Drifting through hyperspace as I go over the weapons stored within the Headhunter that I had brought with me. After getting strung up like a piñata and stabbed multiple times I am not taking any chances. Sliding over the edge of the cockpit landing on the floor of the small cargo bay in my new rinky dink cargo hauler.

Checking over the image locked onto a screen of a scruffy-looking human male with no features even remotely close to my own. If one was aware of the older movies from my old life they would recognize him without trouble. Walking off to check over everything else to make sure I have some means of getting out should I be discovered by my enemies. That or fight back. Depends on if fight or flight wins the battle in my mind. 

Despite my trepidation of coming to their homeworld and knowing how capable they are of turning the tables on me and harming me as they did- a phantom sensation makes me rub a hand along my arm where the blade had cut through it- I must attack. They have encountered me twice, so it could be fate, the force, or some other higher power but it ends now.

I have to deal with this issue. One way or another. As per my philosophy, attack me and I must attack back. It’s why you don’t start something there won’t be anything. But that doesn’t change how I feel deep down. Those women are dangerous and I dread even going to fight them. It was inevitable, to be honest with myself.

What adds to my stress is this is their home. Where they have the home-field advantage. So the current strategy is to simply get a bunch of explosives and get them either in their own home or lure them somewhere and the problem is solved. I learned my lesson after the first time. Don’t get close to them. Similar to dealing with a Jedi.

The ship exits out of hyperspace as the local holonet connection gets my information up to date on how the conflict with the Republic is going. From the beginning the Hutts were winning while occasionally losing which to be fair any war will have the victor lose some battles. You can’t win them all.

A give and take if you would. But once the Republic with their Jedi task force stepped into the ring those few battles they had won turned into many more now. The Hutts in my opinion will still win but will take more losses than they were with just the Trade Federation. The Jedi, as highly regarded as they are as warriors, were hopelessly out of their depth just as they would have been in the Clone Wars. 

From what I had managed to find out from small scraps after landing, a few Jedi had already died. Nothing overly dramatic or some high number of them but some had already died. And to think this all started because some businessman decided to do something so stupid no one would believe someone could be that stupid. 

Who would believe the Hutts over the Trade Federation on such a stupid thing that anyone with two brain cells to rub together would have not done what Rune did?

Easy answer. No one. 

Finishing up my inspection and heading to the cargo hauler's cockpit. Now another question I have taking into account idiots is why members of the Bounty Hunters Guild would betray the Hutts is beyond me.

It’s one thing if they had a personal grudge against them or something but if it was just for money then they are just stupid. Whatever they were paid was not worth it once the Hutts got through with them. To me, it was a foregone conclusion that the Hutts would win this conflict against the Trade Federation.

But ignoring that the conflict is escalating as more Jedi than I was expecting had gotten killed either in ship battles as the Hutt forces prioritized their fire on the Jedi in dogfights. Or they used copious amounts of explosives or other weapons the Jedi can’t exactly block or simply overwhelm them with blaster fire. 

Looks like Jango has been on a rampage himself as one of his first acts as commander of the Hutt's special forces was to sneak on and take down several of their bigger ships. An operation that had gone off smoothly with no casualties as the news is saying they had not captured any suspects according to the image of the news anchor. 

One thing that gets my attention is the mention of a rogue Jedi that had begun slaughtering the Hutt forces before the Republic had fully become embroiled in it. One that the Jedi task force is trying to find along with a leak that had revealed they had gone to the planet where I got the kyber crystal from.

Do they think the rogue Jedi is connected? One thing I am certain of is that the rogue Jedi isn’t a Jedi. Either it is Darth Maul masquerading around as one which I am impressed Sidious could even get him to do such a thing with him being a Sith and lowering himself to act like their hated enemy. Or it’s an agent acting in Sidious interests. 

Helping further fuel the fire for this conflict and making the Jedi get involved one way or another while making them look bad the entire time. 

I do feel bad for them despite their own incompetence. They are the good guys at the end of the day despite how most of their order are ignorant of a great many things. But not much I can do about it currently. What happens to them currently is beyond my reach and control.

Taking a seat and not a second later a beeping draws me out of my thoughts before turning my head and seeing it’s the Hutts. With a click a blue hologram springs to life of Jabba lying before me with a protocol droid. “Lord Jabba, I have just arrived at Eshan in the inner rim. Just need to get planetside and the problem will be dealt with.”

Jabba laughs in that deep laugh of his as the droid translates for me, “The mighty Jabba is most pleased to hear you have arrived so quickly. He has great respect for those who take their jobs seriously and looks forward to hearing you deal with this problem. However, Lord Jabba wishes for you to keep any large-scale destruction or other brazen attacks from happening.”

My smile becomes brittle at the explosive method dying a quick and unfortunate death. “You would prefer this to be more discrete?”

“Yes. Lord Jabba and the Hutt council would prefer to not have the sudden loss of a noble family become connected to the Hutts. For if the Echani enter into this conflict and are opposed to Lord Jabba it will become a difficult fight to win.”

As the droid says that my mind jumps to the idea that if merely one noble family had managed to be such a thorn in both mine and the Hutts' sides I can only imagine what the entirety of their species forces organized for war could do to us.

“You will be acting in Lord Jabba’s interest and representing him as a result. Be discreet and handle this mission well. Do not and the consequences will be severe.” After that foreboding warning, the call ended and I was left sitting there stewing about what I was going to do.

My best and most effective option is now dead in the water and now I have to be discreet against a group of space ninjas… If it comes down to me dying because of this, the explosive option is still an option. But then comes the consequences of dealing with the fallout of such an act since it would be an act of terror.

The Hutts and an entire species that back in their heyday were rivals to the old school Mandalorians? Yeah, I may as well put my blaster into my mouth and save them the trouble.

