I knew I had to warn Ndoku, but first, I had to summon the lift back to the underground. All thoughts of personal safety took a backseat as adrenaline surged through me. My hands instinctively reached within my coat to retrieve the Sith mask.
I couldn't stomach the thought of Batman and his young sidekick leaving with all the information they now possessed about us. It would mean open war, a scenario I hadn't foreseen. Regret gnawed at me for sending Ndoku away. It was that momentary distraction that allowed Batman to turn the tables on me.
I was about to don the Sith mask, when a sudden explosion rocked the hallway behind me. My heart raced as a thick cloud of smoke billowed forth. "Fuck," I muttered, recognizing it as one of Batman's smoke pellets. Relief washed over me—he wasn't out yet. But then that ment i was stuck here with him.
Bringing the mask to my face, I felt a rush of determination. I needed to act fast. But before I could even react, a whooshing sound cut through the air, and the mask flew out of my hand.
"Don't move," a menacing voice whispered next to my ear, sending a chill down my spine. I froze, cursing my delay. The moment I noticed Batman had freed himself, I should have acted.
"Where is he?" the voice demanded, its tone cold and threatening. I could sense the barely contained fury, the temptation to break his oath not to kill. It wasn't comforting to know I was on the receiving end of that moral dilemma.
Still, I had to stall for time. Angry or not, I had to use his hesitation to my advantage, to figure out how to retrieve the mask lying near the handcuffs he'd left behind.
"Don't you mean where are we?" I jested, but before I could finish, an electrifying shock coursed through my body. I trembled with pain, wondering where Batman had gotten the taser—I had personally confiscated his tool belt.
"Where is the boy?" Batman repeated, his voice icy.
Gasping for air, I tried to compose myself. The shock had cleared my mind, sharpening my focus.
"Your puppy is on the ground floor. I really think you should ask nicely," I retorted, feeling a surge of confidence for the first time.
"Which way?" Batman's voice was terse, demanding immediate compliance. Despite the pain still pulsating through me, I realized there was no point in withholding information. Batman needed me alive, and I intended to leverage that fact.
"This way," I answered, gesturing towards myself with defiance.
Suddenly, a firm grip propelled me around and I found myself staring into eyes behind the mask. They were cold, just like the voice. Batman held my gaze in silence as if we were in a staring contest. Perhaps it was his way of letting me know how close he was to losing his cool. It did not work on me, though. I was adamant. Like I said, angry or not, he needed me alive.
"Relax," I said, feeling the need to make things clear and break the terse silence. "I really mean it, I am your only way here… or at least I am part of it."
The Dark Knight still glared at me for a while longer, as if gauging my honesty. Then he shoved me backwards.
"Explain."
From the resignation in his voice, it was obvious he had tried to find an exit on his own but had failed, and now he needed me. This was my chance, and I would be damned if I missed it.
Seizing the opportunity, I composed myself, ready to lay out my plan. "That mask is the key," I began, gesturing toward where it lay. "I need it."
Batman's gaze followed my gesture towards the mask, his expression unreadable behind his own mask. I could feel the gears turning in his mind as he considered my words. After what felt like an eternity, he gave a curt nod. I cautiously took a step towards the mask, my heart pounding with tension. Seconds from salvation, I told myself. Just a few more steps.
But just as I was about to reach it, Batman's voice rang out across the space. "Stop."
I froze mid-step, silently cursing under my breath. I watched with growing anxiety as the Dark Knight walked past me and retrieved the mask himself.
"Aah, of course," I sighed with a carefree tone, despite my heart pounding thunderously. "I almost forgot your detective obsessions. Feel free to unmask the mask."
Though my face showed no hint of tension, my mind was racing with questions. Could Batman be able to operate the mask? Surely not. It was supposed to respond only to Force-sensitive beings, and Batman did not meet that criteria.
Batman scrutinized the mask thoroughly, his eyes narrowing as he examined every detail. After what felt like an eternity, he finally handed it over.
"Fool," I almost cursed aloud as I hastily reached out and placed the mask on my face. The instant the mask made contact with my skin, I felt a surge of power coursing through me, a dark, exhilarating force that seemed to respond to my very thoughts. The Sith mask was awakening, its dark energy intertwining with mine, granting me the power I desperately needed.
Batman's eyes narrowed as he watched me. I could sense his growing suspicion, his unease. But it was too late for him to intervene now.
I turned to Batman, feeling the dark energy pulse through me. "Thank you," I said, my voice dripping with mock gratitude. "You've just made things a lot easier for me, so in turn I will do the same. This is where you surrender."
As I spoke, the crimson glowing light whip appeared in my hands, its electric tendrils coiled calmly in deceit. The Dark Knight's eyes narrowed as he observed the unexpected turn of events—or was it?