=============================== Gotham Gazette =============================== Message: 10/6 Posted Author Mysterious Showdown and Disappeara Wed Oct 14 Anonymous ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The following appeared on a Gotham news channel, but the spot has been reproduced and covered by some other news channels about the country, so, it was not only covered/broadcast in Gotham From WKNG Gotham Live, the station that brought you the live interview with Two-Face first, this is a live report with Marci Willaims, reporting from downtown Gotham City. "Thank you, Mark. Moments ago the Gotham City Police Department was the scene of a bizarre incident, but then again, what in Gotham can be bizarre witht he likes of the Joker or Two-Face, whom WKNG brought to you recently in a live interview. But, perhaps the sight of seemingly religious zealots calling upon the appearance of either Nightwing or 'Arsenal' or else they would destroy local Gotham buildings, such as the Children's Hopsital that WKNG runs live telathons for each year. Just before our coverage went dead I am sure you all witnessed the arrival of red costumed man that sppoke to the zealots. These men wee wearing white body-suits and wore red robes, the colors of Zandia. Yet, there have been no reports out of Zandia concerning this event or any event for the past five years, and there is no embasy due to the countries strict policy against dealing with foreigners. WKNG Gotham Live shall be bringing you a full, in-depth report on Zandia tomorrow evenign at 6. Yet, this incident may be linked to an event in New York City yesterday where small time hood 'VoidMaster' was taken off the street by similiar individuals. Eye witness reports state that the robed men found a young man before they and the biy disappeared. Other small time powered criminals from about North America, from the United States and Canada, have also apparently disappeared in similar manners, though no one seems to be complaining for the lack of petty meta-criminals. But further, at the Great Midwest Dam just outside Keystone City, the Flash, Wally West, was last reported having been seen arriving to investigate what was apparently a false alarm and then speaking to a similarly dressed figure. Murry Lloyd, who has worked at the Dam his whole live reported that the figure spoke to the Flash while another jumped him from behind, and fearing for the well-being of his family at home, did not act but alerted the Keystone Police, who now have an APB out for the robed figure, just as Gotham's own men in blue have done. WKNG Gotham Live shall keep you updated on this event or any more involving these mystious figures, and/or the reapearance of the Flash. Please, stay tuned as we return you to Live Talk, with Walter Daniels, already in progress, here on WKNG Live." ============================================================================== The house is, well, empty. Hopefully, and luckily maybe, Linda hasn't seen or heard the news yet. Or if she has... well, steer clear of her. But, when you get home from school, you likely find out the news, as it is on one of your favorite devices, the television. But, also inside, on the kitchen table is a package. Inside is one of Wally's boots, with blood on it, and a note, reading: To those that know The Flash. If any other member of the speedsters, as youcall them, should come to Zandia, Mr. West shall be killed immediately. He's not home from school...he hasn't been going to school for the past few days, and Linda's been off working on something. Bart's been looking for Wally. So when he zips home this time, he sees this package...and reads the note briefly, and completely disregards Oracle's and Robin's warnings. And the note's. After all, he's Impulse -- he can move fast enough to not be seen, and he can go through walls. He's untouchable. It only takes a second to check maps, and he's off -- carrying the boot, too. it is a bit of a run across the sea to Europe, as that is where Zandia is. BUt, after many obscure looks all across the continent of Europe, as people see something streak by, you likely find the borders ofZandia. Stone walls rise up to close in and close off the entire country, and guards march along those walls, making sure no one gets in. Hostile little country. And it seems like the people are looking for heroic types right about now to try and bust in. Well, they ain't /seeing/ a heroic type. All they see is a blur, if even that. And Impulse zigzags across the entire country, looking for where Wally is. Since it's small and he's looking in likely places (mostly basements