The Silhouette and The Forge
Chapter 19

It had been two weeks since my meeting with the Court. Something that had taken far longer than I liked but you can’t rush something like this.

Looking at the map that had been made by the numerous drones down in the tunnels beneath Gotham that stared back at me on the Batcomputer. Not a doubt in my mind that there are secret passages that they couldn’t find. Didn’t help with me being limited on how many could be snuck in. That and the drones saved the passages to memory before each finding their way out of the tunnels so they could get a signal. 

That came with many risks but the reward was worth it. It was something that I had to do and it worked out in my favor. I Would rather the Court not know of my gathering information and mapping out their secret hideout. Also doubt that it’s the only one. As old as the Court of Owls is there is no way this is the only base they have and other passages the drones couldn’t find. 

Taking the lemonade from Heli and patting her on the head as she squeals in delight as I drink the juice and savor the flavor. Bringing any more of the spy drones increased the odds of getting caught and how clean the tunnels looked tells me they are thorough in keeping tabs on anything out of place.

So a drone slightly bigger than a gnat made to look like one if found would be cause for suspicion since those do not tend to be found deep underground. If they examined one they would see it is mechanical. So only so many could be brought down with me and even more had to be expended by hiding away on many of the Owls present in the room.

Most notably being Miss Forest. From what I was able to put together from both watching her interactions with the man she had to babysit to the Court's reactions to my desire to become a high-ranking member paints an interesting picture.

The Court doesn’t seem to care for new blood. They prefer old money, people that have a long lineage at least a couple of generations back. This is a common trend with the numerous Owls that did not know they had drones hiding in their pockets or clothes and once they left the tunnels that no signal could get out of much to the engineer's frustration the signals came back and we now know a decent number of the Owls members.

All of whom are families that have long histories in Gotham. Some even go so far back to the founding of Gotham City. So seeing Miss Forest or rather her real name-- Jaina Hudson whose father was a known socialite and businessman in Gotham who managed to become an ambassador to India and that is where he met her mother who was a beloved actress in Bollywood.

Jaina didn’t come from old money. Her father was a man who made his fortune through various businesses he had managed to start up in safer areas of Gotham during times of less strife in the city. 

Businesses that were needed ranging from a few construction crews mostly repairing old roads that were in desperate need of attention were made just before Gotham's mayoral elections and for any mayor to look good and get votes had hired them to fix the roads. For most cities, it sounds absurd just to do that to get votes but to that, I say most people have not lived in Gotham.

Overall he seemed like a decent enough man who did some under-the-table things but not to the level of myself or the major players in the city. After the death of both of her parents -- because it's Gotham and it may as well be a staple of this city for taking kids' parents from them. 

She had inherited her parent's fortune and would set up charities to help the people of Gotham. Not only that but she also happened to be one of my investors in my companies in Gotham cleaning up the city and one of the first.

It took a while but some people have started investing in the companies once it was made clear they are on the up and up. People are still suspicious but anything in Gotham is at the end of the day. 

So color me surprised when she is the odd one out compared to most of the other Owls. Very few are an ethnicity beyond being white and even fewer are not old money. 

If I play my cards right I could gain an asset and ally within the Court which could be useful later on. I wish to make the Court mine, but before it looked unlikely that would come to pass and I would be forced to simply destroy them and salvage what I could from their corpse.

In doing so I may show too much of my hand to those who may witness the conflict happening since the Court, if they see what I have at my disposal to end them would have to bring a great deal of their resources to bear down upon me. Such a conflict will draw the attention of others if it happens out in the open and not in the shadows.

So too much risk involved in simply brute forcing it only to get mere scraps for my efforts. So taking them over from within is much more viable so long as I can pull it off. 

Glancing over at another screen I saw images of many different homeless as their movements were being memorized and seeing if there were any patterns. So far some of them have been moving around the area where Anarky and his men have been hiding.

