Looking over the blueprints again with a satisfied smile on my face. In the background more of my troopers are practicing tactical retreats sticking to cover, occasionally laying down suppressing fire as they fall back to different points with cover until they complete the course.

Others are practicing at tracking and chasing down each other using the surrounding infrastructure inside the neglected room as makeshift obstacles leaping to and fro pursuing each other and setting up ambushes along the way showing their growth as a team. A rumbling can be heard further within the factory as the old mechanisms had been replaced by me and my troopers learning a thing or two about technology around here.

Using a disguise with Illusion magic managed to find out who owned this old derelict factory and found it was some Hutt who held on to it simply because no one was interested in the thing. Didn’t even bargain over it and sold it for a pittance surprisingly. The reason for this was that they finally could be rid of it since they couldn’t find anyone who wanted it.

Normally I would be suspicious but after spending some time inside this old factory I know they are telling the truth. Not a single person or droid has come to check on the place and not many people even come to check on the factory simply because it was a bad place to use as a hideout or for anything. It would be a sinkhole financially and not worth it when there were better options all over.

Now it has been turned into a functioning hideout and factory to churn out what I need since I didn’t need to spend much of anything to do so since most of what I needed could be found and made into something of use. After the incident on that job with Aurra when the Hutts learned of it being a trap and how we had to flee they were not happy. 

Thankfully for them and their own wellbeing, they didn’t take it out on us because otherwise, I would let them know my own displeasure of getting cut and diced by swords, knives getting thrown at me and shot at with poison darts and arrows along with almost getting blown up. The final straw was being strangled and hung up like a damn piñata.

The Hutts are currently figuring out how the Trade Federation was aware of their many different places of operation and have taken a massive hit. Not all of them were taken out or occupied by the Trade Federation. But despite that, it doesn’t appease the Hutts. After all, it's rather obvious they want to cut into their businesses.

Several of the mercenaries or bounty hunters they had hired managed to stop the droids from overtaking them like Jango and Bane both proving why they are the best of the best as they have single-handedly stopped several facilities and places of operation from getting taken from the Hutts. But in other areas, the bounty hunters tied to the guild had either outright surrendered if they were not paid off by the Trade Federation. Not all of them but many have and are helping them.

One leak could be pointed right at the guild but I doubt that’s all of the rats. 

But the Hutts were interested to learn that a group of Echani warriors had attacked the compound and were waiting for us. 

A trap. 

One that we managed to get out of and according to Aurra she managed to take a few of them out as they chased her when we had separated. Surprisingly she didn’t say a thing about what she saw me do with my magic to the Hutts or at least as far as I could tell.

But like the Hutts I want some answers from the bounty hunters guild on why this job was sent to Aurra specifically and come to find out the one who contacted her is now far from Hutt space and is aiding the Trade Federation. It asked specifically for Aurra and the Hutts were not aware the compound had been attacked.

As far as they knew the place was completely fine as far as they knew and when we walked in expecting payment for that clusterfuck they were shocked and thinking we were trying to cheat them until they learned we were telling the truth. That to me was the biggest surprise above all else. It’s not every day you get to see someone pull one over on the Hutts of all people.

At least according to word on the street. The Hutts know this as well and are furious at the public perception of Nar Shaddaa and other worlds under their control. It makes them look weak and that’s something you never want to have when surrounded by criminals.

Aurra said she was approached by an affiliate of the Hutts here that worked directly under them saying the job was a priority and needed to be seen to immediately. The Hutts did end up paying us more than what we were originally going to get paid since they now know traitors are around us and the Trade Federation tipping their hand on other forces besides droids being at their disposal.

After that was settled and along with Aurra now not trusting the bounty hunter guild even less than we already had with that we both went our separate ways and I had gotten to work on quickly upgrading my droids as much as I could in any way possible. 

Many of them were sold to the Hutts who were interested in using them to fight back the Federation's droid forces to send a message that the Hutts had better droids than them. So far they have proven it as my girls slaughtered many of the droids down on the planets the Hutts wanted protected. 

Despite the praises being thrown my way about the droids they are still not at the level I need them to be at. If my girls got scrapped without even putting up a fight by those women then I have to make them better. If they couldn’t handle them then they can’t handle an average Jedi Knight.