Now I can’t stop thinking of myself as a terrorist because of the idea of just blowing up my problems… but can you really blame me? It is an effective way of cleaning up problems! Well, when I put it like that… anyways I need to brainstorm how I am going to deal with them.

Loud is not going to cut it. Short-term survival if I manage to survive attacking them directly but long term with everyone out for my head I may not last long. Even if my future plans pay off, one can only do so much when everyone in the galaxy is gunning for you.

So that plan is scrapped for now. Musing over potentially starting some type of conflict with another noble house making them think it was my target as my ship breaches into their atmosphere seeing the glimmering spires across the cities on the horizon with plains and jungles in between and even some cities having nature intertwined into their construction. 

With a flick of a switch, my Head Hunter flies out of the now open cargo bay flying off to another city in the distance to land at a designated landing bay with a hologram of me sitting in the cockpit. Had been recording myself for some time so the hologram could go through the motions with a droid in the ship doing the actual piloting with the hologram overlayed on top of them.

Some of the buildings even have a more far-eastern ascetic to them. “Identify yourself and present your credentials.” 

A woman’s voice says in a no-nonsense way over my comms as I respond. “This is the Silent Wing and presenting credentials now.” With a few pushed buttons and switches the false ID I got for my trip here to trade some valuables seems to be as good as the broker who I bought it off of said it would be.

As the silence goes on longer than I would have expected they finally respond. “Credentials accepted, welcome to Eshan Silent Wing.” 

Letting out a breath having wondered if I would have to shoot my way out of this. Been around Nar Shaddaa for far too long if that is going to be my first plan of action. That and having a lot of people try to kill me several times. Quickly dawning my disguise with a quick spell to ensure no one knows I am here just yet.

Banking my craft to the side heading for the dock that is my designated parking spot for the Silent Wing as I land and step out, opening all of the compartments holding the goods I had brought for trade. After all, it would be rather dumb to not bring anything to trade when I have falsified documents saying I am here to trade.

A few individuals who differ from the dock officials stalk forward with a grace that only a predator could do. A fluidness in their movements not too dissimilar to the ones who I have had to fight twice now. But unlike those women these ones if they have any bladed weapons are concealed under the skin-tight black uniforms they wear.

Noting the emblem on the right breast of each of them. A teardrop shop with a hand inside of it held up the palm open as if waiting for something to be dropped into it or a hand held out to grab another’s.

“So you are… Clint Eastwood?” The woman in the lead looking older than the rest with the wrinkles around her eyes and parts of her face was anything to go by. She stared me down as if staring into my very soul.

“Yes. The full name is Clint Eastwood Will Beauregard Hardigan at your service. Or simply Clint Will B. Hardigan!” I say with my best charming smile and tone that was so innocent it may as well be a weapon of mass destruction. Helps that I sound like a badass since my voice is a near copy to that of Clint’s younger years.

The raised eyebrow shows her lack of appreciation for a good joke name. “Hmmm. Let’s say hypothetically I believe you. If you happen to know a notable bounty hunter on the rise back in Nar Shaddaa who has managed to beat back the numerous daughters and warriors of house Atrix we would be interested in meeting him.”

I have to fight off my smile slipping into a frown at how in the ever living fuck does she know who I am. I didn’t even get the ship through my regular channels. To my knowledge, no one had even known I took the ship to get to Eshan! So how the hell do they know?

Her tone is neutral yet I can tell she is in no mood for games. Prepared for a quick fight if I need to as a signal is sent to the Assaultrons on the ship to back me up along with the ship to start firing on them should they be enemies. The cargo hauler may not have the firepower as my Head Hunter but it will be just enough for me to run away while they are dealing with turbo lasers shooting them.

“Calm yourself, Mr. Eastwood. We are not a part of house Atrix… merely people who are interested in aiding your friend by deposing them.” She says as if reading my mind on what I was planning and somehow knowing who I am.

Not showing a hint of treachery to them as I plaster on my friendliest smile, “Well you see as nice as it is to see others being on a stranger's side for something like that well you sometimes have to question are these people really on your side? Or are they merely saying such things to get someone to lower their guard? This is all hypothetical of course, since I am a simple trader.” Shrugging my shoulders to them as my eyes never leave the woman who instead of looking insulted has a smidge of what I think is respect towards me.

“Understandable. In a bounty hunter's line of work, it is to be expected to be wary especially one who has had multiple encounters with house Atrix and embarrassed them each time. We are from and represent house Solorok. I am Serleena and the Steward of the house. We would like to further discuss this with Corvo Attano back at the manor if you would get in touch with him?” She says holding her hand out to me despite the distance between us.

My smile is replaced with a deep frown as I stare at the offending hand before me as I think this over carefully my mind running through so many scenarios it would burn out a supercomputer. “I think you are confusing me with someone else, Serleena. I am merely a humble merchant here to sell my merchandise to any interested parties. I know nothing of whatever conspiracy theory you are talking about.”

Her face remains the same as her hand is retracted seemingly taking no offense at me not taking her hand as the entourage that had come with her remains the same as still as statues not giving a hint of displeasure of me rejecting them. I know nothing about these people and as a result, do not trust them off of word alone. My mind races to understand how they know.

The only thing in their favor is they have not attacked me yet. “A shame. But of course, it was all hypothetical in the end Mr. Eastwood. If I may be so bold, what are you bringing to sell to Eshan?” She asks politely but her body language is driving me crazy since it’s like staring at a statue expecting to see some emotion or something from it.

“Oh, something rather valuable I rather not have most of anyone aware of.” 

“No need to be so vague Mr. Eastwood!” She says acting as if in shock, “After all it’s not like it is anything illegal. And who knows my Lady may be interested in what you have to offer.” 

