DIRE CONSEQUENCES
By Patrick J. Kane
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Chapter I
Welcome Back, Agent Cassidy
Me name's Sean Cassidy some of ye may know me as Banshee. Today I'm on some vacation, I decided tae stop pop in on de love of me life Moira Mactaeggert. However things ninna have gone as planed. Ye see Moria is infected with the Legacy Virus, and well has been shutin me off these past few months. She wasn't too wild bout me showing up without notice.
"Sean I love ye with all me heart but, I'm very busy and I really dinna have time for this." she protested.
"I haven't see ye in months I just wanted tae.... Look I know the real reason is ye dinna want me tae be infected with the legacy Virus."
" I just don't want tae see ye have to face a slow and painful death.."
" Dinna ye see me love livin without ye is even slower and more painful, I would rather be infected and die than never tae see ye again. Never tae touch ye."
Just as I finished that sentence Nightcrawler came into the room.
"Sean there is a phone call for ye," informed Kurt.
I then let out a sign and turned and went tae the phone.
On the other line was me old friend Michael Dreven of Interpol.
"Glad I found you Sean..." Was the first thing Dreven said.
" Look Michael, I'd love tae talk but now just isn't the time."
" Sean, ye don't have a choice, you're in deep shit, just get your ass down to Interpol Headquarters S.A.P." He then cut off the transmission.
I never had known Michael tae jerk me around so I knew this was serious. I didn't really have a choice, I had tae go and leave things with Moira unresolved, as always. So I went down to H.Q. and when I arrived Dreven was waiting for me.
"Michael, I'm here.."
"SSSHH" he then yanked me into the Janitor room.
"What the bloody hell is going on?" I asked.
"Did I forget tae mention you're a wanted criminal?" Dreven said sarcastically.
"Aye, I think ye did."
"Remember a year back when you an your daughter helped on Deadpool?" (see Deadpool II mini-series) asked Michael.
"Aye, how could I forget? I dinna see why Theresa likes the mercenary."
"Well, you're wanted for helping an international criminal. I figure your best bet is turn your-self in," my friend told me. "What?!?!? are ye daft?"
"Look a case has arisen that is so big no Agent is willing to take it. Now if you offer, maybe they will drop the charges. With ye powers you have a better chance than anyone. It's your only real chance." explained this decorated Interpol Agent.
I agreed, Dreven took me into his custody, and took me to the boss.
"My, my, Dreven, you just made me change my opinion of you. Hand over the ex-agent piece of shit." said Caine the boss of this division of Interpol.
"I got a deal for you John, drop all the charges you have on my friend here and he will go out on that mission that no one wanted to go on, in fact they all went out of the way not to go," bargained Dreven.
"Why the hell not, it's not like he'll survive. Here is the deal, we drop you off with this in your arm," He said and then pulled a micro-tracer. "Wait! No, that's not part of the deal!!!!!!!!!!!" cried Dreven.
"Nae it's all right, ye have a deal boyo," was me reply.
I figured with the stuff Xavier has he could easily remove compared tae the primitive junk they have here. I mean I had tae get dem charges off me back. John Caine then pulled out a file the size of Juggernaut.
" Here is your case, you're going after a person who has been at the heart of this world's problems for too long. He is only known by the name Ra's al Ghul. Last known place of operation: Gotham City."
Chapter II
Welcome to my Lair, said the Spider to the Fly
My name is Tim Drake, I'm the current Robin, you heard right, the boy that hangs around with Batman. Well tonight Batman isn't around and I'm alone against a foe I can recall Bruce saying was the only foe he ever truly feared. As Robin number three I've had some big boots to fill, and I think I had been doing a good job of it too. Until tonight that is. I was out with my girlfriend Ari, as of course well as we all know saving the world doesn't leave much time for a personal life, which you might say is just the problem.
" Tim, we hardly spend anytime together and when we do you always keep running out on saying you forgot something or you have to do something of some of you other lies," Ari said in a protesting manner.
"Ari.. It's not like that, I mean I really have to..."
"I don't want to hear it, I mean what possible excuse could you have on running out every time we get together?"
It was like I couldn't get a word in at all. What I did get in she totaelly ignored. I mean what was I supposed to say? The Joker is holding hostages, if you'll excuse me while I go put on my tights. Or perhaps she would like, remember when you kidnapped by the Russian mob and Robin saved you? Well that was me all along. I mean come on besides it's not like I could tell her, I mean my dad doesn't even know... I mean as much as I love her we just don't know if we have a future together no matter how much I want one. My dad and I will always be tied yet I can't bring myself to tell him.
"Ari, look I want-"
"Tim, let me finish."