I made sure to make a patent for them with the help of Jugo since before the first Hutt made the offer to purchase some of them I had contacted Jugo figuring if anyone would know about stuff like that to ensure I don’t get screwed it would be him. Hooked me up and I made sure to pay him a large sum for taking time out of his day. Even though there will always be people in small numbers who don’t make too big of a difference in the grand scheme of things they will always have their uses.

If my Assaultrons can’t handle those Echani warriors who I don’t believe for a second are the best their people have to offer then they have no chance against a group of Jedi. They may get lucky and take one out but luck is a fickle thing. Even with my ten luck, it will run out eventually. So the factory was overhauled as it manufactures droids of all kinds.

In this case, droids made from refined scrap metal and whatever I could scrounge together which was rather easy since there is so much trash around Nar Shaddaa that it wasn’t hard to do. The only real issue is organizing it all and getting the exact resources needed or making an alternative work.

One could argue I should focus more on my hand-to-hand and using a blade like my lightsaber. I did much better against a large group that was from what I had seen superior to the younger sisters I dealt with when capturing Dib. To compare myself to someone else it would be Deidara from Naruto.

Like him, I am a ranged fighter. I can hold my own against a melee fighter but my strength is at range. It can be used to help me get some distance and take them down that way and put myself closer to my enemies who specialize in that is just asking to have my head or arm cut off. The only reason I did it with a few of those Echani was because I knew I was faster than some of them and they didn’t know that. A part of me wanted to toy with them and make an example out of them. One that almost cost me my life.

My lightsaber is also a big no only when I am not seen as Corvo Attano and have the advantage of next to no witnesses and knowing that I can kill all those who see me. 

Aurra was there and I had to deal with several Echani warriors but didn’t know how many there were. I don’t need any Jedi coming after me just yet. The lightsaber is merely a tool that is both cool since it’s a lightsaber something I wanted to have as a kid but a method of getting souls gathered up for enchanting. 

Even if I couldn’t use it properly as a weapon doesn’t mean I don’t want one. Like collecting Yugioh cards in my youth. I played a little with friends but never got into the competitive scene and just liked collecting them.

The other thing that has taken some time was setting up the core programming for the different droid models that would require different ways of thinking and utilizing their strengths. 

To sum it all up, despite the Trade Federation and Hutts going at it, and me almost dying but putting up a much better fight compared to when I fought their sisters, life was looking up. Especially with the Hutts hearing about my droids and purchasing several of them for large sums of money. The money helps a lot, especially with getting replacement weapons for the ones that were left back where I was getting hung.

Listening to the radio play some of that weird music which I honestly don’t even view as music. Like playing Mass Effect 2 and getting into After Life for the first time. I did not like the music of that section of the game in the slightest. Just a bunch of electronic beeps and boops with no rhythm or even lyrics to get you pumped up. Can’t even escape the garbage in Star Wars. Go figure.

With the press of a button, the channel was changed and it keeps getting pressed as I keep hearing nothing but garbage electronic music. How hard is it to get some actual real and good music around here?! Give me some rock and roll or metal. Hell, I would even take country music or god forbid rap over this! 

“-tts have been caught gunning down slaves in a mad attempt to prevent Judicial Forces from saving-”

The channel was turned several more times before quickly backtracking to that channel. “-blic Senate is in talks on aiding the Trade Federation and sending a task force to handle and hold the Hutts accountable for the unprovoked attacks they have committed. Numerous incidents with Planetary Defense Forces working alongside dispatched Judicial Forces have encountered several spice mining operations in the outer rim with the scum employed by the Hutts gunning down all the slaves in an attempt to prevent the Republic from freeing them.”

My fingers froze on the hologram I was refining the design on as I processed what was just said. Massaging the bridge of my nose as the Republic is now stepping into this conflict making it far worse than what it already was. So much for canon since it just got tossed out a window and had a nuke dropped on it from orbit.

With the Republic now coming in to help the Trade Federation with the corruption that is so rampant in the Senate I wouldn’t be surprised if they managed to get the Jedi involved in this and that is the last group save for the Sith I want to come snooping around. What makes it so bad is that the Sith comes as a combo meal with the Jedi since Sidious will be in the know about what is happening. 

Despite all the dumb things the Jedi have done in this era I don’t hate them nor do I want the Jedi purge to happen.

Despite the flaws of this era's Jedi they are still the good guys and do mean well it just doesn’t help they have tethered themselves to a corrupt institution. If Jedi are going to become involved in this then as much as it pains me to do this they need to be dealt with. Swiping away the hologram pulling up a new one and immediately pouring over it to make something to alleviate the problem the Jedi present. 

