Sidestory: The Weaver in Gotham

An occasional crossover that might appear now and then. Batman is DC's, Weaver is Wildbows.

****

When I hit the ground, I knew something was wrong. I’d lost track of most of my insects.

Whatever weapon the CUI had used had thrown me away, far away. I could feel it—the bugs here were… different.

As was the sky.

As was the city.

I sent the swarm out, giving thanks that I could still control them, and made certain nobody was watching me, and that there was no portal.

The first thing I needed to do was get away. The CUI wasn’t stupid, and if that portal opened again, I’d be to drop something I couldn’t survive.

On the other hand, they were having some problems of their own, since I’d managed to send a message and Alexandria and Eidolon were both making their displeasure known.

Whatever happened, the CUI would learn that it was not wise to intrude into my city.

But right now, I needed to find a place to dress.

Breaking into a clothing store was easy. I went back to the second hand bin and got some clothes—clothes that likely wouldn’t be noticed missing, not like the expensive dresses and coats on the rack in front.

I put an overcoat on, covering my armor, and then ate a high energy bar, one of the ones I kept with me. I checked my tools and weapons.

They’re here. Good. But I didn’t have anything else. I was lost.

I’d done more with less. I looked up into the city and set out to find out where I was…and How to get back.

I ran into two attempted robberies and a rape before thirty minutes had passed.

Maybe this wasn’t that different from the Bay.

*****

“So, babe, you gonna give us your boss’s keys?” Hank and his band had the secretary cornered.

Not everyone was as tough as they were. Jim had a rifle and if the Bat showed up, they’d shoot him down.

“I don’t… I…”

“Ears, nose or eye…” Tim said, grinning. “Give us the key or you get to choose what else to give.”

“Please…”

“Oh man, she’s pissing—“

“What little mice are running around, pretending they are cats…”

The rumbling sound filled the air. The band looked around but up in the dark sky there were… thingsjumping back and forth, only their arms were too long,legs moving wrong…

“Shoot it!” Mark shouted and opened up with his pistol. Then everyone else did. Then…

Laughter. Soft at first, then growing, and suddenly above them, the sky turned black, and something… something appeared. They couldn’t see what it was, just as two hellish eyes opened up, a rumbling sound by it.

“My hunger is… eternal, but I cannot prey on the righteous. Oh Look! Someone I can prey on!”Then there was a squeaking sound, and a tide of rats ran through the street. Kenny screamed and jumped on top of the car. “Little scavengers pretending to be predators…”Then the laugh sounded. “What a meal you will make!”

Hank turned to run, but something was holding his legs, invisible wires, as things ran up and down his skin. The gun skittered away. Jim was trying to fire but the gun didn’t work and then something pulled it away into the night as those eyes, those hellish eyes descended lower, a breathing sound filling the air around them.

“I will take your skin, your soul, your heart  and then… I will have a body to walk around in… Unless… But no. You would not beg for your life….”

“Oh God! Please! I will! Anything!”

“Walk to the police. Tell them what you have done. Everything you have done… And I may… be convinced to not visit you, some dark night, in a little room, when you think you are safe Hank Jackson.  The money you possess will not save you. You cannot go where I cannot follow… Only honesty will save you. Will you tell them the truth, of what happened today?”

“Oh God, oh, yes!”

“Even the part about the drugs you were selling outside of school?”

How did it know? They had the records stashed in the trunk! Nothing could… Nothing but a devil.

“Yes! I’ll tell everything!” Hank said as he shit himself.

“We will see. If you run, you should make it in ten minutes. In eleven minutes… I will become… hungry.”

They ran.

*****

Like back home, cell phones here had an immediate emergency setting that you didn’t need to use the unlock code for. I pressed the emergency button, and moments later.

“Gotham PD, what is your emergency.”

“An attempted rape on Fourth and Spartan, Also, you may be expecting an influx of… repentant criminals. In case they have memory issues, the car on the same street contains a cache of drugs and other materials in the trunk. Goodbye.”

Not even a full day, and I was already feeling like this could be the Bay’s sister city.

*****

Bruce didn’t expect the bat signal, but he didn’t delay. Commissioner Gordan was waiting for him.

“What is it, Commissioner.”

“Has the Scarecrow decided to become a vigilante?”

What?