Can she please take a hint and screw off. Internally sighing as she and her group come closer checking over my crates that were hidden in slots along the Silent Wing. Despite not being capable of carrying much cargo it is still possible to have some loot hidden along it.

Just not much compared to a dedicated cargo hauler. Feeling a tinge of annoyance at this woman but deciding to not be openly hostile to her as she comes to look at one of the crates and as the lid is slid off just enough for her to see I finally get a reaction out of her as her eyes widen minutely.

It might as well be a millimeter, but for me, it was the biggest show of emotion out of her by this point. The brief flash of light reflects reds, blues, greens, and even black across her face as she stares on before being snapped out of it as the lid slides back sealing the contents from view. 

The woman takes a moment to compose herself after seeing what I had brought down to the planet. “Mr. Eastwood, I can say without a doubt in my mind that my Lady would very much like to purchase your products.”

Taking a moment to myself at whatever is happening but ultimately accepting their money. “Alright, how much are you offering for one of them?”

“All of it.” She says.

I stop and open and close my mouth several times as my mind processes what she has just said. “All of it?”

She nods her head, “All of it.” 

Standing there shellshocked at this sudden change of events makes me question just who I am dealing with. The next several minutes are us talking about the price and eventually settling on it as I watch the credits transferred to one of my many accounts after they had tested the authenticity of the product. 

“It was a pleasure doing business with you Mr. Eastwood. I can see why you would prefer not many to be aware of the nature of the cargo you were hauling to our world.” She says to me amicably, “If you wish to come to meet us an audience with my Lady can be arranged. You need only to seek out our home.” 

Her head swivels to look at one of the six large towering spires that hang in the distance with a few smaller ones some close to the lowest one's height but not truly there just yet. An errant thought points out that the one she is indicating is the second biggest of the six and those towers are the homes of the Six Sisters. The name given for the Echani command that governs the six worlds in this system.

Though it’s more five than six after one of the planets had a rebellion against them and eventually the feud had been settled despite the Thyrsium people remaining largely independent and uncaring of what the rest of the governing body of their people had to say. 

Her entourage after having moved the crates off to the side several speeders come down to the dock collecting the crates as I stick around keeping my senses trained in case they are trying to pull something. Watching them leave I finally walk off.

Walking the clean streets that stand in stark contrast to the Hutt's moon. Many of the people that can be seen beside the occasional alien like a Twi’lek that seem to be omnipresent in every place imaginable in this galaxy are predominantly Echani with darker-haired and skinned ones popping up rarely.

A male Echani can be seen but they are usually doing menial tasks with occasionally one of them doing security or acting as a guard but it’s mostly women that are the ones calling the shots regardless of what the job is. Having studied up on their homeworld and species before coming here and learning how the vast majority of their species abides by a caste system and is predominantly Matriarchal. 

Glancing off into the distance and seeing the Six Towers. House Atrix is the second biggest of the towers with the smallest being the one that represented Thyrsus the world that had rebelled and is now a part of the Six Sisters despite their strong independence even centuries after hostilities had finally come to an end.

Each family that is one of the six is not always the family that has been in charge of governing each world. Some families had fallen out of favor and others had lost everything because of some tragedy or another. But the usual reason is that all noble families desire to be one of the Six Sisters and hold the position. 

More through guile and cloak-and-dagger methods of taking power and proving to the others that they are strong enough to not only take the position but even keep it should they ever be challenged. Hard to say if they are doing something similar to the Hutts where they are trying to hold onto their warrior ways from the past while trying to ensure they don’t fall apart from internal strife from rival houses. 

Whatever they are doing it’s surprisingly not as bloody as one would expect but they are a warrior culture despite how long it has been since the conflicts they had that created the rivalry between them and the Mandalorians.

…

Having moved about the city for two days gathering what information I could as I wandered around still trying to figure out how I was going to do this.

Disguised as a random male Echani with rather standard features so as not to stand out. Looking over the tower noting any weak points or other such methods to see if there was any way I could assault it without getting caught and quickly get to their matriarch. 

So far no such luck. Guards are constantly on standby, at least the ones I can see normally. A quick use of detect life shows that there are a lot of people in that building. Hard to say if they are mostly guards but since they are one of the ruling families of their system it would be safe to assume they are.

Never mind what kind of other defenses I should expect in that building. Seeing the occasional glimmer of the shield that all of the towers have. So using the Silent Wing falls apart unless I get close enough to pass through the shield.

Sneaking is a possibility… pass. With the number of people in there, I would need a lot more time to figure out the internal security, blend in, and figure out where the higher-ups of the family reside with the Matriarch herself. All of that needs to be done without giving myself away or sticking out enough that they know who I am.

With their species’ predilection for their Echani martial arts that lets them read someone’s body language so well they can see things you don’t want them to know like that woman had to of done with me. Illusion magic could help with that but I would need to find a common body language to use for the illusion otherwise it would be too suspicious or obvious when they look at me and realize they can’t read anything off of me. Something is terribly wrong if they can’t and will tip them off.

Never mind I have no clue if it would even work since I may end up missing something that would give it away. So infiltrating is currently a big no until I have more to work with. My ears perk up hearing my holocom beeping. Picking it up, seeing the image of my ship as my eyes narrow.

Several armed figures appear around it. They fan out covering each other's flanks as I watch them not happy that they found my ship already. They all move about heads on a swivel yet any possible openings to attack would be suicidal as they each cover one another’s flanks or openings. One of the women has a black half mask covering half of her face but I remember her all the same. She is the same one who took some buckshot to the face.

“Where is he?” One of them voices aloud.

“He must have left before we came and is currently scouting out the city.” Another notes emotionlessly as she eyes the steep drop from the side of the building.

“Someone must be helping him. We should have been tipped off far sooner when he had first arrived.” Scarface says hands clenched as the leather of her gloves creaks.