It probably won’t be anywhere near as effective as I hope it would be when you think about a space wizard with precognitive abilities never mind the plethora of other powers at their disposal but not like it’s going to stop me from trying. After all, I am making far better droids and making leaps and bounds in my understanding and implementation of the galaxies technology.

…

Walking into Sheys bar seeing a few people playing some games of Uno with the occasional person or group playing other assorted card games. Taking a seat at the usual table and getting myself a drink while waiting seeing three familiar faces walk into the bar before taking their seats. Jango and Bane sat across from me with Aurra seated next to me. 

She gives me a strange look but it goes away as she has an easy-going smile on her face. A quiet sniff tells me she is wearing some type of perfume and if the look on her face is anything to go off of she knows that I know.

Wearing a red shirt with a brown vest over it with matching pants, two blaster pistols sit in their holsters as she sips at a drink she got for herself.

Jango has that ever-present armor of his with Bane now having a leather duster coat with tubes attached to some kind of black weave around his as the tubes connect to his cheeks along with what looks like a pair of rocket boots. My questioning look gets an answer.

“After that job, me and Jango did some upgrades, and equipment adjustments were deemed necessary. What happened last time won’t happen again. So we're up for another game of Uno. Are you ready to lose Corvo?” 

Smirking in response to that, ready to drop a bomb on him. “Well, that depends on if you are ready for the variant of Uno?”

“Variant? Now I have to see this.” Aurra chimes in. 

Another person takes a seat beside us. Noting Shey's bags under her eyes she looks at me with a tired smile. “Not missing a chance to see what you cooked up Corvo. Work can wait and I need a distraction.”

Not missing a beat I continue not wanting to look into what has her so tired when I have a suspicion. “It’s called Uno Flip and you will find that it is arguably worse than regular Uno.” Placing some small devices on the table sliding them to the table's occupants who quickly figure out how to work them as they turn them on with holograms springing to life.

Starting the game up and helping everyone connect to the game, everyone else, even the other people playing their games of Uno stopped and watched us wanting to see the new version.

“So what are the rules for this one?” Shey asks as everyone at the table looks at me but I simply shake my head.

“Why ruin the surprise? It’s half the fun.” I say with a shrug of my shoulders while Bane doesn’t look too pleased but Aurra and Shey both smile at me.

The game quickly starts and the occupants are all keen on winning this. The expression on Bane and Aurra was so funny I wish I had a camera when they see instead of a plus two they get a plus one.

“If the plus two is gone and it’s a plus one what is on the other side of the cards?” Bane asks me as he is cautious as if approaching a sleeping Krayt Dragon.

Everyone can see the other's flip sides but no one else has the flip variant of the plus five yet.

“So you guys heard the news on the holonet about what the Federation is up to?” I say changing the subject as Bane and Jango nod their heads.

“Of course we have. Even if it wasn’t for our contacts tipping us off anyone would have heard about it. What of it?”

The Duros says as he smirks playing the flip card. “You're not worried about the Jedi getting involved?” I say playing a magenta five.

“Not in the slightest. If anything, I look forward to it. I can finally see for myself just what a Jedi is capable of and kill them myself.” He says offhandedly as I do a double take at the balls on this guy.

Looking over at Jango and seeing that he has a serious expression on his face. Well, more serious than normal. “Jango? You alright?” I ask him as he looks away at his cards his expression softens a little.

“Yeah. Like Bane, I am looking forward to it if they get involved.” I can hear the tightening of his knuckles as he grits his teeth hearing them grind slowly. 

Okay, he has a history with the Jedi. “Well, what do you rate the Hutt's odds with all of us being on their payroll?”

“Even without us, the Hutts have good odds. The Federation has managed to get some hits in but ultimately they have chosen a war they cannot win. The Jedi for all the galaxy views them as invincible — they are far from it.” Jango says placing down a plus five on Shey who stacks it and along the chain goes.

“Like a wall of blasters and surrounded on all sides? Oh for kriffs sake!” I yell seeing a plus thirty as cards are added into my hand. 

The table chuckles besides Jango and Bane both looking at me intensely. “I take it you intended to hunt Jedi at some point Corvo?” Bane says enjoying my downfall of thirty cards but sounding all business when I said what I did.