Just then the sky lit up and a black bat was hovering upon the clouds. It was show time, and I don't believe I'd have to make up some lame excuse AGAIN, but Bruce can handle this without me right? I could stay her with Ari and Bruce could fly solo this one night. Ah, who was I fooling? I kissed Ari goodnight and said I have to go, I'll call you tonight. I dashed off before she could say a word. I met Batman atop the staetion.
Gordan informed us, "A scientific research laboratory has been robbed recently. All of the thefts are related to geology, no money was taeken, not a riddle, a clue or a trace."
"Any money taken?" I asked.
"No, just data, and equipment," came the answer from Gordan's mouth.
"Maybe they will sell the equipment for money," I pondered aloud.
"No Robin, I can't imagine anyone in the underworld who have a use for it, not even for parts. Who ever did this has something planned," were the only words spoken by the Dark Knight.
Just then Detective Harvey Bullock came onto the roof.
"Commish, an Earthquake research center in California had all of its equipment ripped off, and a place in France too," grunted Harvey.
"Did you catch that Batman...Batman? I hate it when he does that." was Gordan's reply.
Batman was already gone by the time Gordan said that but I always love to see Gordan's face when Bruce does that so I stuck around a bit. Looks like we're going back to the cave.
I was right; we went back to the cave where Alfred had sandwiches waiting.
"Whoever is doing this is preparing for something, their next logical target is the Wayne-Tech European office, which is Europe's premiere geology place of study. That's where I'm going, Tim, you and Alfred will staey here in case anything arises here." With that, Bruce left to pursue the lead.
Almost a day later Gotham felt a Earthquake that was 4.0 on the Richter scale. Bruce was flowing a false lead and the thief was still in Gotham. Gotham hasn't had an earthquake in a century. The thief had to be using the equipment and knowledge that he stole to cause the earthquake. With some help from Oracle I was able to track the quake to its focal point. Sure enough, this quake was not natural. The focal point was three miles out side of Gotham where a new hotel was being built near an old amusement park.
I really should have checked the owner of the hotel but I had other things on my mind like, how I blew it with Ari. I went out there alone, another mistaeke. I wasn't on the grounds longer than a minute when I ran into a brick wall, well a guy the size of one anyways. Before I knew it I woke up upside down, tied up looking at the face of Ra's al Ghul. I could also swear I heard a screaming in the back round... more like a wail.
Chapter III
The New Dynamic Duo?
After a good day or two I found out where Ghul was staying. I came in there full force, my sonic scream and all only to find another costumed hero. Everyone was knocked out but him.
"I don't know you are but thanks!" said the costumed boy.
"Ye can call me Banshee, who be you?" I asked.
"Introductions later, untie me!!!!" persisted the boy.
Call me crazy but I untied him just as the rest of de lot was coming to.
"Why dinna ye get knocked out?" I asked.
"Ear plugs, I had then in, because with all the equipment stolen, I assumed if they were active they would make a lot of noise. I mean, since when is an earthquake making machine made for silent running? To activate them all I had a to do is shake my head in a special pattern. By the looks of things it's time to rock!" said the boy.
He then charged into the surrounding people, kicking and such, I knew I didn't have time for this so knowing that the lad had earplugs I let lose another sonic scream this time knocking them all out, except of course for the costumed laddie. I was then too busy pattin me self on de back tae notice on behind me. Then a yellow blur came from the lad's hand and whizzed past me ear. I then heard a scream from de man behind me, I turned to find a yellow "R" in the man's hand. The boy saved me life.
"OK lad ye earned me trust, what's your name?" asked I.
"You can call me Robin" the boy said proudly.
"Robin it is, now what are ye doing here?"
"My job as this city's CO-protector, what's your reason?"
I then pulled out me badge, and showed it to him.
"I'm a cop laddie, with Interpol I'm here after one Ra's al Ghul."
"A superpowered cop? We could probably use you here in Gotham."
"That's just they dinna know, and I'd like tae keep it that way."
"Your secret is safe with me, I have to keep a few secrets of myself."
"So I see, nuff chit chat."
We searched around and Ghul was nowhere to found. He must have escaped during the fight or at the time of introductions. Robin then looked rather frustrated and took off to his car.
"What's this laddie?" I asked.
" My car, the Red Bird, now if you'll excuse me I have to use Batman's vast resources to find Ghul," explained Robin.
"Mind if I come along?"
"I'm afraid where I'm going is part of that secret I was telling you about."
" Look, ye saved me life, I trusted you with me secret, now trust me with yours."
"I'm afraid I can't do that, it's not just my secret."
"Understaendable, but I would like to meet you tomorrow about this time to compare notes."
"That I can do, Gotham Towers this time tomorrow night."
He then got into his car and disappeared into the night. I then went to my hotel and got Dreven on the phone.
"Michael, I had me first encounter with Ghul, I hate tae say it but he got away, I need ye to do some research for me. Get all you can on a Robin and Batman," I asked.
