Batman grappled towards Green Arrow, eager to get in another word with the vigilante. He caught up with the emerald archer in no time at all.
“Are you going to try to stop me?” Green Arrow scoffed.
Batman sighed, and slashed the cord that was pulling Green Arrow along, using the blades on his cuffs. Green Arrow began to freefall. Batman caught him with his grapple gun, and yanked him back up.
“Yes.”
“Well it won’t work,” Green Arrow said. He pulled out a contorted arrow from his quiver. It had a steel cylinder around the top of the shaft, before it sprouted into the arrowhead. The cylinder blinked, then exploded into light. Batman was temporarily blinded, allowing Green Arrow to escape.
“Alfred, Oliver is Green Arrow. And he’s trying to take down all crime in Star City on his own.”
“Sounds like someone I know,” Alfred commented.
“Oliver is going to get himself killed,” Batman said.
“So stop him,” Alfred replied.
“I tried. He got me with an arrow equipped with a flashbang,” Batman grunted.
“Try harder.”
“Sounds good.”
Batman tapped one of the pointy ears on the side of his cowl, and his vision turned blue. He scanned some of the residue that the flashbang arrow had left on the tree. He then traced the chemical signature through the air, using his “Detective Vision”. Green Arrow was headed East. Batman grappled through trees, following the signatures. Eventually, he had Green Arrow in his sights.
Batman grappled over to Green Arrow a second time, and yanked all of his arrows out of his quiver. He dropped them to the ground, and grabbed Green Arrow, pulling him over to a tree.
“You’re going to die if you take this entire city on by yourself,” Batman said.
“I don’t see anyone else eager to help,” Green Arrow shot back.
Batman paused for a moment, then responded, “I’ll help.”
“You will?” Green Arrow asked, shocked.
“If it will keep you from dying,” Batman nodded, “Tell me what you need.”
“There’s a masked murderer running around Star City, dropping bodies everywhere he goes. He wears a freaky red mask, and singes his victims after killing them.”
“I can help with a murderer. I deal with those every day in Gotham,” Batman smirked.
“This guy is tricky. Police have managed to catch him before he flees the crime scene, but he blows the place up. Somehow he survives,” Green Arrow explained.
“A murderer who somehow survives explosions. Still doable.”
“Glad to hear it,” Green Arrow smiled.
“Penny-One, pull up a list of recent homicide victims that have been burned after death,” Batman requested. Suddenly, multiple profiles appeared on the originally see-through lenses in front of Batman’s eyes. He tried to analyze connections. There were none.
“There’s no rhyme or reason for why he does it,” Green Arrow sighed, figuring out what Batman was doing.
“I don’t care about the rhyme or reason. Not at this point. That’s in the past, what I care about is the future.”
“Where he’ll strike next,” Green Arrow finished.
Batman nodded. He scanned locations, and identified likely locations for the next hit. If this murderer burned his victims, he was surely crazy. And crazy people always had a rhyme or reason.
Batman was crouched on top of the Wayne Tech building, with Green Arrow at his side.
“Really? Here? Doesn’t this dude know that Bruce Wayne is paranoid. He has his buildings filled with security!” Green Arrow exclaimed.
“It’s not going down here,” Batman said, pointing to a law firm across the street, “It’s going down over there.”
“When?” Green Arrow inquired.
“I don’t know,” Batman admitted.
“So we just have to wait?” Green Arrow groaned.
“Patience is a virtue.”
“Patience is something I learned on the island. I figured I could leave it behind there.”
“What you learned on the island will never leave you,” Batman said, “Instead of letting in hinder you, let it power you to be your best self.”
“Who are you, my father?” Green Arrow scoffed.
“I’m Batman. I think that counts for something.”
Green Arrow went quiet. They both stayed crouched for a few more minutes, until they spotted a woman strolling by the law firm. Suddenly, an arm reached out, and yanked her inside of the law firm.