“Not exactly. Figured if I got far in this line of work it would be a matter of time before I had to fight one. So I came up with whatever I could think to fight them based on what I heard they were capable of.” I say as Aurra plays a reverse card and I place down a Wild Draw card on Bane who looks suspicious on what the card does.

A frown is on Bane's face as he goes from four cards to over forty before getting the color he needs. Looking between me and Aurra the meaning is clear. This means war. Shey and even Jango chuckles at that as Jango seems to ease up but the tension is still there.

“Not exactly the wrong line of thinking Corvo but remember this. You won’t always have a number advantage against a Jedi, especially one that is good and knows what they are doing. What else have you managed to come up with to deal with them?” Jango says playing another reverse card letting Bane get some payback on me with a plus five before both me and Aurra place down our cards hitting Shey who up until this was laughing it up before her smile is now strained as she looks at me and Aurra in betrayal.

“If they get close, have a weapon like boomstick ready for them. Preferably in close quarters to reduce their chances of avoiding it. Use some slug throwers as well as a flamethrower to avoid blaster fire getting redirected and if I do use blasters use ones that have burst fire against them. Would make it harder to deflect all of the bolts and maybe overwhelm them. Set up mines and explosives to keep them at a distance if I want to stay at range. And above all else don’t let them get a flow going in the fight.”

Both Jango and Bane give me a judging look but both seem satisfied with what I said. “Not bad ideas. You do know that the whole thing with slugthrowers is a myth unless you are using exotic materials right? And what did you mean by flow?” He asks with an arched brow.

“What myth? And by flow, I mean getting comfortable in the fight as they use the force or whatever lets them know what you are going to do before you have already done it. Don't let them get too focused. The stories I have heard about them regardless of the exaggerations people give them have a consistency of them somehow being capable of predicting things they otherwise should not have been capable of. So either they can see the future or can read minds. Maybe both.” 

“The myth that bounty hunters just starting out think that a slug thrower would be the greatest weapon to kill a Jedi with.” Cad Bane says with derision and contempt. “Those that believed this learned the hard way that those metal slugs don’t turn into liquid metal or gas and then hit the Jedi who blocked it. Normally you would think that would work but much like anything involving a Jedi it is never that simple or easy.”

Alright, so the internet from my old life was full of crap because why not? Not exactly like Star Wars adhered to physics like we try to apply to it. It’s one of the reasons why one of my projects is taking far too long for my liking for something that was supposed to be incredibly simple. We play the game and idly chat as we rage and get happy at the other's suffering. 

Letting out a moan of pleasure as I enjoyed the big burger I just took a bite out of. It tastes like heaven as tears threaten to spill out Pamela watches with amusement as she tries to not laugh as she bites into her burger.

“You act like you're starving after helping me and May.” She says jokingly.

“Oh, but I was after being forced through all that hard manual labor down in the jungle.” I manage to get out after swallowing my mouthful of burgery goodness. Leaning back and smiling, she gives me a less-than-impressed look. 

Thank goodness for me hiding the equivalent to an ice pick after being heated by a welder shoved into my brain. Glancing behind Pam and seeing a few cars parked on the sidewalk and each piece of them is pieced together in what would be a far more fuel efficient and safer car.

“Color me surprised to see you eating meat.” Changing the subject and to get me to stop focusing on the cars with my newly gained knowledge. Pamela stops halfway from taking a bite out of her burger as she raises a lone brow, “Figured you would be a vegetarian or god forbid a vegan.” I shiver at the mention of those dreaded creatures.

“Oh ha ha ha,” She sarcastically says before smiling at me, “Not like that’s not the first time I have heard that before. I get some botanists and other such people who are known for being vegetarians but a girl needs her meat.”

I can only smile dumbly as I blink at what she just said and a snort to our side shows the older waitress who had served me and Jade in the past chuckles, shaking her head at what Pamela said. Face turning crimson as it seems she didn’t mean to word it the way she did.

“As it should be, we all need it at one point or another. You two love birds, don't mind me and enjoy yourselves.” She says walking away as Pam sputters and fidgets as she tries to find her words and explain how she is not my girlfriend only to have a jumble of words come out making no sense.

“So about you eating meat… Don’t tell me Woody or May are going to ground you if they find out?” Wiggling my eyebrows at her as she quickly forgets about her embarrassment and just huffs giving me an amused smile.

