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

[newoutsiders]

"No," she says. "No, I should be okay." She laughs, just a little. "Thank you, Batman. You know... everyone at Arkham... they're all so afraid of you. But you're a good person."

[bat_by_another_name]

Batman is very silent, taken a back. Had the armor not been so thick, Cass is certain that the heat in her cheeks would have been visible.

She utters, a little lower than her usual volume, "All of us... can only try to be."

[not_easy_being_green]

Connor smiles, then jerks abruptly as he remembers - in all the excitement with Grundy, and then Kathleen - ah, Silverpool - they'd all forgotten.

He goes over to check on Starfire.

[newoutsiders]

Starfire is sprawled on her side, breathing as if in a deep, unwakeable sleep. It's unsettling seeing her like this, and you're not quite sure why until you realize it: she's not glowing.

[not_easy_being_green]

That's... disconcerting. He doesn't know much about her physiology, but he's pretty sure that even unconscious, the glow should still be there.

He walks back to the others. "Starfire's still out, and she doesn't look too good. Does anyone know if she has a doctor on this planet?"

[stephbrown]

Steph frowns. "I don't know. We can probably take her to Doc Thompkins, though. Does she... need sun? Or something?"

[not_easy_being_green]

"It's worth a try. I think we've landed, anyway."

He goes to try just that.

[newoutsiders]

You recall that it is the middle of the night.

[not_easy_being_green]

... he's going to blame that one on not yet being used to the timezone changes.

"I think it's time to call in the authorities," Connor says. He looks at Starfire. "Maybe someone can get some sun lamps for her."

[stephbrown]

"I'll call the cops," Steph volunteers. "They're kinda used to Bat people calling in weird stuff by now."

"Sun lamps? I don't know of anyone who has a bunch of those just sitting around. Do we break into the botanical gardens or something?"

[not_easy_being_green]

"There might be... a greenhouse or something, I guess? Wayne Labs might have some - we should call them in anyway."

[stephbrown]

"True." Steph toggles the button on her mask that will alert the GCPD that the Bats have found something, along with a set of coordinates. "I don't know how we're going to get her there, though. It's not like she'll fit on the back of the bike, and Batman said there's no more room in the plane thing."

[not_easy_being_green]

"I meant more... them coming to us? I mean, they might know what to do with what's left of all-" he gestures to the Hall of Doom in general - "This. And Doctor Bravo's lab as well."

[stephbrown]

"Oh, right." That does make sense, and it's way better than just... leaving it here. "I'll give them a call."

[newoutsiders]

You make the necessary calls, and are eventually directed to STAR Labs. They're on scene pretty quickly, and take Starfire, and Sal and Silverpool go with them.

A team also arrives to incarcerate Grundy- who is roused awake by the company.

"Won't... go..." he mutters. "Not like this. Gotta... start over..."

There's a loud snap as Grundy bites down on something. His body begins to glow white.

[stephbrown]

"Bomb," Steph shouts. She grabs a gooperang and tosses it at Grundy, hoping that it'll provide some sort of shielding. She yells to the evac team. "Run! Out of the building!"

[newoutsiders]

"I got this!" Lemmy shouts- and he folds into a dome, enveloping Grundy. There's a loud, wet, but muffled explosion. Lemmy metallic body shudders, but stays steadfast, containing the blast entirely.

When the rumbling ceases, he unfolds, covered in Grundy chunks.

"Sick. I hope I'm stain-resistant."

[stephbrown]

"That is disgusting," Steph says, not sure if she's horrified or awed. Probably a little of both. "Uh. Thanks, Lemmy."

[not_easy_being_green]

Connor gives a horrified stare at what's left of what was once Grundy.

He'll come back, of course. But... that doesn't really make it... any more pleasant.

"... yeah. Uh, thanks."

[newoutsiders]

"No, uh. No prob," he says, wiping the bigger chunks off, but still kind of drenched in exploded entrails and goo.

"So, uh. Hey. Batgirl. If you're not, I dunno... doing anything later..."

[stephbrown]

Steph does a double-take. "Uh, that's really sweet, Lemmy, but..." She scrabbles around for a way to reject him gently. "I think it'd be a good idea if you figured out all of your new powers before you dated anyone. Just in case, you know? Know your own limitations and all that jazz." She tries a smile. "Maybe later?"

[newoutsiders]

He laughs nervously. "You thought I was asking you OUT? Oh, man. Get over yourself, Batgirl. What are you, 15?"

He turns away from Steph, eager to change the subject.

"Welp! I better get home. I got a friend back in my apartment who thinks I went out for pizza. Like, 6 hours ago. But after that I'm TOTALLY gonna start doing the hero thing. Oh yeah."

[not_easy_being_green]

"Yeah. I'll, uh... we'll talk."

Connor waits for Lemmy to get a decent distance away before asking Steph.

"This... maybe a bad time to mention this, but I don't exactly have a ride..."

[stephbrown]

"Yeah, I figured. We did ride down together. I'll give you a ride back uptown if we're all done here." Steph looks around; she's pretty sure they are done, but it's best to check.