Chereads / Ghost Raider in DC universe / Chapter 53 - Mystery of Batwoman

Chapter 53 - Mystery of Batwoman

"Things have been pretty peaceful in Gotham lately. No major crimes barley any common criminals resurfacing." Bruce said to Sean as they walked into the tech labs.

"Well considering the fact that Blaze killed most of the City's most dangerous criminals nearly 4 years ago I cant say I'm surprised. However though while Gotham is becoming a safer place there are still dangers in the world and allied worlds." Sean said.

"True and the Dark Rider is still at large." Bruce said.

"I wouldn't worry to much about him. He's been rather silent since our war on the tan nation ended." Sean said before they came to a glass case. "In the meantime however I took the liberty of adding something to your arsenal." Sean said as the case opened and Bruce widened his eyes before a small smirk came to his face.

"Impressive." Bruce said.

Later

Joker during the night with Red Hood had encountered a woman dressed like a bat so they called her BatWoman who had tried to kill a group of thugs transporting weapons.

"Do you think this could have been one of your old enemies. Perhaps CatWoman." Alfred said.

"No, even Selina Kyle has more Regard for human life. This is someone Entirely new Alfred. Joker doesn't even know who she is and our Earths have a similar history." Bruce said getting out of the shower. "That Last thing Gotham needs is a Vigilante who kills without oversight running amuck." Bruce said since while Vigilantes like that were more common now they had to be watched from a distance to make sure they didn't cross any lines.

"As they say on the streets I ain't touching that one." Alfred said.

"The point is, her costume links her to me. Why? What does she have planned? How far will she go?" Bruce said.

"Do be careful. Remember, there are many species in which the female is deadlier then the male." Alfred said.

Meanwhile

Rupert Throne was outside a factory waiting for someone before a Limo arrived and Carlton Duquesne.

"He's been waiting." Thorn said as they went into the factory and entered a secret basement were highly advanced weapons were being built by the Penguin.

"Mr. Duquesne. I hear we had an unpropitious setback." Penguin said.

"If you mean we got hit, yeah." Duquesne said.

"And how exactly could that have happened?" Penguin asked.

"I don't know yet. No one but us even knew about the shipment was going out last night." Duquesne said.

"Well somebody did." Penguin said.

"A BatWoman?" Thorne asked.

"That's what my man said, Thorne." Duquesne said.

"Batman, BatGirl, BatWoman! Whats is it about this city? The Water?" Penguin said

"Fortunately it was only one truckload. I've doubled the manpower at our warehouse sites. No way she can get to the rest." Duquesne said.

"Forgive me if I'm not so sanguine. Our contractor has paid us half a billion dollars for these arms and if we're unable to deliver they'll want their money back and since we've spend most of it that would present a problem." Penguin said.

"You never did say who our contractor was." Throne said.

"I don't know who they are either they just told me what to do." Penguin said.

Later

Sean and Bruce were in a meeting meant for a demonstration by a woman named Rocky Ballantine.

"With the help of our Transformer Allies I've managed to make a new metal that can change shape or from." Rocky said giving her demonstration which amazed the board.

"Very impressive." Sean said.

Later

Commissioner Gordon along with Bullock and a woman with tan skin brown hair and brown eyes used the bat signal to signal Batman.

"There he is." Gordon said as he dropped down and to their surprise he was in a new outfit. This one was all black and his logo was red. (Batman Beyond suit people)

"Whoa nice new suit." Bullock said.

"An upgrade from Global Tech. What is it Commissioner?" Batman asked.

"I had Bullock collect the remains of the contraband Batwoman destroyed. I thought you might like to take a look." Gordon said showing the remains which were very high tech weapons.

"Stuff's out of Star Trek. I thought maybe someone broke into a toy store." Bullock said.

"These aren't toys Bullock. This is a plasma rifle. It could take out a tank at 200 yards." Batman said since the alliance was creating weapons like this in the event the Dark Rider started a new war.

"More like 500. I measured the clip size." The Woman said.

"Sonia Alcana, Bullock's new partner." Gordon said.

"There are also EK4 lasers and a barrel from a surface to air missile launcher." Sonia said.

"Who's behind this?" Batman asked.