They are acting more like sentries and scouts to keep an eye out if someone comes snooping around. We have managed to narrow the area down to where Anarky could be right now. Several of the hunters had managed to infiltrate the group but had made no progress in finding out where Anarky was.

But it is only a matter of time until I learn where the little turd crawled off to. In other news, the Alliance as they are calling the gang I had created is slowly becoming a unified force. The other gangs have backed off in their probes of seeing how much they could get away with or testing to see how well this ceasefire and assistance of one another goes. 

Everyone is still afraid of the Court coming back for round two but they also know they need to survive and try to gather up as many supplies and territory as they can. The latter is stupid since they don’t have the numbers to retain that area they hope to take and spread themselves too thin. But fear has a way of clouding someone’s judgment.

Well, they learned the hard way that this time it is legit. My hunters with the gangs under them have proven to the others they mean to keep to the agreement and by that, they in turn have begun to realize they can count on them so in turn give them aid.

Light points out something to me as I lean closer seeing the jackoff that was with Jaina on the night I met them. Kyle Donovan. Currently has his arm in a sling and a nice big black eye with several bruises around his wrist, forearm, neck, and head.

The man has seen better days and he looks like he wants to kill someone. And that someone I have a rather good idea…

The man pulls out an old flip cell phone as he is in a room all on his own with no one even remotely close to him. 

“Get me audio. I want to know everything he is saying and have it recorded.” 

The engineers do as ordered his voice sounding rough as if he had been strangled for who knows how long and probably was. It would seem Jaina had made the man pay dearly for being such a nuisance. Either she was feeling merciful or simply lacked the authority to have him killed.

“This is Monarch speaking. I want a status update on the upcoming job.” 

Thankfully the drones were built with good audio sensors. Good enough to pick up the speaker on the other end of the phone without Donovan’s voice blasting my eardrums to Kingdom Come. Don’t know how the engineers managed it but leave it to them to do something even I hadn’t expected.

“We are ready. Just let us know when your friend is ready for pickup.” The voice on the other end is distorted so we can’t make out who it is from sound alone.

Donovan only chuckles at that. “Good. My friend will be attending a charity event at the Wayne Manor. I will be waiting at the agreed-upon location for us to enjoy the evening together. You will be greatly rewarded for your discretion and professionalism.” He says before hanging up the phone and dropping it in a pitcher of water he has on a nightstand by his bed as he slowly gets off of it.

You sly devil. Good thing those drones were put to good use gathering any information I could gain on the rich elite of Gotham. 

And how could I not use Mr. Donovan to ingratiate myself with Jaina? Something like that just handed to me on a silver platter is not something that happens every day. 

“Send more drones around Jaina. Have them track any particular individuals who look like they are keeping too much of an eye on her. When they make their move, identify who they are. Also have Mr. Donovan tracked to know where he wishes to meet Miss Hudson. Have the hunters and Smith on standby.”

The engineers comply sending out orders as I nod satisfied. Checking over the progress of other projects and anything of great importance that I would need to know so far everything has been quiet besides the occasional minor in Gotham which is nothing for this city but it doesn’t hurt to keep tabs on things like that.

After all, if it wasn’t for the gang war I caused I wouldn’t have been in the position I am in now. Something that does give me pause is oddly enough how quiet the Joker has been in Arkham after his gang was slaughtered. They happened to be the few if only gangs that everyone universally celebrated their deaths.

But not a peep from Joker so that has given me reason to be wary. I don’t fear the guy simply because I could kill him with one arm tied behind my back and only use a single finger. As capable as he is against someone like Batman, if put against another hero like Superman or Flash he would lose unless the universe decided to give him absurd levels of plot armor to survive and beat them.

But after Batman getting handled by one of my hunters I doubt any such thing exists here. So for now the clown stays in the Asylum. To my great surprise, the Asylum is not a revolving door in this version of Gotham despite how often it is depicted as such.

“Anything of note in Arkham? Any possible secret signs or messages from the inmates on a breakout?” 

The engineers all show that everything's still fine there. 