“The killer is a lawyer?” Green Arrow gasped.
“Don’t make assumptions too quickly,” Batman instructed, grappling over to the law firm, “Our killer could just be using the law firm as a hiding spot.”
Green Arrow followed, launching a grapple arrow. They both landed outside of the firm, and looked in. It was dark and deserted.
“He dragged her farther in,” Batman said, pushing open the glass door.
“Are we doing this stealthily?” Green Arrow asked.
“When there are possible hostages involved, always opt for stealth.”
Batman and Green Arrow crept into the dark law firm. Batman activated his Detective Vision, and spotted the killer and the woman. The woman was in a sitting position, and the killer had his arm around her neck. Batman started moving faster towards the killer and victim. He reached a corner, and peeked around. Sure enough, he saw a dark figure with his arm around the woman’s neck. The woman was tied to a chair, sobbing, with mascara streaming down her face. She shook her head, desperate.
Batman took out a Batarang, and prepared to throw it at the dark figure. But Green Arrow grabbed his arm, and pulled him back.
“What are you doing?” Batman hissed, “I had a perfect shot.”
“You were the one who told me not to make assumptions. This guy sets traps everywhere. What if your weird ninja star thing activated one of them?” Green Arrow whispered.
“It wasn’t a trap. It was the killer himself. I saw him,” Batman grunted, “Now let me take him out.”
Batman flung the Batarang at the killer. The Batarang hit the killer in the shoulder. But the killer didn’t budge. Batman froze up, confused. Green Arrow didn’t freeze. He took action. He sprinted at the woman, and threw her, chair and all, back towards Batman. He then whipped around, and fired a grappling arrow at a far wall. The situation suddenly clicked with Batman, and he yanked the woman behind the corner with him, as Green Arrow zipped away. The figure that Batman has assumed was the killer exploded. Some of the flames nipped at Green Arrow. The blast destroyed the wall Batman was ducking behind, but he had acted as a shield for the woman.
“No assumptions,” Green Arrow groaned, getting up from the ground. He jogged over to Batman and the woman, and freed the woman using an arrow to cut the cloths tying her to the chair.
“Thanks, Green Arrow,” Batman said, standing up. Green Arrow nodded, and escorted the woman out of the building.
Batman was alone in the law firm.
“Come out, coward,” Batman growled.
“The new one is clever,” a deep voice stated, “But not clever enough.”
“Where are you?”
“Knowing where I am won’t help you stop me. I can’t be stopped,” the voice chuckled.
Batman used his Detective Vision to look for heat signatures. Nothing, except for the settling embers from the explosion.
“I had accounted for your gadgets, Batman,” the voice said, “I figured you’d be paying Star City’s vigilante a visit soon. So I made sure I was prepared for you. Thus, I’m wearing a climate controlled suit that makes me blend in at room temperature. Admit it, you’re impressed.”
“I’d be impressed if you came out to face me one on one. That requires bravery,” Batman said.
“It also requires astronomical amounts of stupidity and ignorance,” the voice retorted.
“I’ll find you, one way or another,” Batman declared.
Green Arrow reentered the law firm, and asked, “What’s going on? Where’s our killer?”
“I was just complimenting you,” the voice said, happily.
Green Arrow nocked an arrow, and turned in a circle, searching the room.
“I can’t be seen that easily,” the voice sighed, “You’ll have to actually try.”
“Penny-One, pull up the schematics of the Reading & Sorber Law Firm building,” Batman whispered into his comms. Within seconds, a floor plan appeared on Batman’s lenses. Batman located the PA room. That was where the killer would be broadcasting out of. He then planned out the quickest route to the PA room. Up two floors, crash through a wall, then sprint down a hall, and he’d be there.
“Green Arrow, when I go up, you head outside, and grapple to the top of the building. Keep a look out for the killer if he tries to escape,” Batman said under his breath.