"The truck driver ain't talking but I've got some leads." Bullock said twirling some keys in the air.

"We have nothing." Sonia said before Batman grabbed the keys.

"Where'd you get this?" Batman asked.

"From the guy's truck when I had it impounded." Bullock said.

"I'll get back to you." Batman said before flying off.

Later

Batman, Robin and Turok appeared outside the factory Penguin owned.

"Penguin owns this place?" Turok asked

"Along with Duquesne and Throne." Batman said.

"What do they make here?" Robin asked.

"Trinkets, figurines, weapons of mass destruction." Batman said looking around before gunfire was heard making them rush inside.

Inside Batwoman was surrounded by a group of thugs.

"So you like to play rough huh Sweetie?" One of the thugs said before a chain wrapped around his neck and snapped it.

Everyone looked up seeing Batman, Robin and Turok in Rider form drop down next to her.

"Welcome to superhero team up." Robin said as they fought off the thugs with ease.

"You shouldn't be here." Batwoman said.

"Likewise." Batman said.

"No. I mean, I've set a charge." Batwoman said.

"Where?" Batman asked.

"Bellow us. A munitions room." Batwoman said before the bomb went off setting off a chain reaction blowing up the building.

Batman, Robin, Turok and Batwoman got out just as the whole factory blew up.

"The hell was that all about?" Turok asked in human form with a hood over his face.

"They were making arms for a contract. Something I'm sure the state department would frown upon." Batwoman said.

"Little hard to prove that now. Who's the contract to?" Batman asked.

"Unknown. They were finished her but I've just begun." Batwoman said before her glider appeared and flew off.

"Lets go." Batman said.

Next morning

"You want me to do what?" Sean asked.

"Follow Kathy Duquesne. I have reason to believe she might actually be BatWoman." Bruce said.

"So? She's doing us a favor." Sean said.

"Maybe but this contract she spoke about has me on edge." Bruce said making Sean frown.

"Alright I'll keep an eye on her." Sean said.

Sean followed Kathy Duquesne to the mall where he kept his distance before.

"Sir, could you help me?" Kathy said behind Sean.

"Sorry, I don't work here." Sean said before getting a better look at her.

"No, Not that. See those men? I'd rather they not see me. If you could just help me get to the escalator." Kathy said using her charm on him making Sean smile.

"Okay. Usually, you only see things like this in movies." Sean said making her smile before they tried to get away.

"Hey! Miss Duquesne!" One of the men said.

"Well fuck." Sean said before pulling her up bridal style and jumped down making her laugh before they got out the door and Sean locked it.

"Let's go." Kathy said as they got in her car and drove off.

Later

"The legendary Sean Ashburn Kruger. Imagine my luck meeting you." Kathy said.

"Eh I was in the store looking for something for one of my girls." Sean said making her smile.

"So what are you doing in Gotham? Dont you have the world to save?" Kathy asked.

"Nah things have been pretty peaceful since Menendez tried to destroy the country. So why does the daughter of a high level gangster need to ditch her father's bodyguards?" Sean asked.

"Just trying to be normal you know? I used to wonder what it's like to come from a respectable family where there's no Violence, no vendettas, no victims." Kathy said making him sigh.

"I didn't exactly live a normal childhood back then since I was uh more gifted then most in every field." Sean said making her giggle.

"So I've noticed." Kathy said climbing a tree.

"Hey be careful now." Sean said making her smile.

"You sound just like my mother." Kathy said.

"Well I am a parent." Sean said making her giggle.

"And how is the little man?" Kathy asked.

"Doing good with his mother." Sean said. "So happened to yours?" Sean asked making her sigh.

"She died. Isn't that what always happens?" Kathy asked.

"Oh." Sean said before she nearly fell down before Sean grabbed her and pulled her to him.

She looked at him and smiled before her father's goons arrived.

"Well shit." Sean said.

"Here bring it back sometime or don't theres always more." Kathy said handing her keys to him before kissing his cheek as she went with the goons and they drove off while Sean frowned.

Later

"Well?" Bruce asked.

"Regrettably she does have a reason to be targeting her father. Her mother was killed 10 years ago when her father was targeted. Nevertheless I'm still not fully convinced." Sean said leaning on the wall in the bat cave.

