maroni he had followed the tour to Gateway City. The owner of this circus was late on his payments and Zucco was going to give him a message that would make him never forget a payment again. It would be simple enough really almost too simple, just tamper with the lines so the star act would suffer a tragic accident. He of course would have to give one last warning and so here he was watching the Flying Grayson’s practice while the owner of the circus dealt with the day to day hassles of running a circus. Why Falcone was wrapped up in the circus business he would never know, Maroni didn’t understand it either but it worked. Falcone was the top crime boss on the east cost he owned the Gotham City underworld as well as the Metropolis underworld for years he used traveling shows like a Circus to transport goods with out any problems.
“Hey Frankie,” Zucco called out when the owner, Frank Mitchell, finished berating an employ for something that Tony didn’t care about.
“What do you want,” Frank looked Zucco over.
“My Boss says The Roman wants his money and he wants it now,” Zucco poked his index finger into Frank’s chest as he spoke. “And I’m here to take it.”
“You can tell your boss that this isn’t Gotham City,” Frank slapped Zucco’s finger away. “He can take his money when he comes here himself.”
“Better watch what you wish for Frankie,” Zucco said as he backed away. “This time tomorrow you’ll be begging The Roman to take the money you owe him.”
“What’s he going to do, make me an offer I can refuse,” Frank sneered as he watched Zucco carefully.
“You think this is a movie punk,” Zucco’s stare would have killed him 10 times over if looks could have killed. “Trust me. We won’t be leaving the head of some horse in your bed.”
“Guinea bastard,” Frank muttered under his breath after Zucco left the tent.
From his spot in the risers Richard had seen the whole thing, he wasn’t to sure what was going on, but he knew that the man who left was no good. Heading off to their family trailer he had thought about telling his parents what he had seen but decided not to because of the performance, no need to tell them about something that really wasn’t their business. After tonight they would go on vacation and leave this circus behind for a couple weeks, he was looking forward to not having to perform 5 shows a weekend. Slipping into his performance clothes he got ready for show.
*****
The place was packed, all was expecting a great time and so far they had gotten just that. From the top of the trapeze platform Richard could see the lion trainer going about his act as he had done so many times before. If everything went as they had in the past he would be flying across the air in less than 15 minutes. His father was already getting ready to swing out where he would be in place to catch him after his first stunt, a single reverse flip. After the lion trainer finished up the spot light was on the Flying Grayson’s. Once the ringmaster finished his bit, he jumped from the platform and preformed his stunt flawlessly. The Crowd gave him a standing ovation as he stood on the platform to take his bow. The rest of the act had gone smoothly producing several more standing ovations from the crowd. When the time came for the Grayson’s trademark event, Richard stood on the platform as his mother swung back and forth to gain more speed. The net had been lowered to the ground any wrong move and disaster would occur all the while the Ringmaster told the crowd how dangerous the stunt was. Richard watched as his mother flew through the air completing the three summersaults and his father catching her perfectly. But he could tell from his father’s face that something was wrong, when the cable gave out abruptly, he could only watch in horror as his parents fell to the ground below them. The crowd that had been clapping wildly now screamed out. When there bodies slammed into the ground, EMT’s were instantly on hand to administer aid but it was too late. In the shadows Tony Zucco wiped his hands on a rag and left the building.
---  |
|
4/14/2008, 2:46 am
|
Send Email to Rogue9a
Send PM to Rogue9a
MSN
Yahoo
|
Rogue9a
The Master
Global user
Registered: 03-2007
Location: Madison
Posts: 13818
Karma: 16 (+19/-3)
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Batgirl: The Bird's Flight
Gotham City
Two years later…
May-The day after Mother’s day
Barbra Gordon ran her fingers through her reddish blonde hair as she took a quick break from her community service requirement. She wasn’t really clear on the whole requiring volunteer work to pass a class; it seemed to counter the whole volunteering aspect. She had been given a choice work in a soup kitchen or an elderly nursing home, not much of a choice as far as she was concerned. In the time since she had become Batgirl she had many encounters with the Homeless, so she chose the soup kitchen. So far it had been pretty easy work; she had been assigned to dish out the food with some other students. The downside to it was the fact she had time to think about the stunning news she had discovered about Batman the night before. As she had expected the news of Bruce Wayne’s arrest was the top news of the day with most of the press accusing the DA’s office of looking for anything to take down the Falcone Crime family even. His arrest did something nothing had been able to do for almost 6 months, kept Holiday off the front pages. It didn’t help that the latest victim was only a black market gunsmith, likely the person who supplied Holiday with the weapons he or she used to commit the murders. While not in the press release she had learned that a crate full of .22 pistols were found and another had been missing.
