Disclaimer: This story, though maybe not in this chapter but in subsequent chapters, will have celebrities in it. I have no knowledge of their sexuality and this is not intended to imply their sexuality. This is all from my own mind.
Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel and all related characters created by Joss Whedon. Copyright 20th Century Fox.
Batman, and all related characters created by Bob Kane. Copyright DC Comics and Warner Bros.
X-MEN, and all related characters created by Stan Lee. Copyright Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox.
The Vampire Chronicles and all related characters created by Anne Rice. Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice.
Star Wars and all related concepts created by or based on the universe created by George Lucas. Copyright 20th Century Fox, LucasFilms Ltd. and Lucas Books/Ballantine Books.
I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in case, I have myself covered.
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Chapter 15 Futility
Mr. Freeze waved his hand in front of Batgirl's face but she did not respond. Her catatonic state kept her from seeing what was right in front of her.
"She's gone," Freeze stated. "What can we do if we don't have a Slayer?"
"We need to get Kara and get out of here," Nightwing said catching his breath.
"How do we deal with all these vampires?" Robin asked. "We have to fight through them to get Kara."
"Leave that to me," Mr. Freeze said. "When I fire, I want one of you to run and grab Kara. The other one has to grab Batgirl."
"I'll get Kara," Nightwing replied. "Robin, get Batgirl out of here."
Robin grabbed Batgirl's arm and pulled. "She isn't budging."
"I'll grab her," Freeze answered. "Get the door open and check for vampires."
Robin opened the door and looked out. He peeked back in and said, "Nothing."
Freeze nodded. "Get ready, Nightwing."
Freeze took a step back, lifted a foot and flung it into the ice. The ice shattered like glass with the impact of his super-strong boot. He quickly aimed his wrist blaster and fired. With sweeping motions, he was able to catch a few vampires and freeze them to the floor.
Kane flew up into the air and moved over to the balcony, watching as his minions were frozen or dodging the ice blasts.
Nightwing, with stakes in hand, ran and jumped flipping out of some vampires' way and staking others. He reached Kara, put her on his shoulders and ran in a straight line back toward Freeze. When he reached the doorway, Freeze created another ice wall. Grabbing Batgirl, he ran out the doorway behind the other guys.
"Get to the elevator," Freeze replied. "We need to get down to the lair and secure it."
Robin nodded and stood near the elevator. "Already ahead of you, buddy."
The elevator arrived with a ding and the doors opened. Robin went to step in and realized there was a vampire waiting for him. "Oh, shit," he said. His hand went up and he hit the vampire in the nose. It was enough to send the bone into the vampire's brain. But since it was technically dead, the only thing that caused was a lot of blood to flow out of its nose.
The vampire reacted to the pain and wiped its nose to find blood smeared on it. Its eyes widened in shock. Robin grabbed a stake and rammed it into the vampire's chest. It realized too late what had happened and turned to dust.
"Elevator's clear!" Robin replied as Freeze and Nightwing arrived.
"Good," Freeze said. "Let's get out of here."
The three heroes piled in with their precious cargo and Robin pressed the floor buttons in the secret code that would take the car to the secret level.
Down, down, down the elevator car went. It arrived at the floor and the doors opened. The men climbed out and headed to the computer.
"We need to contact the Council," Nightwing stated.
He laid Kara on a nearby table and Freeze placed Batgirl next to her. Then, Nightwing went to the computer and turned it on. Within moments, Quentin Travers image appeared.
"Nightwing," he stated. "Where is Kara and Miranda?"
"They are under some kind of trance by Kane. We need to know how to break it. Any ideas?"
"None at the moment. I'm not sure how to break the hypnosis his breed of vampire creates. We'll have to contact the team in Tokyo."
"Do it quick. There are vampires storming the penthouse. It will only be a matter of time before they find their way down here."
"There should be an emergency security system installed. Look for a secret panel near the console."
Nightwing looked around and found a small section that had no buttons or dials. He felt around and found a small switch that opened it up.
"Got it," he said. "Now what?"
"Press the top button in the left-hand corner. That will activate the temporary security measures. Until Kara wakes up, that is all it will do. She alone has the security code for the entire system."
"Great!" Robin replied. "You would think that if a Watcher went bad you would have a back up plan. But I guess Watchers don't go bad, do they?"
"Actually, some have. Travers out."
The screen went blank. Nightwing looked at Freeze and Robin. "Well, guys. Here goes nothing."
He pressed the button and immediately the system went into operation. Solid steel doors closed over the elevator and stairwell as well as the entrances from the sewers. They waited for something else to happen but nothing did.