“Good. The instant that the clown is let out of the box, eliminate him. Any way possible. He cannot be allowed to go on living when he gets out.”

All the engineers nod and move along as I step out of the room and quickly dawn my Silhouette outfit. With the Asylum being rather difficult to get into and out of since they have many different security measures ranging from simple to complex we had concluded that it would be more trouble getting into the Asylum and killing Joker than to just get him when he gets out.

Could I get him inside the Asylum? Yes. But it would be a massive pain in the butt if I don’t want people to know it was me and showing what I am capable of and tipping off other criminal groups and the Justice League of what I can do.

So for now we wait on the day the Joker takes his last breath.

Fully garbed in the face of Silhouette as several hunters stand by me no longer in the guise of random gang members or the homeless of Gotham. Now they are in their default agent forms as they nod to me while we step out of the doorway into the old mechanic shop. 

Cameras show no one around keeping an eye both on regular and thermal. The garage opens up as we all get into jet-black cars designed to look like the Ford Crown Victoria. Stereotypical to have myself and my agents use a car well known for being driven by Agent K but it also fits the theme.

And that is something that should be a crime. You have a theme going on, you stick with it. Riddler has his riddles. Freeze has his ice schtick. Killer Croc has… the sewers.

The point is we need to look and feel the part. Also comes in handy as a little misdirection if others begin to question if I am a government spook. The car, despite its appearance, moves along the roads far faster than you would think it is capable of.

The once pockmarked and hole-filled roads are in much better condition as my workers have done an excellent job while bringing in plenty of legitimate revenue from the city of Gotham as they clean up the city one street at a time.

“Agent Silver slow it down when we get to the area. Don’t need anyone tipping off our targets that someone is coming.”

“Yes sir.” The hunter says as the car slows down to not draw unwanted attention. Or at least try to make people think we are not after them.

Rather not have to hear random bullets impacting the car on the way there. We make good progress as the engineers give me a feed on the contacts in the corner of my vision Jaina is stepping out of her room as a man wraps a cloth around her mouth knocking her out quickly before dragging her back with a grimace on his face.

I can only shake my head at that. Facial recognition into the criminal database tells me everything I need of him with more information coming in from the Government's files. It would seem Miss Hudson is well-loved by many in the city. Not on the same level as someone like Bruce Wayne who pours money into the city and despite the seemingly unchanging nature of Gotham it doesn’t go unnoticed by the many people that call it home. 

Not that it would stop them from doing something to either of them if it meant living another day but they would feel shame and guilt about what they had done. Like this man since it was because of a charity that Jaina had set up that saved his daughter from a disease that would have taken her from him. 

Checking over the feed and seeing Donovan with several men as he exits a car and struts into a generic warehouse.

I say strut but it may as well have been a weird waddle inside with the cast on his arm and his other injuries. Something to savor and enjoy is when arrogant people like Donovan are in a good mood only for you to take it away from them when you pull the rug out from under them.

The car stops a few blocks from the building they will be using for Jaina as the men who keep her in the backseat of the car are nearing the building. “One of you stays with the car, the rest come with me. Are the rest of you in position?” I say over the comms.

A round of affirmations greets me and I can only smirk. “Move out. Only engage when I give the signal or it looks like Jaina will be harmed.” 

We all disappear into the shadows as many of my hunters clamber up the warehouse getting in through the skylights and using the rafters and support beams. Others sneak in through ventilation ducts disturbingly quiet without disturbing the aged vents around the building that could fit them. 

As I spiderman my way into the building watching the scene unfold before me Donovan struts in like he is in complete control and is savoring the moment. 

“Well done gentlemen! You all will be rewarded greatly for this service.” Donovan says with a smile rubbing his hands together or at least his uninjured arm moving closer to the one in the sling as he grimaces but the smile never leaves his face. 

It is carrying an edge to it after he glances down at his arm and then Jaina who is carried and placed into a wooden chair. The chair sits in the middle of the building with a pillar of light being one of the few sources of light in the building that acts as a spotlight on Jaina as she has her ankles cuffed followed shortly by her hands behind her. 