“Calm yourself, sister. We will find him as we found where his ship is docked.”

You have got to be kidding me. I had expected them to find the ship but not this quick. And someone had helped me. Something I hadn’t expected yet after encountering Serleena I don’t see that as a coincidence. Another rival family had been aware of my arrival just as I had landed and I suspected as I had entered the system.

With a grin that no one could see a signal was sent to my ship for it to take off to another port in another city on the planet.

“Damn it!” Scarface curses as she sees my hologram overlaid on the droid who is currently giving her the bird.

“Follow that ship and when it is far enough from any of the public, force him to land.” Scarface says with an edge to her voice compared to the emotionless voices her siblings and relatives have that separated her from them.

“And if he doesn’t comply?”

“Then shoot him down. I want him now…” She snarls as she has a vicious look on her face.

“Move out now.”

“What if it’s a trick?” One of the other girls questions the others.

“It may well be a trick. But without his ship, he will have to find another way off of Eshan. One that would prove rather difficult with no one giving a wanted fugitive aid for fear of being an accomplice. My sisters have their squads on standby waiting for any sign of him.” She walks away after that as the feed ends.

Seems she didn’t like my parting gift of permanently scarring her face with buckshot. Clambering over the side before dropping down and getting out of the area and turning into another random but common male Echani a few give me some strange looks but I keep my head down and move on. 

Pulling out the emblem in my palm as calm acceptance is the only thing I can feel by this point. Not much of a choice. Their home is heavily fortified and I don’t know enough about its defenses and their resources to properly infiltrate or try to assault it. 

They forced my ship to leave the city it was in and fly low among one of the jungles before landing, hiding from any of them in it before any ships could tail it. If I call it back they will notice and shoot it down. At least I had the hologram projector that recorded me flying it on the way here in case I needed to fool someone into thinking I was leaving.

They have their forces scouring the city to find me. Glancing off towards one tower in particular knowing what I needed to do.

Daniel was enjoying himself. Emphasis on the word was. He enjoyed walking into Wayne Tower, acting like an eccentric scientist who was a little kooky. Somehow no one questioned it.

His thinking was why not? Gotham was full of weirdos, why wouldn’t the smart people be weird? And of course, that quote of madness and intelligence is a thin line. 

He loved seeing the numerous inventions and research being conducted on the floor he was on. It wasn't the hardest thing to do in the world to get the means necessary to get by the security in the tower.

Despite what others -- mostly Jade -- thought of them, they were far from incompetent. Rather good at their jobs even, asking him questions that were tests to ensure he was an employee. 

Things that veteran employees would know along with newer questions that newer workers would be asked.

None of it was regurgitated company doctrine, but actual questions that they could word how they see fit. If it wasn’t for them having the Batcomputer they would have had a bit more difficulty doing it this way. 

The Batcomputer had several contingencies when dealing with corporate saboteurs who wanted his company’s research or to steal something of worth from it. Bruce was rather meticulous with it. 

Though in this world's case, this particular Bruce was on the lower end despite this his employees, particularly the paid guards would be far more thorough. Sure he is on the lower end but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t made sure he has security measures in place.

It’s why the mask and suit he wore that wasn’t a chakra-based disguise or a full body transformation via the adorable and talented Heli but simply a bodysuit with a mask like something out of a Hollywood movie was worn.

It fit snugly after some careful touch-ups, but he chose this method to not give away his powers like chakra, to also ensure the Court doesn’t realize Silhouette is turning against them while they focus on the traitors currently spreading the word in Gotham.

After all, some random kid only known for an illegal back alley clinic coming into Wayne Tower to help stop a robbery from a tipoff of the same Silhouette who is in a sense his patron. He just loved making plans within plans, like onions that have layers that then work around others’ plans.

It’s one big knot of plans from everyone, and it makes it all so convoluted and fun.

Now for the things he did not like. Having several talons drop into the room or coming through the windows using gadgets that cut through the reinforced glass. Glass meant to withstand high caliber weapons.

Them grabbing up whatever things around the room that got their fancy and many more took USB drives and moved to the computers. 

Several more focused on him as he held his hands up placatingly and backed away, “Now now, I have all my information right here if you wish to do another security check… you boys and your silly emphasis on company security. Though I will admit I am rather surprised to see a more bird-like uniform. You all would look better copying Batman if anything…”

A few paused and turned to look at him tilting their heads as they held the handles of their weapons. 

The five going to apprehend him pause and look at one another before looking back at him. Before they do anything a black-clad figure sends a talon flying into the room through the newly made hole in the glass as it slides onto a table knocking over several pieces of valuable equipment that the talons have not grabbed yet.

Flipping off the table mid-slide twirling around to face Batman mid-air before landing as the talons turn to face the city’s dark knight himself in all his glory.

Except unlike his standard costume, he has some rather major upgrades. A breathing mask fitted around his mask adding a level of intimidation I didn’t think could be added but he made it work.

His normal outfit instead of being lightweight looked bulkier in the parts I could see behind the cape with what appeared to be armor plates, all of which were in gray and black. Mostly black.

A hum is in the air as two talons rushed towards him from both sides Batman turned so fast just as their weapons were aimed at his neck and under his arm near his ribs for easy access to his heart he ducked under one and sidestepped the other bringing his gauntlets down into one face sending shivers across its body with the brief illumination of electricity crackling.

The other one got a backward tornado kick right into its sternum sending it flying back before bleeding off its momentum with a series of backflips.

The electric discharge faded away from the body of the talon punched in the face taking several unsteady steps back with smoke coming off of its face with a blackened fist marking where it had been punched.

Instead of going down like I expected it to, it managed to get its bearings shaking its head before raising its arms ready to fight.