“Jason eats meat as well. With how much he enjoys it you would almost think he was a butcher or something. May also has a mad love for beef jerky, and I enjoy a big greasy burger like any American.” She says matter of factly as she goes back to eating her burger all prim and proper.

Chuckling at her antics, “As it should be. Anyone who calls themselves an American needs to have a good appetite for meat. Though I don’t think it’s the kind of meat you are referring to but to each their own.” I say enjoying the taste of the burger mixed with the cheese, mushrooms, and onions as Pam goes into a coughing fit as she chews her food.

Patting her on the back as her coughing fit ends soon enough and I get a dirty look for my trouble. 

“Daniel, you will not bring that up again.” She says with a warning tone giving me that look that all women seem to have when they mean business. Where the hell did she learn this and where did this Pamela come from because I kind of like that look on her face. Makes me think of a stern but hot teacher as I tilt my head at her thinking over her warning.

Some of the other patrons, mostly the older men with their wives, merely chuckle at us.

“And pray tell what are you going to do about it?” I ask challengingly but in a playful manner.

“I will start by taking your meal as a peace offering.” She says smiling as she reaches for it but to her shock, she finds the plate in my hand pulled from her as she gives me a deadpan look.

“Hmmmmm…” I hum rubbing my jaw and thinking it over aloud, “Give my delicious meal as a peace offering to the hot red head who pulls off a good stern teacher impression…” 

As Pam was going to say something snarky she had to do a double take before blushing and gaping like a fish at what I had just said but unlike her, I was quiet enough that none of the other patrons had heard it. 

“Here you go!” I say handing her the food on my plate as she just stares at me in shock. “You might want to close that unless you want to catch a fly.” 

Her mouth shuts with a click before she simply slides my food back I look at her questioningly and she simply looks down and focuses on her food as we stay there and finish our meals in silence. 

Stepping out with a few of the older men giving me winks and nods of approval and some of their wives even said some words of encouragement to Pam much to her embarrassment.

Surprisingly wholesome for Gotham of all places but I have learned there is still good in this city however few and far it is from all the bad. 

Stepping out of the diner that is my favorite place in the city to get a meal we walk along the sidewalk. 

“Sorry for embarrassing you like that. Didn’t mean to make you feel bad or awkward.” 

She looks up at me as I rub the back of my head before clearing her throat, “You didn’t. Or at least you don’t need to apologize since I did word it embarrassingly.” 

It comes out quietly as she puts her hands in her pockets as we see the park in the distance she had wanted us to go to. It was out of place in this city as the sidewalks and buildings around it look like something out of a Great Depression photograph and the park looks like the field from the Teletubbies.

The area looked far cleaner than it had before since I had walked past this park a few times on my way to the diner as a few people waved at me and nodded at me. 

All of them I recognize since all of them I had helped either save their lives or saved them a lot of money by doing some medical work for them. 

“Do those people know you?” She asks me having taken notice.

“Yep. Some of them I saved their lives and others I just did simple medical checkups and some stitching here and there.” I casually respond as Pam's eyes widen.

“Whoa whoa whoa. You saved their lives? How?” She says stepping in front of me as we both stop near the main archway to the park.

“Before I passed the test to get into Gotham University I ran a back alley clinic pro bono helping people back when the gang war was happening. Still run it now on what time I can spare to help them. Is that a problem?”

Pam after a few seconds of digesting my words nods, “No. It’s not.” She says seemingly easily accepting my answer to my surprise.

“So you are just going to accept my answer like that at face value?” I say enjoying the cleaner state of the park as several families with kids running around and playing enjoy themselves and I even catch Pam looking at several of the families longingly.

It takes her a moment to respond, enjoying the scenery of the park being far cleaner than it had been in the past, “Normally I wouldn’t. But you have so far shown you are not like most I have met. You are trustworthy and have helped me plenty of times when you had nothing to gain. So me being willing to accept an answer like that is not too unbelievable.”

“Fair enough.” I say as she grabs my arm dragging me along as we see a particular part of the park with numerous flowers of varying kinds. Despite not being as exotic as the endangered species at Pam’s work it is still beautiful. 

That and the smell of nature, especially that of the flowers being more prominent compared to the chemical smog smell that pervades most parts of the city.

It’s relaxing as me and Pam simply stand here for a while before walking along enjoying the sights of the park along with several families as a few kids run along our path. The both of us didn’t mind and I did catch Pam watching the children play with a complicated series of emotions that she tried to hide.