“Well, we did what was asked of us, Mr. Donovan. We would like to be paid and be on our way…” Carl Buetenski says, a frown on his face as he looks at Jainas unconscious form out of the corner of his eye. Guilt for taking her from her own home is as plain as day but Donovan fails to notice it. 

Some of the men shift around uncomfortably while most of them don’t and look like they could care less. Unlike Carl and his men are in suits and with each piece of information relayed to me from the Batcomputer they are hardened men acting as guards and hired muscle.

Donovan looks at him like he is an idiot. “Not just yet!” He says holding a finger out and wagging it at the man as he smiles with a hungry gaze in his eyes. “You will be paid along with your friends once Jaina here,” He says walking up and harshly yanking back on Jainas hair as her face remains passive despite the grip he has on her hair and pulling her head back, “Is taught a valuable lesson about messing with people you just don’t cross.” 

He lets go of her hair as the men readjust her keeping her on her seat as one of the suited men pulls out a bottle of something and taking the cap off he holds it under her nose waving it back and forth as her face scrunches up before she opens her eyes. 

She quickly looks around in confusion and horror as she tries to stand only to almost topple over with the cuffs stopping her as several strong hands grab her and hold her in place before forcefully making her sit.

A few tense seconds go by before Jaina with wide eyes looks around trying to get a better look at where she is and who is around her before she speaks, “What do you want?” She manages to get out, managing to not sound as panicked as she is.

“Why Jaina, for you to know your place in Gotham!” Donovan says coming out of the shadows and into the light as Jaina blinks and starts figuring it out. 

“Donovan…” Jaina says in a growl now no longer afraid her face turns into a scowl Donovan's smile fades away as he looks less than pleased at Jaina not fearing him. “You callous idiot.” 

As soon as her insult leaves her mouth a smack is heard as Jainas head is snapped to the side she falls over with a bruise forming on her face her dark cascading hair covers her face before she is lifted back up and sits back down as she doesn’t respond still registering that she was struck. 

Donovan meanwhile is taking an offered cloth from one of his guards and wipes the lipstick from his hand as he looks at it in disgust. “Careful with that mouth of yours bitch. Or better yet please do, it will make what is about to happen all that much more satisfying when I teach you your place before the big finale.” 

He walks around Jaina in a circle like a wolf savoring the meal set before it. Jaina who had fallen silent after having been struck contemplates using her… She had kept it a close secret as she kept the appearance of a frightened woman which wasn’t hard with the real fear she felt of being not in control and at a disadvantage besides her gift that has been with her ever since she was but a small girl. 

But that fear was almost matched by the quiet fury she felt towards Donovan having been merciful to the child masquerading around as a man since the beating she had done wasn’t at her behest despite thinking that at times the boy had it coming. The talons wouldn’t have followed the order to beat him unless he acted out of line and even then under normal circumstances, they would have only restrained him. 

The reason for the beating, if he acted out of line, was because his arrogance and need to try and prove to everyone that he was not to be crossed had made him many enemies in the Court. One such enemy was the Head of the Court after they could no longer turn a blind eye to Donovan and his foolishness. It was under their instructions that he be punished should he make a fool of himself in the meeting.

Jaina had never talked or discussed a thing with the man until they were assigned to meet with Silhouette. She had of course heard her fair share of stories about his behavior from the others or at least the few who would willingly talk with her among the rich in Gotham instead of talking with her to make connections, use her, or simply a man with more desires than sense thinking they could sweet talk her and have a night with her. 

In the Court, it wasn’t unheard of for someone like her to be given orders for what the others would refer to as jobs for plebeians or the unwashed masses that infest Gotham. Jaina wasn’t inherently against aiding the Court when she was first brought in when she had learned of them wanting to turn Gotham into a gleaming jewel in the world as they destroyed all of the corruption within the city. 