and dungrouns and locked dark places) it shouldn't take him long to find Wally at all. Or try up towers. Because that is where Wally is. IN the very center of Zandia is a tall golden twer, with many runes decorating the outside, and inside. Inside there are few people, and it seems, on the whole, unguarded. No sentries, no protection of any kind... but, what you don't know is the instant you were seen coming, the magical barrier was lowered, to allow you inside. Once you're inside the Spiar, as it is caleld, the barrier is ressurrected and likely trapping you inside. But then again, that you likely don't know yet. What you do know is what you find. At the top of the Spiar is an open platform, tot he skies and to the view out over all of Zandia. Mounted on a pike, like criminals were during ancient Roman times, is Wally. Wally without one boot on, or is mask, looking down and rather haggered, though well nourished. The foot without a boot is, well, swollen, broken and battered. Badly. And about his arms are glowing blue bands, where two IVs (one for each arm) drip into. Upon seeing you, Wally looks up and his eyes go wide. "Bart, get away, quick! Leave! NOw!" Talk about wide eyes -- there is NO WAY in HELL Bart is leaving. "Nonononono, Wally, you /freak/, no /way/ am I leaving!" He monkeys up the pike and works on the binds, trying as fast as he can to figure them out and undo them. "I brought your boot," he starts, starting definitely to babble. Nervous, relieved, scared out of his mind..."but I don't think it's gonna fit so I'll just carry it, but if I'm gonna be carrying you maybe you can carry it, because I don't think you can run, but I can carry you, it's all good, I've gotta get you out of here it's horrible how did they CATCH youWallyICan'tLetYouStayHereYouSeeThat,Right?EveryoneElseIsWaitingToSeeWhatHappensButMeanwhileTheyCouldHurtYouEvenWorseAnd..." The bonds, it seems, don't come off and under examination they don't appear to actually exist at all, but rather just seem to ... be there. Magic, perhaps? "Bart, I don't care... Maybe he'll kill you if he finds you! Get away and tell the others I'm alive! Now! Go, ple-...." But that sentence is cut off as there is a dart fired at the middle of your back, meaning to prick you. it is a dart, you may note, that was flung during all the talking noise and does fly rather swiftly, and strongly. Who threw it? The man behind you in the white and red body suit, with the red robe and is carrying the large and long seremonial staff. Brother Blood. "You wish to know how The Flash was captured, young one," BB says in a deep powerful voice after the dart should have connected if it does (and if it should, tink supersleepy drug that will even last for like 5 mins in your metabolism, "Then find out for yourself." Wally, after seeing BB after the dart has been tossed, says, "No!!" Impulse stiffens, a look of shock passing across his features, and falls -- seemingly in slow motion -- off the side of the pike. He thuds unceremoniously on the floor, and lies motionless below Wally's feet. The worst thing about the drug? It just numbs and quiets your body, but not your awareness. All of Wally's actions, even words, are slurred and slowed, but his mind is awake. And his eyes. He looks down at you, in shock, in horror, just as likely you can only look up at him. And then at the white mask-face of Brother Blood, witht he blood painted red skull over it, looming down at you. "Fortunately you are not one of the older and useless speedsters. But, you are young. I can sense the strength in your blood. I am glad you came," he sneers. Tot his Wally replies, "You bastard! You harm him and I'll ki-.." And have you ever heard Wally threaten that before? But, before he can finish, BB slaps Wally *hard* across the face with his staff. Wally's head snapps, and he bleeds abit about the mouth, but falls silent as move IV-fed drips into him now to silence him. Bending down to you, Brother Blood picks up up *easily* with one hand, to look at him as he stands, holding you up. Your body is numba nd not responding, and the drug should last like this for about another three to four minutes. "You are Impulse, are you not? I had hoped to save the children for after, but you shall help me now, no doubt. Welcome, to Zandia, and your appointed death. "You're on /crack/ if you think I'm gonna help /you/, you sprockin' nasshead! You keep hurting Wally like that, and you'll be sorry! I swear you will!" It's actually kinda funny in a sick way, how Bart - moreso than anyone else in his position - has absolutely no concept of the danger he's in and keeps blustering