"That's it?" Robin said. "That's all we get? Metal doors sealing us in? Vampires can break through that! What the hell is he thinking?"
"That's all we need for the moment. They are going to contact someone with the right information. Hopefully we can get help and get out of here. Until then, we sit tight."
Batgirl opened her eyes and looked around. She was back in the club she had in her dream. Immediately she sat up and slid off the pool table. Over on a nearby couch lay Kara unconscious. She got up and ran over to her. After checking her vitals and realizing her Watcher was alive, she attempted to wake her.
"Kara, its Miranda. Wake up. Come on, wake up. I need your help."
"How touching," a voice said from behind.
Batgirl turned to see Kane standing on the stage. "Where are we? What have you done to Kara?"
"Relax. Look around. Don't you recognize everything?"
"It's the club that was in my dream. So you finally brought me here."
"Actually, no, this isn't a real place. Not in the real-world anyway." Kane stepped down off the stage and walked to a nearby table. Suddenly a champagne flute of blood appeared. "This is only real in your mind." He took a drink.
"What do you mean?"
"We are in your mind at the moment. In the conscious world, you and your Watcher are unconscious. Your friends are attempting to free you, although none of them are intelligent enough to help. They think in such small terms."
"What do you mean?"
"They don't look beyond what they see. Despite the fact they have dealt with vampires and other demons, not one has thought of mystical ways of entering the mind. I do not think they have the strength of will to defeat me even if they did enter my arena."
Batgirl stood and moved closer to Kane.
"Your arena?"
"Yes. You see, I have great power when it comes to the mind. Here, I'm a god. And anyone entering my arena must bow to my will. I can do anything, you know."
Kane's eyes widened ever so slightly and Batgirl clutched her stomach. Pain shot throughout her body piercing every nerve, every fiber of her being. Kane released her and she fell to the floor.
"For example," Kane added taking another sip of the flute finishing off its contents.
To Batgirl's surprise, the flute filled up again and Kane continued to drink.
"Nice mind trick. Does it actually nourish you as well?"
"Of course it does. You see, this is your Watcher's blood."
Batgirl's eyes squinted in question.
"Go on. Check for yourself."
Batgirl turned back to Kara and noticed she was a little paler.
"What's going on with Kara?" Robin noticed looking over at the Watcher.
Nightwing went over and checked her pulse. "Her heart is slowing."
Freeze pressed a few buttons on the computer. A scanning device lowered and a green beam emanated out covering Kara's body. After covering her entire length with the ray, the screen displayed the results of the scan.
"Her blood count is lowering," Freeze read off the screen.
Nightwing and Robin both looked for any sign of wounds or blood around her body. They found none.
"How in the hell is that happening?" Robin said out loud.
"I don't know," Freeze replied. "It shouldn't be. If there is no blood coming out of her, her blood count should be normal. There is no natural reason for it."
All were quiet for a moment. Then a loud thud focused their attention. Looking up, they saw the steel door sealing the elevator exit shake.
"They are attempting to break through," Freeze said. "We need Kara awake. Come on, Council. We need that information."
"How are you doing this?" Batgirl asked standing from Kara again. "How are you taking her blood without biting her? Unless..."
"No, I am not feeding off of her in the physical plane. Your friends are keeping me and my minions at bay with whatever security measures your lair has. It will soon fall, though. It will not hold me out forever."
"Then how are you taking her blood?"
"You humans always think in such three-dimensional terms. To put it bluntly so your puny mind can comprehend, I feed off her through magic. Through the mind, I have complete control over your mind and body. My mind is an ancient one. I've had millennia to develop my powers. I can do all things with and through the mind.
"I can see your thoughts as well as hers. I sense your hopes and fears. That is how I gained control over her and you. That is what brought you here to begin with. I saw exactly what motivates you. I know exactly what you strive for and what prevents you from attaining your goal. You search to control the darkness. You search to crush it under your feet and stand on top of it not allowing it to take any more.
"The words I spoke to you caused you to realize the folly of your dreams. No one can completely defeat evil. No one can end it. Evil exists. Evil is a power that is among all, even Slayers. There is darkness in everyone, a potential for evil in everyone. Your Pope, your president, even the gods humans worship, evil is in them all. You cannot put it down, you cannot destroy it. Only by embracing and integrating it can you master evil. It cannot be destroyed."
To Be Continued...
Hello, all. I know this is a short chapter. But Kane's words leave us with a very important thought. Does evil exist in all? Does darkness inhabit each soul even as light inhabits each soul? What prevents us from stepping over that line or letting the darkness take over who we are? I want to hear from you on this subject.
More to come!