“What are you two talking about?” the voice asked, “Do you think you can defeat me?”
Green Arrow nodded to Batman. Batman fired a grappling line into the ceiling, and flew upwards. He slammed through the weak ceiling, and only faced a little resistance when he broke through the wooden floorboards of the second level. He did the same with the third floor, then turned, and rammed through a wall. He spun on a dime, and sprinted down a short hall, until he saw a small wooden door labeled “Speaker System”. Batman kicked open the door, and saw a bulky man in a red mask facing him. The man in the mask applauded.
“I’m impressed. I really am,” the man said, shaking his head.
“It’s over now,” Batman said.
“No it’s not, Batman,” the masked killer sighed, “You won’t capture me. For all you know, I could have fifteen more traps primed and ready to go. So here’s what you’re going to do. You’re going to let me walk out of this building right now. Then, you’ll call off the new Green Arrow character, and you’ll never return here. Sound good?”
Batman pulled out a Batarang, and prepared to throw it at the killer.
“Up-bup-bup,” the killer warned, “Traps. You never know. Can I go now?”
Batman put away the Batarang, and stepped away from the door. The masked killer walked over to Batman, and lifted his mask. It wasn’t a him at all. It was Chloe Sullivan, the head of the Wayne Tech branch. She leaned forward, and have Batman a kiss on his masked cheek.
“Thanks, Batman,” Chloe said in her normal, high-register voice. She then sauntered out of the building.
Batman just stood in the Speaker System room. He had to process what had just gone down, and he also knew Green Arrow could handle the rest.
A few minutes later, Green Arrow entered the room.
“The cops are taking Chloe in,” Green Arrow informed Batman, “I had no idea it was her.”
“Who is she?” Batman asked.
“She’s the secretary to Arthur King, who runs the Wayne Tech branch here in Star City,” Green Arrow said.
Batman paused. He thought she was in charge.
“Arthur King has been gone for a while, and she’s been in charge in his absence,” Green Arrow elaborated.
Ah, that made more sense.
“Thanks for helping me out, Batman,” Green Arrow said, “And thanks for the advice, seeing how assumptions almost got the poor hostage killed.”
“I just wanted to make sure you would be okay going solo,” Batman admitted, “It appears that you are. I guess your therapy is helping.”
Green Arrow was silent for a moment, then he piped up, “Uh, Batman, something happened when I tried to take down Chloe. After I shot her with a tranq arrow, I grappled down to the ground. But when I was headed down, my hood got blown back in the wind, before she was unconscious. She knows who I am.”
“You’ve made your first big mistake,” Batman acknowledged, “Luckily, I know just the person who can help you out. Dr. Jonathan Crane. The warden of Arkham Asylum. He can make Chloe look like she’s insane, so no one will believe her stories about you as the Green Arrow.”
“Isn’t that pretty shady?” Green Arrow asked. He glanced down at the ground, sheepishly. By the time he looked back up, Batman was gone.
“And so, with the help of Batman, Star City’s very own vigilante uncovered a conspiracy that threatened us all. Back to you, Carmen.”
Bruce looked away from the television, and back at Oliver.
“Looks like Robin Hood is sticking around,” Bruce groaned, “And now the rodent is extending his territory.”
Oliver looked offended.
“What? I’m not a fan of these costumed freaks,” Bruce said, defensively.
“Whatever, Wayne. Just sign here.”
“Hey, I called this meeting, I do whatever I want,” Bruce said. But he picked up a pen, and signed the paper handing the Wayne Tech building back over to Queen Consolidated. But Arthur King would still be in charge. Bruce wanted Oliver to earn his place.
“Thank you, Mister Wayne,” Oliver smiled.
“You’re welcome, Mister Queen. Uh, one thing. How is your therapy going?”
"Well, I think I’ll be needing it a bit more,” Oliver admitted.
“I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for you,” Bruce said, nonchalantly. He then turned around, and walked away.