Shaking the thoughts from her head she continued moved on to the next job, the supervisor, a rather young looking man in his mid 20’s named Rick, had a number of jobs that needed to be done after lunch, from cleaning the kitchen, cleaning the serving table or cleaning the tables. Barbra thanked every God under the sun when Rick assigned her to clean the tables, as she went to work a young man joined her. He was a well built man a tad bit taller then her, his hair was a dark brown that matched his eyes.
“Hello my name is Richard, my friends call me ****,” the kid said.
“Your friends must not like you very much,” Barbra smiled causing **** to smile as well.
“Well its short for Richard not much I can do,” **** laughed as he finished straitening the chairs.
“Do you go to the school,” Barbra asked as she washed the table. “I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”
“Nah I don’t go to your school,” **** replied with a sheepish grin. “I passed my GED a few months back; I work here during the week. Help the people that need it the most.”
“Wow,” Barbra felt her heart skip a beat. She couldn’t quiet understand why at first but it soon dawned on her that she was developing a crush. “My dad would never let me do that.”
“Well I’m kind of on my own,” ****’s face grew sad.
“Sad to hear that,” Barbra decided not to press the issue and continued to clean the tables.
The rest of the time was spent with causal small talk as the two of them finished cleaning the tables. She didn’t know for sure if it was her time as Batgirl or just living with the Commissioner but she felt a bit of distrust towards Richard. She couldn’t help but think he wanted something and was looking for a way to get it out of her. Once everyone had finished their tasks Rick excused them for the day after meeting the requirements. Saying goodbye to her friends she headed down to the bus stop. She was going to stop at home before heading off towards the Batcave, where she would gather what she would need and get some advice from Alfred. It took her only a block to see that she was being followed, normally she would have seen him sooner but who ever it was that was trailing her was good. Ducking into an ally she waited for her tail to show up, all she could hope was that she wouldn’t have to do anything that could show who she is. From her hiding place she saw Richard stop at the ally looking around as if he lost someone. Staying in the shadows she waited until he had walked further into the ally before stepping out.
--- |
|
4/14/2008, 2:47 am
|
Send Email to Rogue9a
Send PM to Rogue9a
MSN
Yahoo
|
Rogue9a
The Master
Global user
Registered: 03-2007
Location: Madison
Posts: 13818
Karma: 16 (+19/-3)
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Batgirl: The Bird's Flight
“So you always follow volunteers as they walk home,” Barbra watched as Richard spun around his hand reaching for his coat pocket. He was a pro most people would have freaked out
“You’re good,” Richard replied as he relaxed.
“You too,” Barbra kept her guard up in case something was wrong. “So I guess you want something.”
“It wasn’t luck that we met Barbra,” ****’s eyes grew darker. “When I learned who you were I decided you could help me.”
“What do you want?” Barbra was suddenly curious at what he could want.
“My name is Richard Grayson, up until 2 years ago I was a member of the flying Graysons,” He bowed his head slightly. “I worked my way to Gotham City looking for the man who killed my parents. It was just with in the last few months that I learned his name, Tony Zucco.”
“Zucco,” Barbra remembered hearing about the death of the elder Grayson’s, they had been in Gotham City not long before they died. She also knew the name; Tony Zucco was a low level captain in the Maroni family, not the smartest person in the world he covered shipping the Falcone family’s goods across the country He was even tied into the sex trade on the side. “What do you want me to do?”
“Your father should know where he is, hell you father could talk to Batman see what he knows,” **** knew the rumors that Batman and Gordon worked together off the books. He was expecting Barbra to deny a partnership but what she said surprised him.
“Batman is out of action,” Barbra bowed her head trying to figure out how best to say it. “He is tracking down some info on who Holiday may be.”
“Well that will make this harder,” **** shook his head.
“I’ll tell you what,” Barbra replied. “I’ll see what I can do and get back to you. You know where the Gotham Union is?”
“Yeah I know it,” **** recalled the Gotham Union, a local theater for films and plays on the Gotham University campus.
“Be there tomorrow night,” Barbra turned to leave the ally “You should get what you want then.”
