DC: The Enchanter Chapter 71

Chapter 71: A Hero Turned Villain

The space station that the Justice League used as their base was fully funded and maintained by Batman. 


So if there was anyone that knew of all the secrets that the space station held, it was him.


And currently in the dimly lit control room of the space station, Batman sat before an array of holographic screens –each displaying multiple images of a certain guy.


"You have been at this for hours, Master Bruce." He heard the concerned voice inside his ear –transmitting through the earpiece that he wore.


Batman acknowledged the presence of the voice, but did not break his focus from the screen.


"Jasper has gained control over a lot of economic and political powerhouses within the past few weeks, Alfred." He voiced, "And if he continues like this, Gotham will be nothing more than a hub of business under him."


Batman had a certain bond with Gotham. In a way, it was unhealthy as he viewed Gotham as a part of his life –his soul and his being.


He believed that Batman would never exist without Gotham and it was that belief that kept him so suspicious and unwelcoming of anything new that happened in Gotham.


Alfred knew this very well and he did explain how unhealthy this obsession was to Batman on multiple occasions, but it fell on his deaf ears.


To Alfred, Bruce was his son and he could not allow his son to suffer. So, despite being aware of this unhealthy obsession, he was willing to aid Bruce in keeping a watch over Gotham.


"Shall I assist you in your research, sir?" He offered from the other side of the earphone.


Batman was so focused that he shook his head, forgetting that his butler could not see him.


"I appreciate the offer, Alfred, but this is something that I have to do on my own and I cannot drag others into this." He said, "Even if that someone is you, Alfred."


Alfred took no offense to Bruce's words as he was well aware that the caped crusader was trying to keep innocents from getting involved into a mess.


Besides he knew that Batman never asked for help until and unless it was the only option left.


He focused on the data presented on the screen and started to piece them together. He saw patterns in Jasper's actions that almost always guaranteed him to make good business decisions.


It was as if he had a cheat skill or knowledge of which company was going to do well in the future. He knew that Jasper's wasn't manipulating the stock or pumping and dumping on his own –he had investigated it after all.


Even about most of the events, Jasper had knowledge.


'It is as if someone is feeding him the information…'


Batman's major concern at the moment was identifying those informants that were providing information to Jasper. He was also searching for potential leaks with the GCPD, the criminal organizations and even among his own allies.


Now, most would find it offensive to look into their allies –but not Batman.


And if he found that someone was indeed feeding Jasper information; he would not let them be.


His goal was to cut off all those sources of information.


But all while he was trying to find information about Jasper, there was something else that he needed to confirm as well.


Switching the line, he contacted another member of the League.


And unlike most of the League members, this one did not make him wait minutes before picking up his calls.


"Is everything alright, Batman?"


"That's what I should be asking you, Diana." Batman replied, "Did you already apprehend those kidnappers?"


He trusted Diana's abilities as they were one of the best within the league.


But what he did not expect was her answer.


"About that… I am stuck solving an issue of my own, so I had that task assigned to Oliver."


Silence.


Everything was frozen in the moment he heard Diana say that.


"You did what?" He froze.


"Err… Don't worry none of them are superpowered so Arrow will be able to handle them just fine."


'No!'


Batman was beyond infuriated at himself for allowing that to happen. 


'I should have dealt it with myself!'


"Is everything alright, Bruce?" Diana asked with a bit of concern but Bruce did not respond.


'I should have known not to trust any of them with matters of Gotham!'


He immediately got off the chair and dropped the call.


"System, prepare the jet and link Gotham and 

Oliver's systems to mine. And give me the location of where those kidnappers are headed from the previous machine data!"


**Affirmative.**


As he rushed towards the jet, he heard the system speak.


**According to the updated data, the group of six are headed to the district of Serenora in Gotham.**


"Dammit!!!" He shouted, "Computer, upload Contingency Seven and Contingency Seventy Eight to my device!"


**Affirmative.**


**Uploading Contingency Seven: Green Arrow and Contingency Seventy Eight: Jasper Hughes to your device.**


**Upload success.**


"I hope I am not too late!"


…

…


"FUCKKK!"


While Batman was worried about the situation in Gotham, Arrow had already made sure that the situation was as blown out of proportions as possible.


"T-That fucking hurts!"


Crashing in the foam was not enough to fully stop the impact force from hurting them. And this led to a few broken bones for the goons. 


But since the girls were kept around the cushined area, they did not suffer any major injury other than a few bruises.


'That… hurts…' 


However, that didn't mean that it did not hurt them.


Violet nearly cried out loud but managed to stop herself to not draw the kidnappers' attention.


Tears rolled down her cheeks from the pain but she made no noise.


And that was the best choice as one of the goons immediately checked on them.


"The girls are fine!" The fat man said while gritting his teeth from the pain.


But his words were cut short as neither of them could focus on the girls at that moment.


Why?


Because explosions could be heard all around them as if someone was shooting them with RPGs.


"WHO THE FUCK IS IT!"


The one that was driving the car shouted and immediately kicked open the door; uncaring of the fact that he might get caught up in the explosions.


'Idiot!' Violet nearly cursed when she saw the false bravado of the man as his action could end up directing the explosions towards them.

  

But what she did not know was that it was not an attack by a terrorist group but by a certain man.


A man that was supposed to be a hero.


The bravery that the man was showing faded immediately as he saw the silhouette emerging from the smoke of the explosions.


Through the reflection on the mirror, even Violet saw the person, making her stunned.


"How…"


Both she and the goon muttered unintentionally.


"How is the Green Arrow in Serenora?"


Because the man in front of them was Oliver, someone that was not supposed to be in Serenora.


"The fall of trash like you." They heard Oliver's chilling voice, "And Jasper Hughes' end begins today."


A voice that was filled with poison.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

[[A/N: Next Chapter: Thunderous Entry

Violet