It’s why she had tried time and again to help the little people of the city who struggled every day to survive, reminding her of the days when she was young in India with her mother seeing the poor. It had saddened her knowing those people would be forced to live like that in a system that simply didn’t care about their suffering and even at times profited off of it. 

She resented how unfair it was, just as she had at the deaths of her parents, or how she simply walked into her fortune not knowing a thing and having to learn for herself to keep it and grow it on her own with only a few individuals she knew she could trust to help her and not steal her blind. 

Yet those in the wealthy parts of Gotham ignored how many of them were no different. They inherited their fortunes just as she did, and unlike her, they didn’t have to scramble and be put through a gauntlet of understanding so many things that a girl her age shouldn’t have to be forced to learn as quickly as possible unless she wanted to end up on the street with nothing. They had numerous things that were already set up for them so they could kick their legs up and enjoy themselves.

But the longer she was with the Court the more she began to realize it was a mistake joining them as the numerous members had begun to blur together all of whom looked like they all had the same mindset as the rest. They all looked down on the people who made up the vast majority of Gotham, ignoring how they were in the situation they were in because people like them had put them in that situation and had made the system so bad that they could only hope to survive through crime. 

So now Jaina was stuck in a secret society of people that want to help Gotham but will do so in such a way that is not helping it, but helping themselves. One that she doubted she would be allowed to walk away from. Here she is cuffed to a chair who knows where in Gotham about to be killed for something that Donovan left her no choice in doing should he act up. 

The Head of the Court had alluded to having him killed which for Jaina was something she had believed was too far. Now she is beginning to think that it may have been well within reason, seeing the look in his eyes as he giggles and laughs like a madman.

But Jaina refused to die here. She had come too far to let it end here. As she resolved to use her gift that no one knew of and it would have to stay that way. Just as she was about to use it a familiar voice made her and everyone else snap to it. 

“A party and I wasn’t invited? Donovan how could you with our history together…”

As if they were one with the shadows only with the lone pillar of light appearing to give birth and form to Silhouette. Everyone stares uncomprehendingly for a second before everyone moves.

“You-” Donovan gets out as his guards grab for their pistols but stop in their tracks as she makes out shadowy figures restraining them with pistols held at the back of their heads. She even hears cries of fear from the ones behind her. 

“Me? Donovan, my mother did not name me Me. What’s my name?” They say with that distorted voice as Donovan is the only person she can see that doesn’t have anyone restraining him as Silhouette stalks forward hands hidden in pockets of that black trench coat. 

Donovan, seeing Silhouette coming to him, backs away with fear in his eyes, his heart sounding like thunder in his ears as he looks around for help seeing everyone restrained by men who look like government agents. He stumbles back making incoherent words before finding his words as Silhouette hones in on him like a shark that has smelled blood in the water.

“You-- How-- Why?” He doesn’t ask so much as he is demanding before stopping and gritting his teeth as a look of pure fury makes his face turn red with rage Jaina and the others cannot say they have ever seen it on such a level.

As he points a finger at them to order them or make a demand a blur lashes out for Donovan's face and his head is knocked to the side as he almost falls over catching himself in time as he places his hand against his cheek. “You… slapped me?” 

Silhouette simply stands their hand held out as if frozen as they silently stare at him as if judging him finding the man before them wanting and then some. 

Donovan's shoulders shake as a red mark forms on his cheek in the form of a hand as he steps forward hand cocked back to punch Silhouette but another flash and his head snap back to the other side and this time he falls over instead of trying to punch the black-clad figure whose form draws their eyes as they watch on.

With an oof escaping Donovan looks up at Silhouette who comes down to a knee leaning down so close they could breathe on Donovan's face he looks up with panic in his eyes as he tries to crawl away only for a hand to grab the collar of his suit and hold him in place.

“L-let me-” Another slap silences him.

“What is my name?” 

“Get-” 

Another smack this time sending spit flying from his mouth as he is on his back before being picked back up. 

“What. Is. My. Name.” 