*****
Across town Tony Zucco couldn’t help but feel relived, mother’s day had come and gone and he was still alive. Like many of Maroni’s men as of late he had started to wonder if or when Holiday would come for them. He didn’t care too much about who Holiday was he was more focused on the shipments out of Gotham City. The whole Circus trick was working like a charm but he didn’t want to press their luck by using one method to ship things out, which left him spending his days looking for other modes of transport. If that wasn’t enough for him he had to deal with the news that someone was asking about him in the slums. He had no idea who this person could be and every attempt to find out had proved useless. Across from him, seated in a low back chair his second in command Artie Baccalieri looked over the latest results of their search which turned up little, only a rough description of who the person was.
“Looks like we’re dealing with some kind of kid who says you killed his parents,” Artie placed the file on the desk in front of Tony.
“That could be anyone,” Tony knew he had murdered a few fathers and even some mothers all on orders from his boss. “Send the boys out to the slums again tonight, start braking bones if you need to, I want to know who this kid is. We’re on the eve of a major play we can’t have some dumb punk ruining things. The Roman will have all our heads.
“Forget about The Roman, the Boss will have your head, The Roman will just take what’s left,” Artie stood up and left the room to carry out Tony’s orders.
With the current business taken care off Tony moves to his next course of business, lunch, turning on the TV, reporter Vicki Vale was giving the latest on Bruce Wayne’s arrest. He knew the charges were bogus but as long as Wayne was kept busy he wouldn’t be able to stop The Roman from getting into the Gotham Bank. As he ate his sub sandwich they aired clips of Bruce being escorted from the Jail to the courthouse, Vicki was commenting on the fact Dent was looking to have him held with out bail.
--- |
|
4/14/2008, 2:48 am
|
Send Email to Rogue9a
Send PM to Rogue9a
MSN
Yahoo
|
Rogue9a
The Master
Global user
Registered: 03-2007
Location: Madison
Posts: 13818
Karma: 16 (+19/-3)
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Batgirl: The Bird's Flight
Renee Montoya had done a lot in her life at only 27, the youngest detective in the force she had now found herself a new partner in Crispus Allen just transferring in from Metropolis. She found that she learned a lot from Allen and took his view on several things including The Batman. However he was not someone she would take to meet her family being an Agnostic he would never fit in with her devoted Roman Catholic parents. They were so devoted she didn’t have the guts to reveal that she was a Lesbian, only her brother knew the truth about her. Pulling a beer from the fridge she sat down on the couch that filled up the living area of the small two room apartment and turned on the TV to hear about the day’s news. Halfway through the weather report a shadow fell over her, turning around she caught the familiar form of Batgirl. Much like Gordon’s communications with Batman she had her own alliance with Batgirl; she had come to her almost a year ago soon after Batgirl first arrived on the scene looking to help Renee with a case that was causing her to lose sleep. With Batgirl’s help they broke up the child sex ring that was using Gotham City as a staging ground. Since then the two had worked together often shearing information when needed and even warning each other of danger.
“What can I do for you?” Renee turned back to the TV.
“Tony Zucco,” Batgirl stayed where she was.
“What about him,” Renee’s blood ran cold when she heard the name, she knew Zucco was one of the men behind the child sex ring but was never able to prove it. Zucco walked out of court all the charges dropped the next day, she vowed he would pay but had yet to find anything to stick to him.
“I may have something to put him away with,” Batgirl replied. “Two years ago in Gateway City, Zucco was seen trying to sway a circus owner. That night The Flying Grayson’s fell to their deaths.”
“Can you prove he had something to do with this,” Renee’s eyes lit up at the thought of putting Zucco away.
“Not yet,” Batgirl stepped back towards the window. “But I will.”
Renee wasn’t at all surprised to find that Batgirl had left when she turned around, much like her mentor Batman always disappearing when they were finished with the conversation. Turning back to the TV she watched as Vicki Vale talked about the newest Space flight to research something about DNA. Renee didn’t pay to much attention to the report.