After that skirmish, the true battle unfolded with Batman moving far faster than he had any right to in that armored Batsuit. He moved faster than the talons as they struggled to even land a few hits as he simply stepped out of the way.

And those few strikes bounced off of his suit as he went to town on them like Rocky would in a meat locker.

Each punch sent them flying back bodies twitching and uncontrolled spasms as smoke wafts off of their bodies before they each got back up as if they hadn’t just been subjected to the equivalent of a lightning bolt in the form of a fist.

Seems the Court has been putting my potions to use. The talons all have their attention on Batman while a few ignore me and focus on getting the data off of the computers with a few others lifting the purifiers.

Even with Batman’s increased speed from what I assume is jet in his system -- and what a sight to behold my super drug being put to good use by the dark knight himself -- he can’t handle all of them on his own since each attack no matter how much power he puts into it even with the electricity it's not putting them down long enough for him to stop the others.

Glancing behind Batman and seeing more talons coming through the hole in the windows and the ceiling. Glancing back to the ones moving the purifier to the gaping hole in the windows large enough for it to fit through. 

Running and leaping over the knocked-back talon as he slams where I was before. Batman looks over at me with a widening of his eyes as I roundhouse kick one of the talons in the temple, sending them skidding across the floor making the purifier drop to the floor as the others didn’t adjust fast enough for the loss of manpower on one side of it.

Several talons including the one surprise attacked by me look at me. “Well can’t let you random hooligans take our hard-earned research, now can I?” 

Using my contacts to see where the hell Jade is at -- oh never mind she is just above us.

With a crashing sound as the ceiling breaks apart four talons land on their feet with several blades and cuts in their bodies visibly healing shut in a matter of seconds with what little we see under their suits. 

A small sound is heard from above before Jade drop kicks one talon in the face making their head twist around with a crack flying back several other talons just step aside as their comrade slams into the wall before she starts going to town on them with her trap disc with a saw blade humming in one hand. 

Batman credit where it is due takes it all in stride as we all start fighting in an all-out brawl as he weaves around what strikes they try to do that are aimed at any gaps in his armor, like his joints. Each punch gets more vicious as he aims for more vital areas that would take just a bit longer to heal back from.

I dance around each talon while going for strikes to unbalance them, knocking them into each other and using the purifier as a shield as they abort some slashes that would have hit the ones carrying it. The ones carrying it can’t go any further with the other talons and me stopping and outright blocking them from taking the purifier so they give up and drop it. 

Jade with that saw blade narrowly avoids the cuts or stabs. Each one would be a kill shot if they could land it and get past her armor as she struggles more so than me or Batman but she manages to hold her own by cutting off any limbs sending out showers of blood as limbs go flying. 

Despite the grizzly sight of several hands, arms, and legs, the talons show no fear, and the ones who had been incapacitated start regrowing their limbs…

“That’s not good.” I say in my near-perfect impersonation of Albert Einstein. 

Jade scoffs, “Gee you think!? I could use some help here!” 

Glancing over at her and seeing she is starting to get overwhelmed as a kick to her back sends her rolling forward bringing her disc trap up to deflect an overhead swing that sends it flying away before she brings her arms up as two more swords hit her arms sending sparks in the air.

Despite not cutting through the suit they leave marks on it and a grunt of pain from Jade. Before I act Batman is already upon the group taking out the ones closest to doing any harm to her as she stares up frozen for a moment realizing who helped her before she rejoins the fight. 

Batman is making quick work of them managing to take more and more out for longer periods almost rivaling the ones Jade had managed to temporarily cripple. While he helps her I am busy taking out the talons not letting them make any further distance with the purifier noting the ones who had been at the computers had leaped back up through the ceiling. 

“Thanks.” Jade says in between a jumping split kick that hits two talons in the face stunning them long enough for Batman to grab one back the back of its head and zap its brains out then slamming it head first into the floor cratering it and splintering the floor, quickly leaving it behind and grabbing the other stunned talon with both hands gripped around its head.

The light show was something else as he picked it up off the floor spinning it around in a circle knocking some talons back and others ducking and backing away before he sent it flying into two others who tried to grab the air purifier. 

Doing my best limbo attempt under a horizontal slash that would have cut open my belly had I been as old as my disguise appears to be and snapping a kick to the chest as they fly into the path of the group before all four fly out the window presumably to a more permanent end.

…I don’t know if it’s a good thing. I want to know if they survive the fall and can heal back from it. 

Also curious as to when they took the potions, since I first gained the knowledge for them I have improved massively in making them, I think to myself leaping over the three blades that tried to skewer me with a tornado kick send the three flying back never once fully stopping.

So much so that they can last for a few days if I go the most efficient and make them as potent as possible but those I didn’t give to the Court. The ones granted to them may as well have been watered-down garbage compared to the current average ones I can make. 

Going from offensive jabs that push them back or defensive dodging any strikes. One particularly overzealous talon tosses its weapon through an opening of several talons, some knocked back others rushing towards me. 

End over end the sword flips through the air and just as it seemed it would hit me in the temple my hand snaps up catching it just in time as six of them leap skywards over the horde with their blades slamming down stopped with a flash of sparks as I angle the blade just enough to catch each blade on it. 

Before any of them get a chance to follow up on having me pinned, dropping to the floor with a spin kick knocking each one to the floor. 

With a kick scooping up a sword sending it airborne and a quick grab sword in hand I go to town carving through the group of talons as more just keep pouring in as an alarm goes off finally. 

The loud blaring made it hard to hear anything with a red light flashing briefly making the room look like everything was coated in blood with metal sliding over the windows as the talons look back before in near perfect sync, look back at us. 

Both Batman and Jade are beginning to get overwhelmed as I back closer towards them with more talons entering the already crowded room and a quick glance behind them shows sparks forming on the metal barriers.