As they were talking Turok was destroying some training dummies with his chain.

"Whats with him?" Turok asked Alfred about his brother.

"I believe Master Kruger has some affection for Miss Duquesne." Alfred said.

"Doesn't he have enough women in his life?" Turok asked himself before destroying the next dummy.

Meanwhile

Kathy was getting out of the pool when she heard her father yelling at one of his men pissed off about Penguin getting some extra muscle to kill BatWoman.

Later

Sean was taking Kathy out on a date to the Iceberg Lounge.

As they were walking to their table lots of men were staring at her making Sean frown.

"Sorry being the daughter of someone like daddy has a few admirers." Kathy said.

"Not your fault. Though I'm not exactly fond of this place for who owns it." Sean said.

As they were talking Penguin was going to his office where BatWoman tied him up.

"So tell me Penguin who's the new muscle you have?" BatWoman asked making him glare before the rope that was around him tightened making it harder to breathe.

"BANE!" Penguin said.

"Bane?" Batwoman said before the security arrived.

As Sean and Lathy were talking Batwoman bursted through the wall.

"What the?" Sean said before she called in her glider and made it out of the building. Sean looked at Kathy who was lost for words.

'Well at least this proves it's not her.' Sean thought with relief.

Sean walked Kathy back home before she kissed him.

Later

"It's not her?" Bruce asked.

"Dude she was right in front of us. If it's not her then who the hell is it?" Sean asked before something clicked. "Wait a second doesn't Rocky have a fiancé in prison? If I recall correctly he was framed by Penguin but the evidence pointed to him." Sean said.

"You do bring up a good point but still. It cant be her since she was in the office the same night Batwoman took down the factory." Bruce said pulling up footage.

"We're missing something." Sean said.

Later

Bane was meeting with Penguin, Thorne and Duquesne about the shipment while unaware that Batwoman was spying on them. The Shipment would be carried out on a cruse liner.

Meanwhile

Batman was in Kathy's room looking for something to connect Rocky and Cathy to each other when he spotted a sketch book and narrowed his eyes.

"Sean I think I may have just found the connection that links Batwoman to Rocky and Kathy." Batman said on the comms.

"And that would be?" Sean asked.

Later

Sonia was looking at the Cruse ship that was heading out.

"Games over Sonia." Sean said behind her.

"I beg your pardon sir?" Sonia asked confused.

"Enough games. You, Cathy and Rocky have been plotting against Thorne, Duquesne and Penguin since you each had agendas against them. You had a grudge against Thorne for burning down your parents business. Rocky had a grudge against Penguin for framing her Fiancé and Kathy had hers for the death of her mother." Sean said making her frown before sighing.

"Your right. You would know about a grudge against someone. Don't think I haven't found out who killed the person who tried to kill you and your family 10 years ago. You should know how that feels." Sonia said.

"I do but you girls are crossing a line. None of you are cold blooded killers. Where's Kathy?" Sean asked.

Meanwhile

Bane had captured BatWoman who had tried to set a charge in the cargo hold to destroy the weapons they built. Penguin, Thorne and Duquesne soon arrived.

"Exemplary work." Penguin said.

"I wanted you here when I realized who she was. I felt a certain caution was in order." Bane said.

"So who is she?" Thorne asked as Bane pulled off her mask revealing her to be Cathy.

"Kathy?" Duquesne said in shock while the cards in Throne's hands hit Penguins face.

"What's going on Duquesne?" Penguin asked.

"No wonder Why always knew our plans." Thorne said.

"What? You think I told her?" Duquesne asked.

"She planed to use this." Bane said showing a device in hand. "Don't let the size fool you. It's a carbonate bomb. It can take out this entire chamber and more." Bane said.

"Are you crazy? How could you do this to me?" Duquesne asked his daughter.

"It was easy, Daddy. You made it easy, because of the kind of man you are. The kind of man whose wife is killed just because she stands next to him. The kind of man who makes a prison out of his own house and a prisoner out of his own child. The kind of man who spreads misery to everything he touches. And for what? For them?" Kathy said.

"Shut up!" Duquesne said about to slap her but didn't. "This doesn't make sense!" Duquesne said.

