317/On the Hunt

On the Hunt
Date of Scene:	06 March 2020
Location:	Sheldon Park - Bleake Island
Synopsis:	Batgirl and Orphan investigate the supposed headquarters of the new gang cutting down the mafiosos of Gotham. Turns out it's a short kid, oh and he may be Batman's son.
Cast of Characters:	Damian Wayne, Barbara Gordon, Cassandra Cain

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Damian Wayne has posed:
     Three weeks ago was when it all started. Someone was on a killing spree against the mobs of Gotham. Someone was taking out others left and right, and carving their own swath in the void they created.

  One rainy night in Gotham, much like any other. The old remnants of Gotham's mob fronts was a perfect place to set up shop. Those with their ears to the ground may have heard that this new group was running things out of an abandoned Falcone warehouse.

  The power was on, and the windows freshly papered over. No guards, but the building was being watched, regardless of if they were seen or not.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
It is very hard to come into Gotham and just up and start murdering the competition left and right.

Add to the fact the strikes against the local mafia aren't the usual suspects but rather blade wielding assassins and it really perks up the attention of those who consider the city their dominion to protect.

So while there is little love loss for the crimianl elements it is definitely worth investigating and there are very few people better than Batgirl at sifting through data and mysteries to come up with answers. Most of those people all work together in Gotham too so now here we are tonight at one of the old mob headquarters in The Cauldron (aka Sheldon park) scoping out warehouse.

Batgirl decided to invite Orphan along on her investigation as backup, giving her a communicator to use as well. "Okay. This definitely looks like the spot. Preliminary intel indicates the assassins may be in there." she is staring down at a small tablet affixed on the inside of her arm displaying the output of one of her ORACLE drones scouting from altitude right now.

Cassandra Cain has posed:
It's often hard to tell exactly what Orphan is thinking. This isn't one of those times, as she stares at the communicator with open bafflement on her face. If it weren't such bad timing it might be amusing, given that she's said perhaps four words in the entirety of her and Batgirl's relationship.

One sometimes wishes for a more garrulous partner, until she's put into a fight. Then the silence seems like a decent price to pay. Right now, however, Oracle is rather the only one on planning mode.

I mean, unless Cassandra decides to go knock on the front door or something. Which she seems disposed to do, from the way she turns an eyeroll-filled gaze on the drone display.

Damian Wayne has posed:
     The warehouse was abandoned, but luckily had not suffered nearly as much damage as some of the other buildings in the area had in the wake of the tidal wave.

  The lights were on, and there were shadows coming in and out of the lights behind the newspaper covering the windows. Thermal scans show at least twenty different heat sources inside.

  The murders were definitely an assassin show, a macabre theater act to keep everyone away. It had worked for the most part, and allowed for the assassin group to hive up in the remnants of old Gotham. The GCPD hadn't had much success in terms of figuring out just who was doing all of this. But it had just a little of the flair of one of Batman's oldest enemies, the League of Assassins.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
"Okay Orphan, going to want to be very cautious moving in on this target. They seem to be assassins and their tactics are very.. well they seem like they may be a group we are familiar with." she sets the drone to hover watching the exits and entrances to the warehouse as an overwatch and tag anyone coming and going.

"Okay lets move in, if we somehow get separated and you need backup doubletap the earpiece it will beep me an alert. Otherwise .. I think we should try to stay together..."

With that Batgirl jogs to the roof edge and takes the grapple rope down to the ground below and approaches the warehouse staying to the shadows and silent. Approaching one of the side doors where less shadows have been moving behind windows.

Cassandra Cain has posed:
Orphan places the earpiece where it belongs, then taps it with a finger to test the feed. That's likely the only sound she'll make over it, so it's probably her saying 'this is me acknowledging you' in her own little fashion.

Being told about the League, since that's what Batgirl meant but didn't want to say out loud, makes a shift in Orphan's body. Her eyes flicker to Batgirl, her stance relaxes, with a 'we can handle it' shrug. She steps to the roof's edge easily, her motions fluid and smooth. Then with a grin that's all joy, and rare to see on her face, she leaps off without pulling her line!