*****
Chloe Sullivan wrapped up her latest article about the latest Holiday killing, she would rather have covered the big story of the day with Bruce Wayne’s arrest but she was the papers lead reporter on the Holiday Case. Since October some 6 months earlier she had lived and slept Holiday she had made several new friends and contacts inside the police department. Checking the time she sent off the article just in time to make the morning edition. Gathering her things she decided to go home rather then stop at the bar most of the staff visits after work. She had an interview with a profiler about Holiday with the latest Murder a lot of what people thought about him or her had changed. Feeling as if she were followed, she took a look behind her but didn’t find anything but the city street. Turning the corner she found herself staring at the chest of a very tall man. Reaching for her purse the man seemed to predict her movements and grabbed the purse and tossed it down the street. Stepping back she discovered another man behind her, deep down she was kicking herself for allowing herself to be distracted to the point that she was cornered by two thugs who were no looking her over as if she were a slab of beef.
“Listen you don’t want to do this,” Chloe mustered all the courage she could as everything that might happen to her ran threw her mind. She found herself wishing the meteor power she had been infected by was something she could use now.
“We don’t?” the taller man smiled exposing a missing tooth. “Hear that Mick.”
“Sure did Joe,” Mick rubbed his hands in front of him. “We should teach this pretty lady a lesson.”
“I think you should listen to the lady,” another voice joined in causing the two men to spin around. Chloe was used to the idea that vigilantes were as common in Gotham City as Football was to any Texas Town. Ever since Batman came on the scene dozens of pretenders popped up to follow his lead. This one was pretty well known in the slums, she had heard all the stories of a masked vigilante wearing a red and black outfit highlighted by a black and gold cape, on his chest a Gold R filled a black circle.
With the thugs distracted Chloe started to back up some more before she was grabbed from behind and pulled into an ally. Turning around she found herself looking down at the girl who had pulled her to safety.
“Are you okay?” Batgirl looked back at the two men who faced off with the new comer.
“Yeah thanks to your partner,” Chloe sighed.
“He’s not with me,” Batgirl remained still.
“He’s the vigilante from the slums, I recognize him from the descriptions,” Chloe turned back to the confrontation. No one had moved each waiting for the other to make a move.
“What is he doing out here,” Batgirl took a step towards the street. “You should get home.”
“Yeah thanks for the save, and if you get a chance to talk to him thank him as well,” Chloe was surprised when she looked down to see Batgirl handing her, her lost purse. Knowing better then to ask she turned and ran to the other end of the ally making it to a bus stop just before a bus pulled up.
Taking a position above the thugs Batgirl watched the scene play out before her, she wasn’t surprised to see that this man saw her watching but he seemed to ignore her as he continued to stare the men down. Suddenly before Batgirl could even say anything the bigger man leaped forward slamming into the vigilante the other thug just stood back and watched as the two men fought in the center of the deserted street. Batgirl kept her eyes on the fight and the remaining man reaching into her utility belt she pulled out a batarang ready to use it as soon as she needed to. Soon her focus would be broken as the masked man took a shot to the side of the head causing his mask to fall loose revealing to her the man behind the mask. To her shock it was the guy she had met just that day, Richard Grayson, suddenly it hit her as to why he had left the slums. She had told him Batman was out of action for the time being, so he had come out of the slums to help protect the city.
“You going to help at all or you just going to watch,” Richard said as he refashioned his mask back in place.
Shaking her head, she leapt from her hiding place just as the remaining man turned to see who he was talking to. Her hands impacted with the man’s shoulders driving to the ground where his head bounced off the sidewalk knocking him out. Using her momentum she spring boarded to her feet just as Richard delivered a spin kick to the man’s jaw knocking another tooth out and sending him crumpling to the ground.
“Glad you could join me,” Richard smiled the smile that she had fallen in love with.
“May I ask what you are doing here,” Batgirl put an annoyed edge to her voice.
“I thought I could help,” Richard shrugged his shoulders as Batgirl finished tying up the thugs.
“You should get out of here before the police arrive,” Batgirl pulled a grappling gun from her belt and fired it off towards the roof tops. Before Richard could say anything she was gone.
“I got a get me one of those,” Richard watched as Batgirl disappeared into the roof tops. Taking a look around he could hear police sirens approaching, someone had called the police. Heading off in the other direction Richard returned to the Slums.
Next time…
Batgirl teams up with Richard Grayson
Renee Montoya gets a break in a case
Tony Zucco feels the heat
--- |
|
4/14/2008, 2:48 am
|
Send Email to Rogue9a
Send PM to Rogue9a
MSN
Yahoo
|
Add a reply
Link to us
- Blogs
- Hall of Honour
- Chat
|
You are not logged in (login)
Board's time is: 11/27/2009, 1:17 am
|
|
|