"On that we agree because I distinctly remember your daughter at my lunger with the Kruger Brat the night BatWoman assaulted me. You're not in this alone, Are you Kathleen?" Penguin said aiming his weaponized umbrella at her.

"Penguin no!" Duquesne said about to stop him but Bane pulled him into a headlock.

"Tell me who else is involved while..." Penguin tried to say before a chain wrapped around him and threw him into a wall. Looking up they saw Batman and the leading Ghost Rider above them.

"Let her go." Sean said before Batman drop kicked Bane away from Kathy while Sean used his chain to pull her up.

"How did you know I was in trouble?" Kathy asked as they made it topside before Sean looked at her and reverted to human form making her eyes widen.

"I'll explain later." Sean said about to open a portal when Kathy activated the bomb making him look at her. "Kathy..." Sean tried to say.

"Look It has to end. Please." Kathy said making him sigh before he kicked it down to the weapons.

"At the very least let it blow up in the right place." Sean said making her smile before he turned into the Rider again. "Batman time to go." Sean said making him fly up to them and entered the portal while the villains made off in a boat just as the ship exploded.

Later

Penguin and the others were captured by the police.

"How did you figure it out?" Kathy asked.

"Honey I've got allies everywhere that hear things. Plus Batman made the connection to you Rock and Sonia from your Sketch book." Sean said grinning making her frown that her room was invaded.

"Not cool." Kathy said making him chuckle before kissing her forehead making her smile as she pressed her head into his chest.

"Uh Kruger we might have a problem here." Reznov said on the comms.

"What is it?" Batman asked.

"Its better if you see for yourself." Reznov said.

The hero group of Gotham soon arrived by a police car.

"What is it?" Batgirl asked.

"While Penguin and the others were being escorted to the Prison an unexpected event occurred." Reznov said scratching his head.

"What do you mean what happened to Daddy?" Kathy asked in concern making him sigh before some SHIELD agents pulled up four large barrels and opened them and inside. Kathy Screamed in horror seeing her father was torn to pieces along with Penguin and the others. She buried her face in Sean's chest crying her eyes out and he held her close.

"Oh good God!" Joker said in disgust while Robin puked his guts out from seeing such carnage.

Batman narrowed his eyes in rage at such an event while Batgirl held her mouth in shock and horror.

"Who the hell did this?" Red Hood asked.

"My money is on this contract of theirs that paid them for those weapons. Guess they don't take failure lightly." Nightwing said.

"You think?" Sean asked.

Later

Kathy had passed out in Sean's mansion after hours of crying.

"You and both know who's responsible for this." Bruce said.

"The Dark Rider. But why? Why pay them to make weapons when he can steal them like he's done before?" Sean asked.

"Probably to avoid getting under our radar. The more he steals the more chance we might get of finally finding him and taking him down. Guess he didn't take the face that the weapons he paid for being destroyed to kindly." Bruce said not amused or impressed by this.

"I'll have Talbot put everyone on full alert." Sean said.

Later

"Good god." Lane said seeing the photos of Duquesne, Penguin, Thorne and Bane in the barrels.

"Not surprising considering who we're dealing with." Talbot said before closing the file. "I'll have Fury get on this as soon as possible. Right now we have other concerns." Talbot said as two men walked in who Sean knew from childhood.

"Willian, Mitchel its been a long time guys." Sean said shaking their hands.

"Nice to see you again Sean." William said. William Irons was an old friend of Sean's from when they were kids along with Mitchel.

"So whats up?" Sean asked.

"We have reason to believe North Korea is about to invade Seoul." William said.

"Oh that again. Why cant these people ever just get along?" Sean asked annoyed since these two countries have been at each others throat for decades.

Later

"Well good news is Dent is looking the other way about Sonia and Rocky being Batwoman along with freeing Rocky's Fiancé from Prison now that we got better proof that Penguin framed him." Sean said to Bruce.

"Yes I suppose that is good but what I still don't understand is how the Dark Rider managed to get into Gotham without us knowing?" Bruce said.

"This is a man who we hardly know still. It's only natural for us to be unaware. Nevertheless It wont happen again." Sean said.

"And what about the possibility of a new war between North and South Korea?" Bruce asked.

"I really honestly hope that doesn't happen since I'm sick and tired of these two always fighting over pointless shit." Sean said.