DC X Rider Ch 154

Hila surveyed the grim warehouse district with a practiced eye. Rain slicked the grimy streets, reflecting the neon glow of distant signs. “This is it,” she said, her voice carrying a note of authority that even Robin couldn’t dismiss. “Intel suggests Bane’s operation is centered here.”

Kaldur adjusted his stance, his Atlantean tattoos glowing faintly in the dim light. “Multiple entry points. We need to split up.”

Tula nodded, her gaze sharp. “Coordination is key. Miss Martian, can you establish a telepathic link?”

Miss Martian, hovering slightly off the ground, closed her eyes. “I can sense… about twenty hostiles inside. Hostages… too many to count. All wearing explosive vests.”

Robin grunted. “Great. So, a party.” He checked his grapnel launcher. “I’ll take the east side. Less structurally sound. More fun.”

Hila fixed him with a stare. “Robin, this is not a game. These explosives are lethal. We need to be precise.”

“Relax, Princess,” Robin retorted, though a flicker of respect crossed his face. “I’m always precise. Just… dynamically precise.” He launched his grapnel, disappearing into the shadows.

Hila sighed, then refocused. “Tula, Kaldur, with me. We’ll breach the main entrance. Miss Martian, stay mobile. Provide intel and support where needed.”

“Understood,” Miss Martian replied, her voice a calming presence in their minds. “I’m in position.”

The Atlanteans advanced, their movements fluid and silent. Hila raised her hand, and a shimmering wall of water erupted from the nearby fire hydrant, solidifying into a protective barrier just as the first shots rang out. [PANG! PANG! PANG!]

“They knew we were coming,” Kaldur said, his voice tight.

“Of course they did,” Hila snapped. “Now, let’s give them a reason to regret it.” She lowered the water shield just enough for Tula and Kaldur to surge forward.

Tula moved with blinding speed, her Atlantean strength amplified by years of training. She slammed into the first henchman, sending him flying into a stack of crates. Kaldur, wielding twin water constructs shaped like swords, engaged the next two, deflecting their bullets with ease.

“Hila, west side clear,” Miss Martian’s voice echoed in their minds. “Robin is creating a diversion. Minimal resistance.”

Good, Hila thought. One less thing to worry about. She focused her hydrokinesis, manipulating the water from the broken hydrant into tendrils that snaked through the air, disabling the henchmen’s weapons.

Meanwhile, Robin, true to his word, was causing chaos on the east side. Smoke pellets filled the narrow corridor, obscuring vision. [KRA-KOOM!] The sound of a flashbang echoed, followed by the groans of disoriented henchmen.

Tula and Kaldur continued their assault, disarming and incapacitating the remaining guards with ruthless efficiency. Kaldur’s water swords danced through the air, disarming and subduing opponents. Tula uses her superior strength, disabling the henchmen.

“Explosives detected on the hostages,” Miss Martian’s voice was urgent. “Multiple triggers. Pressure plates, heart rate monitors… Toyman didn’t hold back.”

Hila felt a surge of anger. Using innocent people as pawns… it was a tactic she despised. “Miss Martian, can you disable the bombs?”

“I can try,” came the reply. “But I need time. And a clear path.”

Kaldur glanced at Hila. “We’ll create one.” He and Tula moved as one, forming a living shield as they advanced deeper into the warehouse. More henchmen appeared, armed with automatic weapons, but the Atlanteans were relentless.

“I’m inside,” Miss Martian reported. “Hostages are terrified… pressure is… intense.”

Hila pushed forward, ignoring the sting of stray bullets impacting her water shield. She had to trust Miss Martian. They all did.

“Almost… there…” Miss Martian’s voice wavered slightly. “One down… two…”

The sounds of fighting intensified. Tula and Kaldur were a whirlwind of motion, their Atlantean physiology allowing them to shrug off blows that would cripple a normal human.

“Three… four… five… all bombs… disarmed.” Miss Martian’s voice was filled with relief. “Hostages are safe.”

A collective sigh of relief swept through the team. Hila lowered her water shield, revealing a scene of controlled chaos. Henchmen lay unconscious, their weapons scattered. The hostages, though shaken, were unharmed.

“East side secure,” Robin chimed in. “Looks like we’re all done here.”

Hila surveyed the scene, a sense of grim satisfaction washing over her. They had done it. They had faced Bane’s forces and emerged victorious. But she knew this was just the beginning.

“I’m sensing something… faint… but… familiar,” Miss Martian said, her voice tinged with concern. “It’s… heading towards National City Clock Tower.”

…

Kabuto stood atop a skyscraper, the National City skyline spread before him like a concrete and steel tapestry.

[Clock Up]

The world around him seemed to slow to a crawl. Cars became sluggish snails, pedestrians froze mid-stride, and the very air hung thick and heavy. Only Kabuto moved with any semblance of speed.

He became a blur of motion, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, his red armor a fleeting streak against the gray sky. His enhanced senses, amplified by the Kabuto Zector, scanned for any telltale sign—a ticking clock, a faint whirring, anything that screamed 'bomb.'

He shot past Supergirl, a blonde statue frozen in mid-flight. He spared her a glance before he took off again. He trusted her and Superboy to search methodically, their enhanced hearing a valuable asset in this situation. He was only able to move so fast.