With a shaky breath, he gets it out, “Silhouette.” 

Letting him go as he falls onto the floor on his back as Silhouette gets back dusting off their arms and legs not that it was necessary as they didn’t seem to get anything on them before taking out a cloth and walking away from Donovan's downed form as they wipe at the hand that had slapped him several times before holding it between two fingers and dropping it like it was the most disgusting thing they had ever touched.

“Don’t you ever forget it. Now let's get you out of those Miss Hudson.” 

She didn’t know what to think. Is he here to harm her or help her? Before she could do or say anything they were already behind her and a sharp crack and her hands were free. Moving in front of her as she rubs her wrists she sees Silhouette simply grab both cuffs on her ankles and merely snaps the metal breaking and tosses them off to the side.

“There. That is much better. Shame on you Donovan, you should have more class than this for accommodations for someone like your guest. But I guess you really can’t teach someone class or style.” Silhouette says with a shake of their head wagging a finger at him as his form tenses and a vein bulges on his head.

“Who do you think you are?!” 

Silhouette rises offering Jaina a hand one that she takes as she rises from the chair feeling her ankles and wrists are sore from the tight cuffs digging into her skin. 

“Now let's see…” They look around at everyone besides Donovan who looks like he wants to say more but looks down at Silhouette's hands not wanting to get slapped again. 

“Carl! Might as well deal with you all before the real business begins.” 

Carl and the others who were hired by Donovan to capture Jaina and bring her here felt their collective hearts fall as they each suck in a breath dreading what awaits them knowing the crazies that wear masks in Gotham are not people you ever want to get on the bad side of. 

The barrel of the pistols held at the back of each of their heads as they each had someone holding their heads up as they lay on the floor. Staring down at Carl as he walks back and forth between him and the others before a man in a suit steps into the light holding a small black case in their hand. 

“Now I would like to know why you of all people would do this to someone who had helped save your daughter's life. I would like an explanation from all of you since she has aided either close friends or family for each of you with her charities. Why betray her?” 

At his words as he somehow knows things they shouldn’t they try and look away in shame but the hands harshly tug on their heads making them look up at Silhouette as the black soulless lenses of that gas mask stare back at them with the agents looking down at them, no emotion or anything.

“Well? I’m waiting.” 

Carl finds his words after a moment and swallows, “We needed money for our families. Others did it because they don’t have enough to get by…” Carl says in shame as he can’t bring himself to look at Jaina as she stands next to Silhouette looking down at them in her sequin backless red dress and heels clacking against the concrete. 

“What would your daughter Emily think? If she was here and saw what you were doing to Jaina, the woman who saved her. If it wasn’t for her you would have lost the last of your family. Or you John. Your nephew lives because of her…” On and on Silhouette went bringing up their closest friends or family members that Jaina had saved from her charities, “Yet each of you willingly betrayed her like a pack of Judas’s, one of the few good people left in this city and you would help kill her.” 

As each name was dropped and how they were saved their gazes wished nothing more than to look at the ground and away from Silhouette and especially Jaina but the grips of the men holding them were ironclad, no matter how hard they tried they couldn’t look away as the black-clad figure goes into more detail knowing things they had no way nor right to know tears formed in the corner of some of their eyes as they firmly believed they were going to die here and that their families will die not long after.

But it wasn’t just the gravity of their current situation. It was also the guilt that was brought out as each word hit them like the crack of a judge's hammer further sentencing them and damning themselves with the betrayal they had committed against someone who despite not even knowing their names had done so much for each of them. A heavy weight upon each of their hearts some look at Jaina wishing they hadn’t as they look at her with rivers of tears coming out their eyes.

Carl despite the situation and possibly the first time he has ever done this in his life may very well be the only time knowing he is going to die here at least wished to make it right. He looks at Jaina as she looks at each of them not in anger, no. That would have been so much better than the look she had now. 