With the help of a tree and a capoeira roll, she lands lightly and appears at the other side of the window. Holy crap she's actually following orders, staying together! Of course nobody's shown up to get punched yet.

Then she pauses, clearly listening hard. She's very familiar with League tricks. If she'd not walked away, this would be HER on the other side of the wall, after all. And not a sound was made.

Damian Wayne has posed:
     Amongst the crashing of waves against the sea wall, further inside is the ticking of machinery. No distinct words can be made out, but there were voices.

  The door Batgirl approaches is not locked, anyone who had been foolish enough to walk in, even on accident would not have left.

  The League was a force to be reckoned with, and it didn't allow much to be let out of its ranks.

  Inside, several members had been conversing, and all around living, afterall, even assassins had to eat and sleep sometime. "American foods..." One had said, close to the door. "Nothing but sugar and empty calories." Well, certainly someone had an issue with the American diet. None the wiser of who was lurking outside their lair.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Batgirl listens very closely to the voices, getting a count carefully of how many then holds up a number of fingers fingers. and gestures to Cass to either follow her or pick her entry point. The topic of the conversation isn't too insightful it turns out but she doesn't care about that. She checks the door carefully for usual signs of booby traps... then having given Cass time to position herself she taps her earpiece giving an inaudible beep before she goes for it.

The door is yanked open with Batgirl stepping to the side presenting a lower profile, even as a handful of bat concusive flash balls fly from her free hand towards where she was able to determine the conversation was. Going in pretty hard it seems because she is nigh positive the door opening would definitely be noticed by the ninjas.

Two batarangs already in her fists even as the spheres go flying.

Cassandra Cain has posed:
The direct approach seems to be fine with Orphan, or at least she doesn't complain about it when Batgirl goes in with noise and flash. She hasn't sized up the room; in fact it almost felt like she was being nice and letting Babs get ready. She's a bit arrogant sometimes.

As for entry points, well, there's no two ways to say it. She goes OVER Batgirl, leaping high like an oni come to tear out souls. Silent, but her eyes go cold, giving away nothing. She wears no mask, simply has her hood in place to shadow her face a bit, and arms wide she leaps into the room.

And when she lands, she's already picked targets and begun the attack.

Damian Wayne has posed:
     As the two make their ingress, it is revealed that the League had an Ace up their sleeve.

  Pendant lights were strung up, and mobiles of different fabrics and objects were placed in front of them strategically, to show shadows on the windows covered by newspaper. A sound system was also set up, small speakers were placed in different areas to serve as conversation dummies, and a machine set up to step around in boots using a small drone. There was no one inside, no one alive it seemed. A pair of bodies was slumped over a table, their throats slit.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Great Batgirl just flash banged abunch of sheets and a couple of corpses.

Thankfully none of the sheets seemed to catch fire like they may have done if it was a normal flash bang the cops used.

"Wait.. what" yeah okay this actually surprised Babs as she looks around crouching low. Just because nothing is as it seemed doesn't mean this isn't a trap. I mean ninjas could leap out from just about anywhere ...

<<Be very careful, could be booby traps>> over the comm subvocally as she carefully starts to move in now.. still clutching the bat-a-rangs but taking it all in with sharp eyes.. Trying to make absolutely sure the place isn't wired to explode and there aren't ninjas in the rafters before looking for clues.

Cassandra Cain has posed:
Crossing her arms across her chest for an instant, Orphan grabs a handful of needle darts from their hiding places. She spreads her arms, sending them into the places that cameras are hiding. It almost doesn't seem as if she spent time looking, just land and throw. The League isn't getting much info on their entry, just a cold second then fuzzed out screens.

Other than that, she gives Batgirl a nod, her eyes turning when the young lady speaks. She vastly prefers to see a person when they're talking, but why exactly has never really been explained. It seems as if she's not catching all the context if it's over the comm unit.

She isn't crouching low though, standing normally. Hands aren't raised, posture isn't in a combat defense. Her body language says 'not an ambush' if her mouth won't say the words. And she walks over to the two corpses, keeping her hands to her sides. No touchie.