"I'm on it my friend. I also regret to say that that bastard Caine hid something. You know that tracer, it's much much more. You have forty-eight hours, give or take an hour to complete your mission or a timer goes off in your tracer and releases a toxin into your blood stream that will kill. It seems they didn't trust you at all. I TOLD you not to let them implant that tracer!" Dreven informed.
"I'll be all right. Dinna worry, have some faith in me. Cassidy out."
I then went to bed and awoke to the phone ringing. I answered groggy and temporarily forgetting me deadline.
"ello, Cassidy here," was how I answered the phone.
"Sean, it's Michael I got that info you wanted and more," was the greeting Michael gave.
"Let's hear it."
" Batman and Robin are the self-dubbed protectors of Gotham city, possessing no real super-human powers. They have an ongoing alliance with the Gotham City Police Department which is head by Commissioner James Gordan. To call upon the two they use the famous "Bat-Signal" which they shine on the heart of the city which in turn summons the team. Also we have uncovered a weakness of Ghul's, - that would be his daughter Talia. We can pick her up and use her. Her last know location was... Egypt."
"Nae, I dinna want tae work that way, that would be sinking tae his level."
"Aye have it your way, just giving you all the options. Now get a move on remember that timer?!?!?"
On that note I hung up and went back to the scene I was at last night only to find that it had plucked dry of any evidence of the other night. Well almost any. I did find some grain on the floor of the place. From there I went onto meet Robin atop Gotham Towers.
"There you are, I've been waiting, I figured that since this was Ra's al Ghul we needed some help so I tried to get in touch with Batman but I can't get hold of him." Robin proclaimed.
"Uh-huh, back to business. I found this grain on the floor of the base we were out last night. I ran some traces and it's a fine white wheat grain. I was hoping we could use you vast resources to find out where this came from," was me reply.
"This is what I got, with the equipment Ghul has stolen, and knowing his usual motive."
"What be his usual motive?" I cut in.
"Cleansing the world, and he thinks the best way to do so is to start over. Wiping out half the population of the world or more giving a chance to start anew. He is stealing the equipment to start earthquakes which should release water deep within the crust of the Earth. When it rises it will cause flooding in most of the world. Farther north and south the water will freeze expanding the polar ice-caps."
"Saints preserve us... It's up to me.. up to us tae save the world from this mad man."
Chapter IV
Tis a Far Far better thing...
After analyzing that grain Banshee found, we narrowed down the base of operation of Ghul to the only two places in the city which housed this type of grain. The first place was a no go, it was a farm, out in the rurals but there was no sign of Ghul or his followers. The next place was a cereal factory in the heart of Gotham's industrial area. We both knew Ghul had to be there so we went in prepared. Banshee was packing his sonic scream and I with my utility belt, bo staff, and the Red Bird which happened to have a lot high tech stuff in it to help with this mission. Oh, yeah, I also had my industrial strength ear plugs, I'd have to be insane to forget those.
OH, NO.
In all the confusion I forgot to call Ari like I promised. She's going to kill me, I'd rather face Two-Face than her tomorrow I can't believe.. Come on Tim put your person problems aside it's time to save the world.
We took the aerial way in and came crashing down through the sky light. Banshee had to have taken out half of them when he fell from the sky as to which was his domain and went into convulsions. No matter how many times I've read Ghul's file, no matter how many times I've faced him I still can't comprehend his actions. Truthfully, I don't think Bruce or Dick know either. Though they never let on I knew how they looked at Ghul... An enigma wrapped in an enigma, I even heard Bruce say something when I asked who Ghul was for the first time. Bruce's only response was "The only man I truly fear". Which happens to be one of the reasons I teamed up with the Irishman. However I'm getting ahead myself.
Ghul ordered his men not to attack. He then took Banshee in his hands and started to walk off with him. I didn't know what to do so I just followed him. We went down way past the sub-basement down into the depths of Gotham mines which is was one of the main reasons this became the industrial area. The farther we went down the warmer it became, and then I saw it. The big life force of Ra's al Ghul, the Lazurs pit. What was he doing? An even better question was why did Banshee go into convulsions?
However as Bruce taught me there is a time to think and then there is a time act. I did a flip in front of Ghul and pulled out my Bo staff.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Saving your friends life."
"Why? We are out to stop you."
"Better question, why hasn't your partner killed me after all these years?"
"Because we believe..." I was cut off.
"It was a rhetorical question, I shall finish it after you help your friend."
"But why...? Are you?"
"DO YOU WISH YOUR FRIEND TO LIVE? IF SO, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE NOW HELP ME LOWER HIM!"