Her look was a mixture of sadness, but also betrayal. Carl when looking at her could picture the look on Emily’s face if she knew of what he tried to do this night. He helped kill the woman who had saved his little sunshine…

Swallowing he says his last words this night, “I am sorry. For all of it Miss Hudson. If I die tonight I want you to know I and the others are all sorry. Please take care of my daughter Emily…” He said as a sob threatened to leave him the others looked at him and all apologized to her as she looked between all of them and then at Silhouette whose silent figure loomed over them all. 

Silhouette waved over the agent as they stepped closer with the case opening but no one could see what was taken out as the men on the ground tried and failed to move in fear of what was going to happen to them. Jaina was going to step in and stop Silhouette not wanting these men to die even though after what they had done to her she never wanted to see them again after a betrayal of this level.

Helping their loved ones and friends this is what they do. She understood their struggle to survive in Gotham but to do this to the one person who had saved people they had loved so much… She didn’t want them to die and would at least try to dissuade Silhouette from doing anything to them.

But as she is about to protest a hand is placed on her shoulder stopping her as Silhouette speaks, “It is alright Jaina. I am not going to hurt them. Let them go.” 

The men pinning them down do as they are ordered and all of them scramble to get up and turn around seeing the many agents putting their guns away as they look at Silhouette in fear. They stepped forward calmly and grabbed Carl's hand before placing something in it that made Carl and the others go speechless.

In his hand is a stack of money. A lot of money. Carl looks on in wonder as each of them is given a fat stack of cash. Carl quickly looks it over, seeing each one and noting that if they are counterfeit they are pretty good counterfeits. He counted out how much was there as his eyes widened as did the others in awe at how much they had just been given. 

Even Jaina was shocked as she looked at Silhouette in a new light having expected him to simply kill the men.

“I’m not one to reward behavior like this, but as they say there are exceptions to things. Each of you, despite your history with Jaina here, did so for survival. Even if I personally never could stand betrayal of that level, I can understand your reasons. And despite Jaina here not liking the notion of you betraying her after the great kindness she had done for each of you she would not want me to kill you and cause your families to die off with your absences. Right?” Silhouette turns to her as she snaps out of it.

“Yes.” She says quietly, angry yet saddened that the city had forced them into such a state to do what they did. She did not want anyone other than Donovan in this room to die for what they had done. If these men were as evil as Donovan then she would have let Silhouette kill them but seeing the looks of horror and sorrow on their faces at them casually mentioning their families told her they were right and knew of their families and loved ones.

“Here is what is going to happen now. You men are going to leave this place and never speak a word of what happened here. You never saw Jaina Hudson or Donovan and his men over here. Carl and the rest of you are going to go home and give your families nice big warm hugs and tell them how much they mean to each of you and how much you love them. The first thing you and the others are going to do tomorrow is get legitimate jobs at one of the construction crews or cleaners in those businesses that are cropping up in Gotham.”

They each nod dumbly at what Silhouette is saying hanging onto it like it’s the only rope keeping them from falling to their dooms, which it may as well have been. Jaina is just baffled at how this is turning out having fully expected Silhouette to just gun everyone down or torture them and not… whatever this is.

“And you have nothing to worry about those businesses since Miss Hudson here has invested in them as has Bruce Wayne. They don’t just invest in anything in this city unless they know it is good for the people. Isn’t that right?” They say turning to her.

Jaina merely nodded slowly in confirmation that Silhouette was correct. “They pay well and have good benefits while cleaning up the city and no one tries to harm them.” She says while wanting to know how Silhouette is aware of such things. The thought of Silhouette being the one who owns the businesses comes to mind and seems to be a likely possibility since the owner of those companies seems legitimate but no one has seen or heard of them. 

But it is Gotham and such things are sadly common, and it is one of the few companies that are a good thing for this city.

“Yes sir. Thank you.” They all say their thanks and go on and on as they quickly back away bumping into numerous tables and things lying on the floor, almost falling several times before getting far enough and simply running out of the building.

“Now for you Mr. Donovan…”