Damian Wayne has posed:
     A couple of the areas Cass throws needles at spark and the sound of shattering glass can be heard, nice throw!

  The two corpses look like they were sent from a rival mob. Enforcer types, light tactical gear on, holsters with no guns. One bald, the other a ginger.

  The table underneath them shows a map of Gotham, but most of it is covered in their own bodies.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
After looking around very carefully <<"Good shot Orphan.">> she notes over the comms before heading to join her at the table, chairs, and map. She crouches down and carefully looks under the table, chairs, and around the corpses before standing up straight. "Huh." ... once she is sure of the moment she reaches out and tilts the body back letting it slump back in the chair so she can get a look at the map.

Cassandra Cain has posed:
There may still be cameras, but neither she nor Batgirl need to be reminded of that. They're professionals; if there was one camera, there could be twenty. Shotgun microphones, a thousand other ways of recording what the pair are doing, and this is SO obviously a trap. So Orphan, for all her good shot, gives whoever's still listening...nothing.

Not a combat stance to get her moves from, not a hint of a word. She keeps her eyes on the places Babs can't watch, helping her read the maps by keeping her a** covered.

And yes, she's aware of the sniper angles. Frankly the map isn't of a ton of interest to her, so she quickly mimes 'rolling it up' with a twisting motion of her hands. This place is still dangerous.

Damian Wayne has posed:
     The bodies are moved and the full map of Gotham can be seen, Wayne Tower is circled and underneath it, scrawled in sharpie: 'YOU'RE DEAD'.

  "Two days, five hours, six minutes. That is how long it took one of your ilk to show their face here. And not even the detective..." The voice comes from one corner in the rafters above, moving to another, then another.

  "Truly disappointing."

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Okay, Batgirl is pretty surprised she missed someone in the rafters. Damnit. She even looked up and scoped the place out for Ninjas in the Rafters earlier too. This.. god it sounds like a boy.. has to be good.

Still she wings one of those batarangs right at the voice up there and steps fast, kicking the table up and putting it as cover between her and where she threw the sharp projectile as potential cover.

It is really quite smooth, she is exceptionally well trained despite not spotting the murderous youth.

Also for the record she is a pretty good detective too. "Come out and we will show you a disappointment." trying to taunt the ninja.. kid... whomever it is out.

Cassandra Cain has posed:
From Orphan: nothing. She didn't turn to follow the sound, she didn't start in surprise. IF she was surprised, the watcher likely couldn't tell. Head in her hood she hasn't given away her face yet. She even lets him get behind her, though if he's as good as he seems, he knows it's a trap.

When Batgirl kicks up cover, she smiles. Good girl, her lips seem to say. But she's not taking it. There's an essence of waiting in her. And her stance might be a tiny bit familiar to him.

Damian Wayne has posed:
     The last place Damian had spoken from was heavily shadowed. The batarang that was thrown yields no report, but two seconds after it was thrown, it drops right where Damian was planted.

  The boy drops down soon after, and it should almost immediately be recognizable to Barbara, she's surely seen the photos of young Bruce. Though his eyes are distinct, a paleish green that seems to invoke a certain assassin family...

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Okay. That has Batgirl totally tongue tied. She just stares with the table between her and Damian over yonder in plain view. I mean yes she is ready to get the hell out of the way if he throws something deadly but she just stares not throwing the other bat-a-rang.

"No way..." is whispered under her breath, easily heard by Orphan and probably heard by Damian. "Who are you?" is said louder and with more confidence. Trying to hide her confusion at the sight.

Cassandra Cain has posed:
The bored look on Cass' face is mostly hidden. Until she reaches up and pulls back her hood, revealing the scarred features within. The face shows no emotion, she only tied up her hand enough to pull the fabric. Then, out of nowhere, she smiles.

It's a predatory action, one that is meant to get a RE-action from him. And then...it's on. As Orphan takes two sudden steps forward into the newcomer's area of influence, taking things to a more aggressive stance by the motion alone.

Hands kept low, she doesn't attack exactly. Just places him in a situation that no League member would allow. In range, and vulnerable. It's a question, and she's asking it with her body. But in essence it's the same one Barbara asked.