Despite how me and Batman were capable of dealing with them at first, the talons had gone from simply enough between our current power manhandle to something that will take more effort to deal with.

Before I could easily dodge their attacks like an adult avoiding the sloppy swipes of a toddler. Now their attacks are more coordinated, less room to maneuver from each wave of blades, and they are improving fast as they manage to land more hits on Batman when he is using jet.

They are not that fast themselves, but you don’t need to move that fast, you just need to be able to see it and react just enough to land a strike. 

Like that argument some college guys in my old life had on who would be faster -- Bruce Lee or Usain Bolt. Usain would be faster when running and staying mobile, Bruce Lee would be faster in his own element when fighting.

With his now absurd speed Batman like me had noticed the sparks on the far wall with the room having been put in lockdown as he tried to break through the horde of talons that are close to pinning us against the wall as Jade is placed behind us.

She has come a long way in her training, enough so she could get the jump on the talons and fend them off but now they are more coordinated and individually they have visibly grown in their skill with their weapons.

Before they were no slouches and I could see them massacring numerous criminals in Gotham with ease. But compared to me and Batman now they have no chance, but they have learned at an alarming rate, and from that I could only assume they put those one handed potions to use as well.

Beyond using the potions with his perfect he never fully experimented with them. Now I know I am going to have to make time.

The talons had improved at an alarming rate, far faster than he had when using them against either dummies or other methods of training like shadow fighting -- envisioning an enemy in his mind and going through the physical motions to block, dodge, and counter.

He knows that they may be capable super assassins, but as far as he knew they do not have perfect memory like he did yet they have improved so fast that had he not witnessed it with his own eyes he would not have believed it.

Several probing strikes are sent his way each batted aside and countered but unlike before where his counters were fast and precise enough to both land a solid hit and evade any retaliatory strikes this time they managed to land one.

Just as he weaved through several thrusts that would have speared his heart, left kidney, and lungs he managed to send a talon sliding back into several others giving them more ground to use becoming too crowded and he didn’t want them surrounding them with a wall at their backs.

Just as he brings his arm back one talon lashes out and before he can fully dodge it several more blades deny me room to move.

A hiss escapes me as it nicks the side of my arm as I step back with every inch being fought with far more effort than I would have liked.

Glancing at my cut as Batman and Jade stand by me, each of us keeping the horde at bay. I am by no means invincible, but with the upgrades Heli has made to my body a simple blade like that should not have been capable of cutting my skin.

“They are going to escape with the purifiers if we don’t get past these guys.” I say not once having dropped the Albert Einstein voice.

“Not if I can help it. I don’t know who you two are, but after we are finished with the Court we are having a long discussion.” He glances at us with narrowed eyes as his voice comes out with a mechanical tone to it likely from the mask administering jet to him.

Shrugging my shoulder as Jade tilts her head, “Eh, sure. That’s of course if we are still around by then.” 

Batman grunts out as I smirk. 

“Alright plan time. I am going to go all out and keep as many of them on me while you two go and stop the ones from taking the purifiers. You have the equipment so stay at range preferably above,” I say to Jade nudging my head at the metal pipes near the ceiling.

Looking over to Batman as the talons have reached a point they can’t force us further back but they are fine with keeping us where we are.

“You got some gadgets to keep these guys off the purifier and away from us?” He looks long and hard at me before giving a small nod.

“Alright when I say go, you two stop them. Don’t worry about me, too much is at stake right now.” I say as my body begins circulating the chakra within it as it feels like I haven’t been living as my senses are dialed up even more than they already were.

Every movement from the talons before made some sound but not anything loud enough for a normal person to hear. I could hear them with some difficulty just showing how well-designed their uniforms and armor was. 

Not just for protection but to ensure proper sneaking around Gotham. But now I could hear it all. Picking out details like the blood staining their uniforms and the surprisingly human hands and legs that had regrown.

Was expecting a pale zombie-like limb or something. Not something that looked human under the suits.

With two steps the distance is closed before any of the talons could react with my fist impacting one’s head. Unlike the other times when a crack would happen, this time with me using more power and combined with my chakra enhancing my already absurd strength sends the head flying trailing blood behind it.

As the talons slowly react, a rapid series of punches and kicks send them flying back, too slow to react beyond slowly trying to raise their weapons.

Batman after seeing me clear a path fires his grappling hook with a few talons trying to cut it. The ones who would run up to it found a fist knocking them over and breaking bones. 

Another talon raised its gauntlet-clad hand with its claw fingers shooting off of it only to have them knocked off course by a few throwing stars courtesy of Jade hanging upside down from a pipe near the ceiling as she swung from them like an Olympic athlete. 

Some of the talons leaped up to her only to be kicked away or find knives embedded in their heads from her belt as the metal sheaths unfolded into knives. The mostly black suit with hints of green she wore wouldn’t look out of place in a more modern-day Tron movie.

An upgraded suit for her since seeing the Court has access to magic I was not taking any chances. Seeing the scraped arms of her suit I think it was the right call. Jade on her part tosses anything she can, from stun bombs the size of a marble helping clear a path for Batman as he moves past the talons.

They try their best to stop him but fail either courtesy of yours truly just demolishing them as they fall like dominoes and the few just far enough from me tried to stop him only to have an electrified batarang embed itself in their visors as smoke comes off of their bodies with more talons electrocuted when they fall on them.

The room looked like a war zone turned into chaos. The talons I had ripped into were healing yet it wasn’t fast enough as I pushed further into the tide of them as they broke against me like a raging river against a mountain.

With my training in ninjutsu my chakra reserves had grown by quite a bit, but not enough for me to keep this going for much longer. 

