Batman: Bad Blood Page #2

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Do you think he's really dead?

I don't know.

You'd like it, wouldn't you...

if he never came back?

Then you get to keep that suit.

I've struggled for years

to get out of Bruce's shadow,

to build a life for myself as far away

from his world as possible.

And the last thing I want

is to be wearing this damn thing!

I've finally managed to locate

Master Bruce's files on Batwoman.

How come I never heard of her?

- She's kept a rather low profile.

- Not low enough for Batman, I'll bet.

Investigative report on Batwoman,

aka Katherine Kane.

- Katey?

- You know her?

Her father is Colonel Jacob Kane.

Military intelligence.

On Katherine's 12th birthday, she and

her twin sister Elizabeth were abducted,

along with their mother, Gabrielle,

and held for ransom.

Colonel Kane led a rescue mission

that saved Kate's life.

But in the attempt both Gabrielle

and Elizabeth were murdered.

She would follow in her father's footsteps,

enrolling at West Point,

but ultimately expelled.

Something broke inside Kate.

Two years later,

Katherine emerged as Batwoman.

She's impressive, but her methods

make her a danger to this city.

And to herself.

It's time for me to decide if I'm going

to take her under my wing...

or take her down.

Poor Katey. It always begins

with death. Doesn't it, Alfred?

I'm as astonished as you are, Master Dick.

Anyone mind filling me in?

How do you know her?

I just do.

I had to dig very deep, my dear,

reach out to contacts

that even I find somewhat unsavory.

But here he is, your mystery man.

The Heretic. That's his accomplice. Onyx.

Heretic? What kind of name is that?

One that invokes disbelief.

His accomplishments certainly do.

In the last 10 months, he has quietly

forged some dangerous alliances,

as well as become a Thorn

in the side of Black Mask.

He may have gathered half the criminals

in Gotham under his command.

- But who is he?

- All I know is...

that he's left a trail of empty vaults

and dead bodies across this city.

And as your experience attests,

he seems to have a fixation with Batman.

With all due respect, Dad,

that doesn't help much.

I'm sorry. I just need

to figure this out on my own.

I'll see you back at the house.

Don't worry, Kate.

I won't let you down again.

If you're gonna keep standing me up

for dinner, Dad, you could at least call.

Oh, God. Luke, I'm sorry.

I'm just swamped.

It's not just the summit, is it?

Excuse me?

This has something to do

with the fact that Batman's missing.

Batman?

Dad, you've been bringing me here

since I was a kid.

I've seen enough over the years

to figure out

that there's some connection between

Wayne Enterprises and Batman.

Somehow I missed that

in the last stockholder's report.

In fact, if I was gonna make

an educated guess,

I'd say you supply him

with some of his tech.

- That's some theory.

- Dad, I just...

It's coming from Wayne Tech. The vault.

Don't play games with me.

I don't know about any vault.

Fine. Kill him.

Get us into the vault, Mr. Fox,

or your son becomes a memory.

Stop!

Look at all these magnificent toys.

You know what we need, Kuttler.

Yes. A fleet of trucks,

so we can take it all.

But for now...

the components will have to do.

How could you know?

This is the 21st century, Mr. Fox.

There are no secrets

in this world anymore.

Dad!

Except the ones we take to our graves.

You dare to wear the mantle of the bat.

Get to the transport.

The boy.

Electrocutioner, stop!

You're gonna fry up real good,

you stupid little...

Come back and fight, you cowards!

- Damn it.

- Help!

He needs an ambulance.

You want more, Bruce?

Don't take it all for yourself.

Don't worry, ladies.

There's plenty of me to go around.

Mother's pearls?

Where did you get those?

Where did you get them?

What the hell is this?

Still no progress, Tetch?

So much memory. So much experience.

It's a delicate job,

threading my way through the layers.

You, on the other hand,

could be reprogrammed in an hour.

You're like wet sand,

compared to this concrete.

His trauma runs so deep.

It's as if he defines himself by his pain.

Such madness.

You have to dig deeper.

Push past the trauma.

To the child he was,

before he lost his precious parents.

Then, you'll break him.

And then, he'll be ours.

You make it sound so easy, Talia.

Easier than dying, Mr. Tetch.

We had the detonators.

But the bat was there, waiting for us.

- Grayson.

- Not just him.

- The boy.

- Of course.

He was nearly killed, but I saved him.

- I saved him.

- I would expect no less.

We should capture Damian. Bring him here.

I prefer to keep my son

at arm's length. For now.

But if we remove him

from the battle till it's over, then...

I've told you, no.

I know why you want the boy, Heretic.

I'd stay away from that rabbit hole,

if I were you.

Mind your own business, Tetch.

Nothing would give me more pleasure.

- I'm so sorry, Luke.

- That's all you have to say?

I was in the vault, Dick. I know.

Listen, I don't think this is the time.

My dad might feel differently,

if he could talk.

I came home from one war,

only to walk right into another one.

And I want to be a part of it.

Best way to help is right here,

at your father's side.

I'm a soldier, Dick.

I need to be on the front lines,

not stuck in some lab or boardroom

or freakin' bedside chair.

And last night, I saw the weapons

that could help me.

Weapons that my dad created

and almost got killed for.

No, Luke, listen. I understand,

I really do, but it's not my call.

Not right now. Things are complicated.

Trust me, okay?

- Dick...

- Alfred.

I'm on it.

I got to run. I'm sorry.

God, I haven't laughed

like that in so long.

I noticed you looked pretty miserable

when you came in.

One of those days?

One of those lives.

- Hey!

- Excuse me.

So, you're a cop?

A detective.

You have a problem with that?

No, not at all.

You just don't look the part.

- What's a cop supposed to look like?

- Not as hot as you.

- Did I just say that out loud?

- Yeah, you did. You're good.

Actually, I'm terrible.

I haven't dated in over a year and I...

- Is something wrong?

- What? No. No. No.

Look, I do have to go, but...

can I give you my card? Call me?

Yeah, right.

That's not a line, Rene, I...

I like you, I really do.

But something's come up.

Where's the kid?

I thought we could talk alone... Katey.

How long have you known?

Me? Not long. But Batman's

been on to you from the start.

Look, just so you know, I haven't given up.

I just... needed to clear my head.

We all need to take off

the mask sometimes.

To remind ourselves

that we're people underneath.

Dick Grayson.

You know, when we were kids and I'd

see you at all those society bashes...

I had quite a crush on you.

Really? I thought

you were totally annoying.

Took me a while to get a hang

of the girl thing.

Yeah, me too.

- Why reveal yourself?

- Call it a hunch. Come on.

I don't have a concussion.

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