Reluctantly I helped lower Banshee into the pit. He was then engulfed by the molten liquid. A flame sparked from the place Banshee was merged with the pit. It looked like something from a high budget movie. Then I started to hear a high pitched scream. I activated those ear plugs and Ghul placed some in his ears as well. The scream soon grew and the surrounding guards started to scream in pain. Then like the Phoenix, Banshee emerged from the flames. The scream grew and the ear plugs seemed to loose their point until Banshee passed out and begin a spiral head dive down to where we were. I shot a grappling hook into the cavern's ceiling and started scaling the line. I then shot another line outward with a small slope down. I then put a batarang over the line and slid down the line to catch Banshee but I was too slow, he passed the line before I got there. I was forced to do a freefall down after him. I got him in my grasp, then fired an "R" which wrapped around a stalagmite and we swung to safety. I hate to brag...actually I love to brag I was trying to be modest (it didn't work) that was a first class save on my part, one worthy of a pat on the back from Batman.
" Go, take him to your Batcave. When he is healed you may come a thwart my efforts, I'll be waiting."
"Why?"
"The thrill of the game my boy, thrill of the game."
"How do I know you won't strike while I'm attending to him?"
"If you did your homework like your mentor you will know that the equipment that I used to cause the earthquakes takes at least four days to recharge."
I did just that. I took Banshee home to the Batcave. I mean where else was I going to take him? When he finally regained consciousness he informed me that Interpol didn't trust him so they put this little poison in his blood stream to be released if the mission isn't complete by a certain time. He would surely have died had not Ghul saved him.. I still don't get why he saved him. The thrill of the game? I just don't get it.
Chapter V
Night of Ghul
I have been known by many names, The Demon's head, the Immortal one, the Eternal, but you know me by the name of Ra's al Ghul. In the eyes of many I am looked upon as evil in its purest form, but in the years to come I shall be known as this world's savior. The world we live in today is a disgrace to the times I have known. I wish to save the world from itself. However many of you look at my methods, the fact is it is the only way. I have tried the other ways for more than a lifetime only to find I wasted my those years. The only way to save the world is to cleanse it. The only way to do this is to destroy the less fit people of the world leaving the world with only an estimated 15% of the world to start anew. With my direction the world shall know the grace and dignity of Ancient Greece.
However in my pursuit to save this world I have run into.... resistance, known as the Dark Knight. He is aided in his quest by a boy. I have noticed the boy change to another throughout the years. On my latest quest to save the world by raising the water table causing flooding and expanding of the ice caps I ran into a new foe. Until I met this man I thought the detective my only worthy adversary, however the new foe is certainingly deserving of my attention. Not as resourceful as the detective, this "Banshee" but perhaps just as deadly. This is of no concern because not even the new player can stop me even if he is aided by the Dark Knight's "partner". Now is the dawning of a new age, an age where only the strongest will survive. My men have questioned my actions when I saved the Banshee from death, why I did this you may ask? The answer is simple, my new foe does not know me, he does not know who he faces, but now that I have shown him that I can control LIFE AND DEATH HE NOW KNOWS I AM A FORCE TO RECKONED WITH AND THAT HIS MISSION IS FUTILE! All I can hope now is that he is smarter than the detective and knows when to quit. Now I must save this world from itself; the equipment is fully charged and I may start again.
'Prepare the equipment." was the order I gave. When my men awaited my signal to start it up. I raised my hand and was going to lower it when... "UGH!" was my only response to an "R" penetrating the skin of my outer hand.
The boy was as persistent as his mentor but much more careless. By the time the R was in my hand, he was surrounded by five of my men. He had lost. Without his mentor watching his back, he was as dangerous as a fly. I removed the R and dropped my hand for the signal. The Earth started to shake. The foundation became loose, and the TV sent out an emergency broadcast of an Earthquake of 9 on the Rictor scale. However unlike regular earthquakes this one will not stop after a few seconds; it will keep going until my mission is complete.
However an unforeseen circumstaences arose.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE E" wailed Banshee.
With that scream the man shattered the equipment I was using to cause the earthquakes. This foiled my plan. However, he didn't stop there, he continued until I and my men passed out. When I awoke I was tied in bonds with the Irish mythical ghost and the detective's partner around me. I didn't know the power behind that man's scream. This only left me with one question.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"I be a mutant, an X-Man, an officer, a teacher and the man who did the impossible. I captured ye," was Banshee's response.
"You impress me like only one other I have know. You may have won this battle but not the war. You forget, I have time on my side." On that note, I dropped a smoke pellet and when the smoke cleared I was long gone, planning the next way to save this world from its inevitable doom.....
EPILOGUE
Banshee returned to Generation X as its headmaster. John Caine was brought up on charges and dishonorably dismissed from Interpol. Michael Dreven was promoted and given Caine's job. Robin returned to the Batcave with one hell of a story to tell. Ghul has yet to resurface but rest assured he is alive and planning his next way to cleanse the world.
The End.
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