Coming to a decision I speak, “So what kind of flowers do you think they could bring into the park to make it better?”

My question brings her out of her thoughts as she looks up at me before registering my words as her face lights up. She starts listing off numerous flowers and even some types of trees that most people not too knowledgeable in botany would even know about.

She looks so excited when listing off different flowers and trees describing the colors and how they could be assigned to different parts of the park to better match surrounding plants. 

She even managed to show a surprising amount of depth to how much she had this through in such a short amount of time to have each part of the park better match and lead into different sections. Even explaining to me how each color or plant shape could contribute to the aesthetic.

Some of the people even look at us weird but Pam was so engrossed she didn’t notice while giving a pointed look to some people who stared longer than I liked making them look away with a few guys even glaring at me. 

Before long we walked through the park and despite being uneventful I enjoyed myself. It was relaxing and it was made even better with how happy Pam was that the park is being cleaned up and properly taken care of.

“I still find it hard to believe that company has managed to clean up so much of Gotham!” Pamela said, walking backward on the sidewalk as she raised her arms in the air for emphasis.

“True, but then again they seem to have found a niche position in Gotham since the business is doing well if they have this many people paying them to come and clean up the city. I for one am thankful someone had enough of seeing a dirty city.”

All of this is said with a straight face not giving away I am the owner of the company. Grabbing Pam’s side while she looks confused I gently move her over to my side as a group of guys carrying skateboards walk past us as she meekly says sorry and they smile and nod at us. 

“Thanks Daniel. Also for the record I don’t have an issue with the company cleaning up this city especially places like the parks where nature resides. I just worry about if it’s going to end up like every other company in this city.” She says with a softer tone as she looks at the various buildings in the distance.

Each one with a company logo for who owns them. The most prominent that you could see from almost anywhere in the city is Wayne Tower. It is not the tallest by no means yet being positioned in such a way that it can be seen no matter where you are and the rich history of the Wayne family in Gotham makes it hard for any other company to have both a figurative and literal grip over the city like them.

“Well, who knows they might just be the second company after Wayne Enterprises to be a legitimate business that cares for the city. I mean they are taking almost anyone with a criminal record that is willing to put their best foot forward and they pay well from what I heard.”

“Yeah, I heard some of the students at the college talking about it. Some of their parents are not too happy someone managed to make a lucrative business like that. More importantly, I hope you are right. Far too many times have the other companies only cared about money with their short-sighted greed.” She says with a frown as if she bit into something sour.

“Only time will tell.” I say as we part ways after saying goodbye to each other. Pamela has come far from who she used to be. Seeing my reflection in a glass window and I can say I too have changed compared to my old self.

For good and for bad. 

Shaking myself of such thoughts focusing on what needs to be done. Stepping into one of my safe houses after making sure no one was tailing me and walking into the control room with Light and the others.

“How many have we managed to subvert?”

Light brings up the numbers and all the faces associated. Only up to 30%…

“This is unacceptable. We need to move faster.” I say displeasure in my tone. The dissatisfaction is enough to match a child getting a toy that they thought was amazing because of a commercial only to see a plastic piece of crap when they get it.

“We are moving as fast as we can. Per your orders we are abducting and having the known members replaced with Hunters with no witnesses or means of connecting it to you are around.”

Pinching the bridge of my nose knowing Light and the others are correct. Those rich bastards are annoying in that regard. Always someone near or some means of watching them like a camera and if anything happens to the latter then big possibility of the Court getting suspicious.

Once is a coincidence. Several dozen? That will tip them off and when fingers start getting pointed around I know a lot of them will be directed at me. After all, who would be an unknown yet suspicious individual one could blame? Plus despite “proving” myself I am still an outsider to them.

Plus they have shown they don’t fully trust me either since they had the talons trying to follow me around. Can’t blame them. I would have done the same thing. 

Letting out a huff before addressing the engineers, “Start sending messages to the remnants of the Anarkists and the Alliance. Tip them off that certain notable and influential members of Gothams high society had a hand in all that they suffered and give them a means to know the layouts of their homes or wherever they are. If some of them can be replaced before they get to them, do it. If not then it’s one less owl to deal with.”

I say as the engineers get to work organizing the Hunters as the plan is put into motion. Despite Anarky disappearing there are still leftovers of his followers who have gone even further underground but from what word on the street is they wish to get some payback.