threats like he has the power to carry them out. He gasps, and blinks, then finishes, "You're a bad guy! Bad guys never win!" "YOu says I am the bad guy, Impulse? You? I am a *GOD* and you shall not prevent me and my coming wake. In fact, you w[31~*will* help me, wether you wish it or not. YOu are powerless, and all I need do is gut you open and bath in your blood to become stronger." He sneers some more and then moves you to a pike next to Wally, where he stretches out your arms and touches your wrists with his staff, and the bonds appear to hold you as well. Reaching up, there are IV feeds there and he 'plugs' you into them, making sure to keep you medicated, and harmless. grasping the back of your neck *hard8 he pushes your head down, to look at your feet, where below the pikes you now notice that the floor there is depressed. And in that space below the floor's surface are bodies. All the bodies of the lame tame super thugs he already captured and bathed in. "These people have already served me well, just as you shall, soon enough. AS soon as The Flash's friends arive. A nd then I shall be strong enough to take the likes of Superman, and then I shall truly be unstoppable. All thanks to you, young brat." "Hoooooooly /Valor/," breathes the kid, staring at the bodies. His eyes lift, wide and frightened, and look into those of Brother Blood. "You /are/ nuts. You're completely and truly and royally screwed up, right where it counts." He glances over at Wally, then masks the total terror in his eyes with angry, indignant youth. "And you'll get yours, no worries." "I certainly hope that I do get mine, young one. And mine shall be The Coming, of my age, of my godhood. And your blood will have helped me accomplish that." He seems to smile to you as he movesoff, tapping his staff like a large walking stick before him as he goes, out to look over his country. "Jesus Christ was claimed to have been an insane man once, for his insight, his vision. He was a form of God on Earth And while that god does not exist, I am a god on earth. Bloody Earth, and I shall claim the Earth trhough blood." He trun to look at you over his shoulder as he says that, and perhaps you can see the power in this man. It seems to radiate from him. He moves quickly, strongly, deftly. "I bet you used to wear fake fangs and colored contact lenses and vinyl when you were a kid!" yells Impulse, trying to move and just /not/ moving.../so/ not moving...."And I bet you hung out in the mall and were all depressed and nass like that! You /ultrafreak/!" "Actually, I was a child that had want for nothing, but the power that is mine to claim. everything I wanted in life I was given or I took. I know not what you speak, as you confuse me. It matters little. I need not listen to you brattel, and only need to soak in your blood when the time his right. I shall away, to prepare for your coming friends." Adn witht hat he turns to tap-stalk off, around the balcony and out of sight somewhere. Precisious moments later Wally seems to stir, and groans. Loudly. "Head still ringing..." "SuperGOTHfreak!" yells Bart savagely as Brother Blood leaves. "Good riddance!" Then he looks apologetically over at Wally, squirming slightly and ineffectually. "I'm sorry. I didn't know he had this stuff. Are you gonna be okay over there until everyone else gets here?" Then he winces, shutting his eyes tight. "Jeez-GRIFE-ow-ow-ow," he mutters, face twisting. Then he asks quietly, voice tight, "'S not hurting you to stay still, izzit?" "More than any other pain he could inflict on me, yeah," Wally grins, lying about the pain that it causing him as he tries to muster a smile for you, hoping it might help you a little. But, he has to speak the truth. "It's worse than hell. I can't move at all, but my mind is in overdrive. I think up a million ways to move, but then I can't do any of them. it's like my body is dead.... and that kills me. Then again, not that I could move even if I was done. My foot... they crushed it when they too me, Bart..." He looks to his foot, wondering... if it doesn't heal properly..well.... he might never right run again. "He's prepared, bart, for all of 'em. All of the Titans..." "It'll be okay, Wally, once you get this nass out of your system...remember how fast Jesse's leg got better that time it broke?" Bart's voice is slow and quiet. "I wish they'd knock me out..." "YOu and me both, Bart..." He smiles to you again. "But, just stay with me, and anytime you get the need to move really bad, talk to me and we'll just talk our way through it, k? I'm here and together we'll make it..." And one last smile, for you, for now...