Batman breaking past the the last few as the metal plates now having molten edges to them with a massive square hole made in it with the metal at the edges pooling on the floor steam rising as they heft up the purifiers as a flying vehicle not that far off from a flying car comes by as Batman immediately starts beating into the ones carrying the water purifier.

Each of them goes down and the few talons trying to stop him managed to cut into his armor but Batman merely grunts elbowing one talon in the side of the head and knocking back a few of them before more leap only to have several senbon hit their bodies as they spark with electricity falling short of Batman as they stumble or outright collapse onto the floor.

Turning around Batman takes two talons leaping for him slamming their heads together before tossing both out the hole they had just made. He glances over to his side seeing the next purifier as the talons are getting demolished with no chance to properly put up a fight against me. 

Moving closer to the air purifier being hauled near another hole that had been made.

Despite running low on chakra but pushing on knowing I have a little more to spare I take a note from Batman and just start throwing talons out the hole in the wall because screw it, if I can’t show jutsu not wanting to tip Batman off on what I can do and I can’t effectively kill these guys then may as well take them out of the fight. 

Multiple cuts, kicks, and punches are sent my way. Whatever organization they had has long since faded yet their skills have improved even more. Is it because they are fighting people far more skilled than them? Would that affect their capacity to learn, or is it something hardwired into them since they are the Court's assassins? 

The potions I gave them would only last a few hours, at most three hours. The potency beyond just the time limit shouldn’t have this much of an effect. 

Then it could be a mixture of whatever process they originally used to create these guys and the training involved, and if they are simply mindless husks with only thoughts of killing and doing as ordered. 

Add in potions of stamina regen and regeneration potions then it might explain some of it.

Shaking my head to rid myself of such thoughts and merely focus on what mattered. Whatever it is that is helping them keep up with us doesn't matter. Leaping into the air and with a scissor kick sent two talons back and spun midair narrowly evading a kick and sword slash that would have gotten my throat.

Landing and with a fast and powerful spin kick that would make many breakdancers green in envy sends several talons falling and before they can backflip away and regain their balance I continue to spin with my legs held out like a beyblade scooping up and tossing several talons out the window. A few talons try to slash for my hands only to see me push off the ground and kick or punch them out the window.

Feeling sweat coating my body as the tang of blood fills the air as I breathe heavily having managed at least toss out half the talons in the room with several more on the floor healing from the damage done to them since each kick or punch managed to break bones with ease, like the one who just went for a leg sweep on me instead for me to kick off the ground and punch down at their ribs turning them to powder with the organs inside pulped.

Four move to attack me with two of them holding back their gauntlets aimed at me. My eyes widen as my stamina and chakra have been pushed too much and I grimace, narrowing them prepared to take the attack if I had to. 

Only to look on in surprise as Jade leaps down with a short sword unfolding like Agent Six from Generator Rex she slices one arm off of the talon and grabs it while doing a backwards tornado kick sending the now dearmed talon skidding back.

Gauntlet in hand she places her hand on something inside as blood drips out blades shoot out and the talon turns its head to only get five metal spears launched into its body. 

Two for the head, one shattering a visor as it embeds itself in its eye, the other in its forehead with blood, bone, and grey matter flying out with the other two embedding themselves in its bicep and shoulder.

As the metal tips embed themselves into it, throwing its aim off, the salvo it shoots out goes wide, missing me and hitting two other talons and most of the others embedding themselves in the ceiling, wall, or floor. 

One is deflected by Batman as he holds up his vambraces on his forearms as he glares at Jade who shuffles awkwardly then remembers where she is leaning back as two blades almost bisected her at the torso.

Jumping up with a third talon almost got her legs and spinning with her swords held out she turns the talons into ribbons of meat as they fall apart. 

Batman almost upon the talons carrying the air purifier doesn’t drop it unlike before and just as Batman tosses three batarangs with electricity coming off of them they are knocked out of the air as seven figures enter through the hole in the wall. 

Unlike the other talons these ones have different equipment dressed in far darker colors yet the yellow metal adorning their armor has carvings engraved in them. They move faster than the others, keeping up with and even surpassing Batman who is now fighting three of them as they go through a rapid exchange of punches as he is forced back from their prize.

The three surround him with the four others running past them and splitting into two groups. Two of them go for me one running low to the ground and the other taking to the ceiling crawling along it like it’s possessed. 

The other two race towards Jade who just knocks down a talon with a powerful axe kick as its head cracks the floor where it lays before she looks up in time one appears behind her and before she can turn around it kicks her right in the head. 

Her head snaps back with a jerk and before she can attack it is already moving away and around her as the other kicks her legs out from under her.

Swords clatter away as the first one kicks her midair and sends her slamming into a counter with drawers sliding open from the force falling out and spilling their contents of papers and tools. 

Keeping an eye on the two talons as the one on the ground went into a slide aiming its metal-tipped boots for my ankle.

Sidestepping it at the last second and barely stepping out of the way of a sword slash that would have cut my artery wide open as the one from above spins off of a pipe and sails past me almost cutting my throat before I drop to the ground and lash out with a kick.

With a preternatural grace I would expect from my hunters has it angle out of my attack evading it before bending and twisting itself back up and its arms acting more like whips does an impressive job of almost cutting me as it moves fast enough that with me being as tired as I am find it more of a challenge than the regular talons along with the hard to predict movements. 

The second one continues to harass me from above like a chimp in the jungle swinging around above at speeds that most people couldn’t keep up with. 

Batman is doing about as well as me, arguably better since he is better equipped to handle this as he is dodging their sword strikes and kicks while blocking the few he can’t as they carve gouges into his suit as the armor screeches in protest with sparks flying. Batman takes a risky move seeing the talons get out of the hole with what they were after even if it was only one of them.

One sword slashes out of many that he evades as they move in a circle around him keeping him right where they want him, always keeping him on the defensive before one particular slash has him grabbing the blade with both hands with the metal held in his palms. 