Light leaves the Alphas to it as he follows me around the workshop which has changed drastically from what it was when I first got it. Before it looked mundane despite the supernatural element to it. Now it looks like something out of mad genius from a comic book set far into the future. 

Machines of various purposes all over the place yet take up little space themselves along with numerous areas set aside for the various plants to grow along with the containment units for my ingredients and so many more. 

Walking past a table putting together a sleek and refined model of Assaultron that wouldn’t look out of place in Star Wars or something similar. Each arm and tendril on the table worked with surgical precision down to the smallest of details ensuring that the bot was up to the engineer's standards for perfection.

“Speak your mind Light.” I say simply not beating around the bush since we do not have time for it. 

“Daniel this may tip the Court off that someone is trying to eliminate them. The very thing you are trying to avoid.”

“It’s why you will contact Hunter 233 currently designated as Donovan and have him be seen doing some obvious shady dealings.” Light looks at me now putting it all together.

“Now you're getting it.”

Light nodding at my words and floating off with a better understanding of what I intend to do. Clenching and unclenching my hands not liking what is going to more than likely happen soon. Have the Court believe they have dissent amongst their ranks causing internal strike and cutting down their numbers and hopefully slowing them down.

With me being on a timer for whatever plan the Court has planned for this city especially when it involves wiping out the vast majority of its citizens then I need to hurry. Time is not on my side.

Bringing up my contacts and making a call to Smith. 

On and on we go as I keep busy by going through various chakra exercises while crafting more potions and poisons. We go through the details and what to do should things not go as planned and any contingencies we could think of at the time. As Smith ends the call I bring both glasses of a specific poison together, both hands forcing them near one another.

Instead of clinking together like one would expect or even shattering courtesy of the amount of force behind them they instead begin to merge together almost like two mounds of clay coming into contact as some resistance was there but a few more taps and the glasses with the content inside of them merge together. 

 No increase in mass. No extra poison within the sole remaining container. Taking a small sample and placing it on a scanner as a grid of lasers and light goes over the sample before a ding goes off. Looking at the results a sadistic smile comes over my face. The last two powers are proving themselves rather useful now. Like a set of legos I could see more efficient poisons to mix and match getting close to the limit of what I could currently get out of them.

Glancing over at the other containers of various poisons before taking one of the small handheld traps I had the engineers further enhanced for me. It’s something that I am both thankful for yet also don’t like. As capable as the engineers are, what would I do without them? They are far more capable of working through whatever issues would slow me down they would simply run past.

Something for future me to worry about when I am currently over-relying on them.

With a raise of my hand a blue string attaches itself to several bottles pulling them across the room to me as I begin mixing and matching them in combinations I feel desirable and taking one of the handheld circular traps as it pops open for me. 

Blades similar to a fan greet me as I hold it while a small tool held in a chakra string taps and carves into each blade making a symbol that when completed on each blade briefly turns cyan with what feels like a small breeze in a small radius around each symbol could be felt before vanishing as if it was never there.

Several hours pass like this before standing up and stretching, leaving Light his new supplies to work with despite how much he may hate the magic runes since he still can’t understand what they are nor how he cannot scientifically examine them. Never gets old seeing his reaction when he gets angry. 

Smiling and shaking my head at the thought before finding myself at the gym that had been bought out in the poorer parts of Gotham. Well looking at the area now it doesn’t look that bad if from a lower middle class area. Still seeing the occasional litter but that is to be expected but mostly clean with the streets not having pot holes or graffiti lining the walls of the buildings. 

Stepping over and inside the building before sidestepping an axe kick from the entrance avoiding several follow jabs and grabbing the wrists of Jade as she looked more annoyed than shocked since the latter had faded away after the first couple of days under my tutelage. 

“Good usage of the element of surprise and not overcomplicating it.” I say with an easygoing smile that she just scoffs at.

That is until it gets cut off as I pull her and wrap my other arm around her neck forcing her head to bow back at an almost ninety-degree angle as she grunts trying to break out of it. Not fooled by her arms and elbow striking into my ribs or arm as her body twists and a knee goes flying straight up and almost hits me on the nose.

Had it done so when I was a normal person it would have easily broken my nose and probably even killed me by shoving it back into my brain. I could have easily stopped the attack or even simply lowered my forehead and shrugged it off but it doesn’t help her to show how outclassed she is. This is to help her learn to fight opponents at her own level if not far above it but not so much where she would be fighting a toned down Superman.