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“Are you going to try to stop me?” Green Arrow scoffed.
Batman sighed, and slashed the cord that was pulling Green Arrow along, using the blades on his cuffs. Green Arrow began to freefall. Batman caught him with his grapple gun, and yanked him back up.
“Yes.”
“Well it won’t work,” Green Arrow said. He pulled out a contorted arrow from his quiver. It had a steel cylinder around the top of the shaft, before it sprouted into the arrowhead. The cylinder blinked, then exploded into light. Batman was temporarily blinded, allowing Green Arrow to escape.
“Alfred, Oliver is Green Arrow. And he’s trying to take down all crime in Star City on his own.”
“Sounds like someone I know,” Alfred commented.
“Oliver is going to get himself killed,” Batman said.
“So stop him,” Alfred replied.
“I tried. He got me with an arrow equipped with a flashbang,” Batman grunted.
“Try harder.”
“Sounds good.”
Batman tapped one of the pointy ears on the side of his cowl, and his vision turned blue. He scanned some of the residue that the flashbang arrow had left on the tree. He then traced the chemical signature through the air, using his “Detective Vision”. Green Arrow was headed East. Batman grappled through trees, following the signatures. Eventually, he had Green Arrow in his sights.
Batman grappled over to Green Arrow a second time, and yanked all of his arrows out of his quiver. He dropped them to the ground, and grabbed Green Arrow, pulling him over to a tree.
“You’re going to die if you take this entire city on by yourself,” Batman said.
“I don’t see anyone else eager to help,” Green Arrow shot back.
Batman paused for a moment, then responded, “I’ll help.”
“You will?” Green Arrow asked, shocked.
“If it will keep you from dying,” Batman nodded, “Tell me what you need.”
“There’s a masked murderer running around Star City, dropping bodies everywhere he goes. He wears a freaky red mask, and singes his victims after killing them.”
“I can help with a murderer. I deal with those every day in Gotham,” Batman smirked.
“This guy is tricky. Police have managed to catch him before he flees the crime scene, but he blows the place up. Somehow he survives,” Green Arrow explained.
“A murderer who somehow survives explosions. Still doable.”
“Glad to hear it,” Green Arrow smiled.
“Penny-One, pull up a list of recent homicide victims that have been burned after death,” Batman requested. Suddenly, multiple profiles appeared on the originally see-through lenses in front of Batman’s eyes. He tried to analyze connections. There were none.
“There’s no rhyme or reason for why he does it,” Green Arrow sighed, figuring out what Batman was doing.
“I don’t care about the rhyme or reason. Not at this point. That’s in the past, what I care about is the future.”
“Where he’ll strike next,” Green Arrow finished.
Batman nodded. He scanned locations, and identified likely locations for the next hit. If this murderer burned his victims, he was surely crazy. And crazy people always had a rhyme or reason.
Batman was crouched on top of the Wayne Tech building, with Green Arrow at his side.
“Really? Here? Doesn’t this dude know that Bruce Wayne is paranoid. He has his buildings filled with security!” Green Arrow exclaimed.
“It’s not going down here,” Batman said, pointing to a law firm across the street, “It’s going down over there.”
“When?” Green Arrow inquired.
“I don’t know,” Batman admitted.
“So we just have to wait?” Green Arrow groaned.
“Patience is a virtue.”
“Patience is something I learned on the island. I figured I could leave it behind there.”
“What you learned on the island will never leave you,” Batman said, “Instead of letting in hinder you, let it power you to be your best self.”
“Who are you, my father?” Green Arrow scoffed.
“I’m Batman. I think that counts for something.”
Green Arrow went quiet. They both stayed crouched for a few more minutes, until they spotted a woman strolling by the law firm. Suddenly, an arm reached out, and yanked her inside of the law firm.
“The killer is a lawyer?” Green Arrow gasped.