Are you who I think that you are?

Damian Wayne has posed:
     Damian had been about to answer Barbara's question before Cassandra started to invade his turf.

  Immediately he sweeps at her leg, the ninjaken at his back remains in the scabbard until he returns to a vertical base, immediately that sword is held high, guarding his body as the row continues. "I am Damian al Ghul, and this is my city now."

  His face had shown his anger, but he continues as he'd done before. He feints to the wall, using it to run and attempt to get behind Cassandra, no swiping yet with that ultra sharp sword.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Okay I mean some part of Batgirl was actually expecting an answer like that. It is still damn shocking though to have it confirmed by the boy.

"Sweet zombie jesus..." she mutters watching Cass try to engage, sort of, and then Damian respond.

Ah shit, the kid was likely trained by Talia too, okay Bruce is going to get an earful from Barbara later.

Damnit.

Batgirl leaps over the table and moves quickly to give Orphan some backup, still the kid hasn't drawn the sword. Through the comm subvocally <<We should fall back, and make sure we aren't followed>> yeah because she needs to tell Bruce and honestly she doesn't want to tell him they beat down what may be by all appearances his ill gotten offspring.

Cassandra Cain has posed:
The sweep of the leg hits Orphan's leg. She lands on her right hand, her grin only widening as her body lays prone, suspended on those fingers. Then she responds, to his moves and to his choice of words both. By invading his space even more.

Barbara's suggestion to fall back MIGHT be subtly ignored, as Cass pushes herself into the air. Then pivoting around her center of gravity, she reverses her body and plants her feet against the wall, right in Damian's path. Holding herself there with a hand on the floor, she moves to trip him while he's sideways, feet slamming down right where he's placing them. With reinforced shinguards just in case he gets creative, and her free hand reaching to guard from that blade, so Batgirl can get close as well.

Damian Wayne has posed:
     Damian's green eyes catch Orphan's ploy, planting her feet where he had been running. He scowls as he jumps off the wall, milliseconds after his foot had tripped on hers. She got him there, but his reaction time was impeccable.

  The boy lands with a scoot on the ground, before he flips the sword to a reverse hold. The short boy swipes with the sword, one upward swipe while holding it backwards. His intent wasn't actually to connect with it, he just used it as a distraction to perform a backflip kick towards Cassandra.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Barbara is really worried and irritated, it is an interesting mix.

The sword coming out though makes it really serious. She steps in having moved up to backup Orphan and strikes out hard and fast, deflecting that backflip kick forcefully. She has years of experience and it shows with that move. "Enough!" yeah that was also the mom voice really.

She dances back out of sword range "Now." that is directed to Orphan.

Cassandra Cain has posed:
One tiny, itty-bitty thing happens here that Damian couldn't help but catch. The one who's engaging him doesn't dodge the sword. At all, not even a twitch. She knew, she KNEW he wasn't going to hit with it! And knowing, she didn't bother with it at all.

Instead she let him go, placing her feet on the ground and vanishing from the room with a grace that his own mother would nod appreciatively at. She's there...then she's just, gone. Clearly a reaction to Batgirl's order, it came a heartbeat afterward, but without a glance away from the opponent.

Orphan is gone, and fully expects to be berated. Later.

Damian Wayne has posed:
     Damian's kick had been deflected, and this had annoyed him to no extent. As he lands, he growls, and in that instant, she had retreated. He knew he hadn't won, and it burned at him more than if he had received a beating. "Yes, retreat batlings. And send The Detective next time.

  Once the two make their way out of the area, the warehouse would be destroyed, incendiary bombs would raze it to the ground. Batman and the rest would have to do more research to find Damian again.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Batgirl backs out more carefully not just vanishing, she isn't turning his back to the threat until she can pull a vanish as well. Then she heads out quickly, using the drone to keep an eye from above with various sensors to make sure she isn't being tailed.

Subvocal <<"Meet me back at staging area B12 Orphan">> wanting to probably chew on her a little, but also make sure that she isn't being tailed either. She is skilled but better safe than sorry.

Also she needs to tell Bruce.