Showdown at Slaughter Swamp

[newoutsiders]

Batgirl and Green Arrow have been riding for a few hours now, on their way to Slaughter Swamp: the last sighting of the mutated, truck driving zombie dubbed "Gingross." The red-tinged air pollution of Gotham fades behind you, giving way to the muted moonlight of a cloudy night sky. The swamp carries something of a supernatural reputation, as you're well aware- if the "hauntings" in Connor's building can be traced anywhere, Slaughter Swamp is as likely a point of origin as any.

Eventually, you run out of road and park the Batcycle. The nearest source of real light is coming through the window of a nearby, small wooden shack right on the edge of the swamp.

Comments

[not_easy_being_green]

"There's someone over there." He gestures towards the direction of their arrival, and calls out, "Whoever you are, come out!"

[bat_by_another_name]

Behind Batman's mask, Cassandra huffs in slight annoyance. The added protection and stature of the armor must effect her stealth more than she originally estimated. That's something to correct in later training.

Of course, she knows Green Arrow's skills are not something to underestimate by any means.

Still, she has to maintain Batman's reputation. She doesn't move from the shadows entirely when she moved forward, instead using them to add to her stature.

"There was lots of... activity," she says thickly. "I'm. Investigating."

[newoutsiders]

The engines spitting fire from the bottom of the Hall of Doom seem to glow a duller flame as it loses altitude. The years have not been kind.

[not_easy_being_green]

"Batman?" Connor asks skeptically. More questions are on the tip of his tongue - where are the others? Where has everyone been? What happened? Why does he seem - different? - but he holds off in favor of more immediate concerns.

He points at the base. "We think Solomon Grundy is in there."

[stephbrown]

Steph knows immediately that it's not Bruce in the suit. She tries not to draw attention to herself as she gets ready to toss her cryorangs; it might not be Bruce, but that's clearly a well-made Bat suit. Maybe the cryos will freeze the systems and give them a chance to figure out who the impostor is.

She waits for an opportunity, 'rangs at the ready.

[bat_by_another_name]

She feels them looking straight through her, and for a moment she almost wonders if the mask is really thick enough to keep her identity from them. But then she remembers that it doesn't require a certain thickness, because the only person they will see past her mask is Batman.

She looks to Green Arrow and then to the flying base. She stares for a moment as the HUD provides a visual of Grundy for her. She recognizes the profile image from her studies. She's not fought him yet -- a meta.

"I can catch it," she decides, beginning to turn for the Egg, when she noticed Stephanie's tensing. She recognizes that stance -- remembers who taught her friend that stance -- and knows what's in Batgirl's hands before the HUD even singles it out. She points at her friend. "Not now. Put it. Away. We talk later."

[stephbrown]

Steph blinks, because the diction, the movement... it's Cass. It has to be Cass, but...

"What the hell," she says, but she tucks the 'rangs away.

[not_easy_being_green]

Connor doesn't miss the exchange, but he doesn't really know what to make of it for now.

Choosing to focus on the more pressing issue, he speaks, "Batman. How many of us can you take with you?"

[bat_by_another_name]

Ah, well. They did start this confrontation, it stands to reason they'd want to see it through. That's how she would feel.

But they are still technically in Gotham.

She raises a brow and huffs. "No one. Not unless you like... hanging outside." She looks at them. "You have... no way to follow?"

[newoutsiders]

As if in response, the Hall of Doom wobbles as it continues sinking slowly in altitude, engines sputtering. It's about five feet off the ground at this point.

[not_easy_being_green]

... well, that answers that question.

"Let's go," Connor says. He runs towards the base, though he'll do a quick survey of the entrance before deciding to vault in this time around.

[glowymeatshield]

"I can carry Batgirl," says Starfire. "Connor, do you have a grappling arrow? I don't think that base is going anywhere terribly fast."

She frowns. "Actually... I can probably take out the thrusters..."

She fires a starbolt at one, experimentally, to see just how fragile the thing is after all these years.