“Don’t make assumptions too quickly,” Batman instructed, grappling over to the law firm, “Our killer could just be using the law firm as a hiding spot.”
Green Arrow followed, launching a grapple arrow. They both landed outside of the firm, and looked in. It was dark and deserted.
“He dragged her farther in,” Batman said, pushing open the glass door.
“Are we doing this stealthily?” Green Arrow asked.
“When there are possible hostages involved, always opt for stealth.”
Batman and Green Arrow crept into the dark law firm. Batman activated his Detective Vision, and spotted the killer and the woman. The woman was in a sitting position, and the killer had his arm around her neck. Batman started moving faster towards the killer and victim. He reached a corner, and peeked around. Sure enough, he saw a dark figure with his arm around the woman’s neck. The woman was tied to a chair, sobbing, with mascara streaming down her face. She shook her head, desperate.
Batman took out a Batarang, and prepared to throw it at the dark figure. But Green Arrow grabbed his arm, and pulled him back.
“What are you doing?” Batman hissed, “I had a perfect shot.”
“You were the one who told me not to make assumptions. This guy sets traps everywhere. What if your weird ninja star thing activated one of them?” Green Arrow whispered.
“It wasn’t a trap. It was the killer himself. I saw him,” Batman grunted, “Now let me take him out.”
Batman flung the Batarang at the killer. The Batarang hit the killer in the shoulder. But the killer didn’t budge. Batman froze up, confused. Green Arrow didn’t freeze. He took action. He sprinted at the woman, and threw her, chair and all, back towards Batman. He then whipped around, and fired a grappling arrow at a far wall. The situation suddenly clicked with Batman, and he yanked the woman behind the corner with him, as Green Arrow zipped away. The figure that Batman has assumed was the killer exploded. Some of the flames nipped at Green Arrow. The blast destroyed the wall Batman was ducking behind, but he had acted as a shield for the woman.
“No assumptions,” Green Arrow groaned, getting up from the ground. He jogged over to Batman and the woman, and freed the woman using an arrow to cut the cloths tying her to the chair.
“Thanks, Green Arrow,” Batman said, standing up. Green Arrow nodded, and escorted the woman out of the building.
Batman was alone in the law firm.
“Come out, coward,” Batman growled.
“The new one is clever,” a deep voice stated, “But not clever enough.”
“Where are you?”
“Knowing where I am won’t help you stop me. I can’t be stopped,” the voice chuckled.
Batman used his Detective Vision to look for heat signatures. Nothing, except for the settling embers from the explosion.
“I had accounted for your gadgets, Batman,” the voice said, “I figured you’d be paying Star City’s vigilante a visit soon. So I made sure I was prepared for you. Thus, I’m wearing a climate controlled suit that makes me blend in at room temperature. Admit it, you’re impressed.”
“I’d be impressed if you came out to face me one on one. That requires bravery,” Batman said.
“It also requires astronomical amounts of stupidity and ignorance,” the voice retorted.
“I’ll find you, one way or another,” Batman declared.
Green Arrow reentered the law firm, and asked, “What’s going on? Where’s our killer?”
“I was just complimenting you,” the voice said, happily.
Green Arrow nocked an arrow, and turned in a circle, searching the room.
“I can’t be seen that easily,” the voice sighed, “You’ll have to actually try.”
“Penny-One, pull up the schematics of the Reading & Sorber Law Firm building,” Batman whispered into his comms. Within seconds, a floor plan appeared on Batman’s lenses. Batman located the PA room. That was where the killer would be broadcasting out of. He then planned out the quickest route to the PA room. Up two floors, crash through a wall, then sprint down a hall, and he’d be there.
“Green Arrow, when I go up, you head outside, and grapple to the top of the building. Keep a look out for the killer if he tries to escape,” Batman said under his breath.
“What are you two talking about?” the voice asked, “Do you think you can defeat me?”