Taking a sword strike as it glances over his shoulder armor cutting into it before Batman activates his gauntlets sends a surge of sparks up the sword into the talon who is twitching before unlike the others forces itself to let go of the sword.

With it briefly backing off Batman times the other talons strike just right to grab its wrist and like the other, it drops its sword with smoke coming from its forearms before a fist has it go flying into a spin shattering and bending the armored mask.

But unlike the other one Batman maintains his grip, tugging it back again like a game of paddle ball, except the paddle is his fist and the ball the head of the talon. Each punch sends flashes of light until the third punch with more power behind it sends the elite talon spinning and sliding across the room.

As Jade is getting double teamed and I help where I can despite the numerous talons still in the room rejoining the fight after having healed the severe injuries they had been given we were getting overwhelmed and fast. 

Just as I thought I may have underestimated the Court and we may die here, the purifier is loaded out of the hole as the talons leap out and as Jade is about to get a sword to her calf with another blade held at her chest they stop their strikes and leap back from a few batarangs embedding themselves in the far wall and the supply table.

Batman knowing that they had managed to snag one purifier stops any attempt the talons would have for the water based one as he bats then aside and strides closer to Jade as I keep my talons occupied, getting the occasional cut on my body for being tired and sloppiness in my movements because of it. 

The talon's movements have slowed down since then but they may as well still have jet in their system with the bone-deep exhaustion that I feel.

As Batman steps into the ring forcing any of the regular talons out of his way as he gets the two off of Jade they work together surprisingly well like a pair of well-oiled machines that didn’t realize were compatible with one another.

Any time a talon would go for Batman’s back or blind spot when he was handling the two elites, Jade was there kicking and cutting the talons away. 

Even uses Batman as a springboard kicking away a normal talon while he punches and kicks the elite talons. Batman with Jade supporting him is becoming a force to be reckoned with as the elites with the other talons backing them find fewer openings to attack as each attempt is blocked or diverted by Batman or Jade and the other counters.

A fist aimed for Batman’s temple is knocked off course by a kick from Jade over his shoulder before Batman grabs a talon and tosses it into the other one. Blade going for Jade's heart has her grabbed by Batman pulling her out of the way and whirling around as Jade comes back around snapping out a swift kick.

Flipping around him and between his legs they almost appear to be in an elaborate and highly acrobatic dance as the talons are pushed back and back to the point even the elites can’t get an opening as they stay behind the other talons as they take the brunt of the damage.

It doesn’t stop them from trying while I handle my two elites with the other talons trying their absolute best to take me down. Sidestepping a series of sword slashes and thrusts before freezing up as memories hit me of my time on an alien ocean planet. 

Screaming for my life as Leviathans rise out of the depths to devour me as I scramble to survive everything that alien hell hole could throw at me as I use whatever weapon, however crude, could help me survive. 

Surviving the worst that place has to offer, especially once I figured out different species with toxins as biological defense and my scanner with the natural environment. Making simple yet effective poisons as they helped kill off what I believed were the bigger threats when I realized they were far from it.

Encountering a Leviathan when trying to go to the Ex Machina that to find out later on had been shot down. The only thing that saved me was using a makeshift harpoon and shooting it with a payload of neurotoxins right into its eye. 

The thing still came for me as I swam and stayed around some nearby coral before it succumbed to the toxins after an hour.

Surviving that and numerous horrors of that ocean world even what I came to call warpers. Those creatures were relentless.

Even managing to make a virus to kill off most of the Ghost Leviathans to make a base for myself that was safe as I suffered from the effect of a new virus I had never encountered before. Wallowing away in my final moments as I feel my heart slow down.

Seeing darkness at the edge of my eyes not knowing if it was my body failing me, or the darkness of the abyss staring back at me with a glow forming in the distance. Lounging in my chair with a bottle of whiskey that had been procured from the Ex Machina.

Watching in muted numbness as I simply don’t have the energy to care and even welcomed the end that was coming for me as the glow grew and grew as a Ghost Leviathan far bigger than any of the others rose above the underwater cliffside I made my home at.

Even snorting was too much for me to do. Here I thought I had wiped the last of you out. That thought would be my last as the great beast opened its mouth with roaring at me and rushing headlong at me as the sound of breaking glass, the crunching of steel, and the brief klaxon of an alarm before darkness was all I could see.

A searing heat had me snap out of it and not focus on what I had just witnessed. One of the talons has blood on their blade, blood that drips off of it and onto the floor. Glancing over to Batman and Jade and see how well they are holding up.

Seeing the two continuing their dance of martial arts but like myself they are getting overwhelmed.

I fear we may be facing our deaths here with my chakra reaching low levels that I can’t bring myself to use anymore to enhance myself with the numerous cuts along my body and flagging stamina. I have slowed down too much to keep up with the talons who just slow down but speed up before I could take advantage.

Batman and Jade despite their impressive teamwork and sticking together coordinating combo attacks they are wearing down as well with the numerous talons simply healing any damage done to them. 

All three of us had positioned ourselves to be around the water purifier, never once letting them get to it before the talons freeze for a second.

In that second we warily glanced around the room waiting for what was next. 

Instead of continuing the attack the talons turn and flee from us running and leaping out of the hole in the wall or going for the hole they had made in the ceiling.

Seeing a small round device tossed and sticking to a few talons backs and other parts of their bodies and looking over at the source, a glaring Batman who is now focused on me and Jade.

 They laughed when you studied the life sciences, but you'll show them! You are now an expert chemist and virologist, capable of whipping up dangerous mixtures on command. Toxic warheads, advanced medkits, and poisons capable of killing Leviathans are now in your mind's eye. You'll need access to various chemical sources, but I'm sure you'll find what you need if you keep your scanner out.