[Static crackled in his helmet]

"Kamen Rider, anything?" Supergirl's voice, slightly distorted, cut through the artificial silence of Clock Up.

"Not yet."

He needed to cover more ground, and fast. He adjusted his trajectory, heading towards the denser, more congested areas of the city. If Toyman wanted to cause maximum chaos, that’s where he’d put them.

There! A faint ticking reached his ears—a rhythmic pulse that stood out against the city's cacophony. He pinpointed the source: a bustling toy store, its windows plastered with colorful displays.

Kabuto deactivated Clock Up, the world snapping back to its normal, frenetic pace. He landed gracefully on the sidewalk, drawing curious stares from passersby. He ignored them, his focus solely on the toy store.

He stepped inside, his gaze sweeping across the crowded aisles. Dolls, action figures, stuffed animals—a veritable minefield of potential hiding places. He activated his Rider Senses, his hearing honing in on the ticking sound.

It was coming from a large teddy bear, its eyes glowing an eerie red. He reached out, grabbing the bear and yanking it off the shelf.

"Hey! That's mine!" a small voice piped up.

Kabuto turned to see a young boy, his face etched with disappointment. "Sorry, kid," he said, his voice gruff but apologetic. "This isn't a toy. It's dangerous."

Before the boy could protest, Kabuto raced out of the store. [Tick… tick… tick…] He tossed the teddy bear into the air, firing a single shot from the Kabuto Kunai Gun. [BANG!] The bear exploded in a harmless puff of smoke and glitter.

He contacted Supergirl. "Found one. Toy store on Elm Street. A teddy bear."

[Static crackled again] "Copy that," Supergirl responded. "Superboy and I are still searching. Nothing yet."

"Keep me posted," Kabuto said, already moving on. He activated Clock Up once more, the world slowing as he resumed his relentless search.

He continued to find and defuse the bombs in the city. A clown doll at a birthday party, a wind-up monkey at the library.

Finally, he got another message.

"Kamen Rider, I've got something," Superboy's voice this time, sounding relieved. "Found a bomb hidden in the subway. It's big. Enough to collapse the whole system."

That’s it, Kabuto thought. That’s the last one.

"We just finished sweeping through the city," Supergirl added. "We didn't find anything else. All accounted for."

He activated Clock Up and then looked at Supergirl, who was frozen mid-flight.

Time to regroup, he thought.

He deactivated Clock Up one last time, letting the world return to its frenetic pace. Time to face Toyman, together. He contacted Supergirl, switching to a general channel.

"Supergirl, Superboy, this is Kamen Rider. All bombs accounted for."

"Good," Robin's voice crackled over the comms. "But you missed one. Big one. It's in the National City Clock Tower. We're regrouping there."

Kabuto acknowledged the message, already calculating the trajectory. Supergirl and Superboy confirmed their agreement.

"On our way," Supergirl said.

"See you there," Superboy chimed in.

The three head to the Clock Tower to regroup.

…

The team converged at the base of the National City Clock Tower, a gothic spire that had become an unwitting centerpiece in Toyman’s twisted game. Rain lashed down, mirroring the tension etched on their faces.

Haruka, still in Kabuto armor, surveyed the tower, his compound eyes scanning for any sign of forced entry or unusual activity. Supergirl hovered above, her gaze piercing through the aged stone, while Superboy stood firm on the ground, his fists clenched. The Atlanteans, Hila, Tula, and Kaldur, exchanged worried glances. They, along with Miss Martian and Robin, had arrived at the tower's base.

"This is it," Robin said, his voice grim. "Last bomb. Toyman's calling card."

"And I bet it's a big one," Supergirl added.

Suddenly, a large screen flickered to life on the side of the clock tower, its harsh light cutting through the gloom. Toyman's face filled the screen, his smile wide and unsettling.

"Well, well, well," he cackled, his voice echoing through the streets. "Look who decided to show up! I must admit, I'm impressed. I didn't expect this many heroes to come crawling out of the woodwork. But it doesn't matter!"

His smile widened, morphing into a manic grin. "You're all too late. This little present I've left inside… oh, it's a doozy. Enough to wipe half of National City off the map! So unless you want to see your precious city go boom," he spread his hands wide, "you're going to listen to me."

Hila stepped forward, her voice ringing with authority. "What do you want, Toyman?"

Toyman giggled, a high-pitched, grating sound. "Oh, just a little… cooperation. You heroes love to play by the rules, right? Well, here's a new rule for you: Do exactly as I say, or BOOM! No more National City!"

A tense silence fell over the group. Haruka felt a knot tighten in his stomach. Toyman was clearly unhinged, and the threat of a bomb powerful enough to level half the city was all too real.

Robin stepped forward, his face obscured by his domino mask. "We don't have a choice," he said, his voice low. "He has us checkmated."

But does he, Robin thought.

He turned to the group, his gaze sweeping over each of them. "I have a plan," he said, his voice barely audible above the wind. "But it's risky. Very risky."

He paused, then continued, speaking quietly, his words meant for their ears alone. "Here's what we're going to do…"

Hila, Tula, Kaldur, Robin, Miss Martian, Kabuto, Superboy, and Supergirl, band together and looked up at the screen, at Toyman's grinning face. With a silent nod of understanding, each member took a deep breath, steeling themselves for what was to come.

And as per Toyman's demand, they entered the Clock Tower, ready to face whatever twisted game he had in store.