Green Arrow nodded to Batman. Batman fired a grappling line into the ceiling, and flew upwards. He slammed through the weak ceiling, and only faced a little resistance when he broke through the wooden floorboards of the second level. He did the same with the third floor, then turned, and rammed through a wall. He spun on a dime, and sprinted down a short hall, until he saw a small wooden door labeled “Speaker System”. Batman kicked open the door, and saw a bulky man in a red mask facing him. The man in the mask applauded.
“I’m impressed. I really am,” the man said, shaking his head.
“It’s over now,” Batman said.
“No it’s not, Batman,” the masked killer sighed, “You won’t capture me. For all you know, I could have fifteen more traps primed and ready to go. So here’s what you’re going to do. You’re going to let me walk out of this building right now. Then, you’ll call off the new Green Arrow character, and you’ll never return here. Sound good?”
Batman pulled out a Batarang, and prepared to throw it at the killer.
“Up-bup-bup,” the killer warned, “Traps. You never know. Can I go now?”
Batman put away the Batarang, and stepped away from the door. The masked killer walked over to Batman, and lifted his mask. It wasn’t a him at all. It was Chloe Sullivan, the head of the Wayne Tech branch. She leaned forward, and have Batman a kiss on his masked cheek.
“Thanks, Batman,” Chloe said in her normal, high-register voice. She then sauntered out of the building.
Batman just stood in the Speaker System room. He had to process what had just gone down, and he also knew Green Arrow could handle the rest.
A few minutes later, Green Arrow entered the room.
“The cops are taking Chloe in,” Green Arrow informed Batman, “I had no idea it was her.”
“Who is she?” Batman asked.
“She’s the secretary to Arthur King, who runs the Wayne Tech branch here in Star City,” Green Arrow said.
Batman paused. He thought she was in charge.
“Arthur King has been gone for a while, and she’s been in charge in his absence,” Green Arrow elaborated.
Ah, that made more sense.
“Thanks for helping me out, Batman,” Green Arrow said, “And thanks for the advice, seeing how assumptions almost got the poor hostage killed.”
“I just wanted to make sure you would be okay going solo,” Batman admitted, “It appears that you are. I guess your therapy is helping.”
Green Arrow was silent for a moment, then he piped up, “Uh, Batman, something happened when I tried to take down Chloe. After I shot her with a tranq arrow, I grappled down to the ground. But when I was headed down, my hood got blown back in the wind, before she was unconscious. She knows who I am.”
“You’ve made your first big mistake,” Batman acknowledged, “Luckily, I know just the person who can help you out. Dr. Jonathan Crane. The warden of Arkham Asylum. He can make Chloe look like she’s insane, so no one will believe her stories about you as the Green Arrow.”
“Isn’t that pretty shady?” Green Arrow asked. He glanced down at the ground, sheepishly. By the time he looked back up, Batman was gone.
“And so, with the help of Batman, Star City’s very own vigilante uncovered a conspiracy that threatened us all. Back to you, Carmen.”
Bruce looked away from the television, and back at Oliver.
“Looks like Robin Hood is sticking around,” Bruce groaned, “And now the rodent is extending his territory.”
Oliver looked offended.
“What? I’m not a fan of these costumed freaks,” Bruce said, defensively.
“Whatever, Wayne. Just sign here.”
“Hey, I called this meeting, I do whatever I want,” Bruce said. But he picked up a pen, and signed the paper handing the Wayne Tech building back over to Queen Consolidated. But Arthur King would still be in charge. Bruce wanted Oliver to earn his place.
“Thank you, Mister Wayne,” Oliver smiled.
“You’re welcome, Mister Queen. Uh, one thing. How is your therapy going?”
"Well, I think I’ll be needing it a bit more,” Oliver admitted.
“I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for you,” Bruce said, nonchalantly. He then turned around, and walked away.
CHECK OUT MORE GREEN ARROW STORIES HERE: https://pokecharms.com/series/green-arrow-eternal.5499/