“That’s it, use the unorthodox when you are put into a seemingly inescapable situation.” As soon as her feet hit the ground she runs along the ground moving far faster than a girl her age has any right to look more like a black and green cat.

She rushes to me before adjusting her angle and running up the wall leaping off with a spin kick aimed for my head that is blocked with my forearm but to my surprise and joy, she is not done. Using the built-up momentum and shift of her body she takes her other leg and brings her knee into my temple. The force was enough that my head was forced to the side.

A bit of pain can be felt but it’s overshadowed by the genuine smile and joy in my heart at her finally doing it. She finally managed to hit me without me letting it happen! 

The manic smile on her face tells me she realized this herself. Jade was no fool more than likely picking up on me letting get what hits she had managed in the past and had been pushing herself that much more. “Good! Keep it up come on Jade show me what you got.” I say with a laugh in my voice at odds with the situation.

She sends out numerous jabs or kicks always making sure that one attack would lead to several more simultaneously. A palm thrust for my solar plexus, as I move to counter, turns into her other hand going for my throat with her knee aimed for my groin. Each is blocked just barely as I hold back to the level I need to be before upping the difficulty on her.

Both of us moving at speeds some professional martial artists would balk at. Both of us looked less like human beings and more like living hurricanes of limbs and movement. The best part about it all is how it got my blood pumping despite holding back on her physically. My mind on the other hand was going into overdrive as I tried my best to predict her next moves and attacks.

Most I had predicted but some I had gotten wrong as she seemed to be figuring me out finally using what I had been teaching her about being unpredictable. No matter how much of a master at something someone is they will fall like anyone else when they cannot predict what someone is going to do. 

Instead of trying to use feints or jukes on me she has incorporated the idea into her fighting style as she keeps close to me never once letting up on the pressure even when I begin to up the difficulty by using more strength and speed yet she still is managing to hang with me. Every attack is not a trick but an attack mixed with layers of more attacks or combos chained into it that had no planning to it simply improvising the next attack.

Like the duck and mule kick that I sidestep as her leg lashes out wrapping around my arm as she rises into the air narrowly avoiding my punch aimed at her temple as she rains elbows down on my shoulders and even a few onto my head each one gets a grunt. She even takes advantage of me having to close my eyes from each strike to my head as she swings her other leg around trying to wrap it around my throat. 

My hand snaps out grabbing her ankle and pulling her off of me with far more force than she has been used to so far and the few punches or jabs she gives me do nothing as I pin her to the ground with a forearm against her throat. She is panting like a dog in the hottest of summer as sweat covers her body yet despite this and the few bruises she has her smile is one of joy.

“I yield.” She manages to get out between breaths after she tries to pry my grip off or get out of the pin but to no avail. 

Getting up and offer my hand which she takes with a smirk as we both walk further into the gym. “You have improved far more than I had thought you would. Congratulations for finally getting a hit on me that I didn’t let you have.” I say to her with a big grin with how proud I am.

She smirks back as she takes a bottle of water and takes a swig from it before speaking. “I’m just that good.” She says with a cocky smile and a shrug as I merely tilt my head at her.

“Well if that is the case how about up the level to wear you are fighting against someone like Deathstroke or worse like Aquaman?” I say innocently to her but the way her face froze up and body tensed for a fraction of a second despite how she tried to play it off showed she was not looking forward to that type of training. 

“Maybe sometime down the road when I can handle Black Canary and Batman.” She says tossing the empty bottle of water into a trashcan without even looking. Nodding my head at how proud I am of her. 

We both move into position going through various katas on the mats and forms as I help her go through the physical parts of Muay Thai and Judo figuring it wouldn’t hurt to help her out with disarming people and she sure loves grappling. 

The several minutes of grunts and going through the motions is broken by Jade asking a question as she uses her knees to try and strike my gut working on her flexibility, “I have been meaning to bring something up with you Daniel…” She says trailing off looking unsure which gets my attention better than anything else she could have done.

Jade and looking unsure were two alien concepts foy anyone who is even vaguely familiar with her. Stopping the exercise as she sees this and stops herself as she fights off the urge to hold one arm with the other as it momentarily rises only to fall as she fights off a grimace.

“Alright. What did you need to talk about?” I say giving her my utmost attention and taking her seriously. If this is as serious as it seems for her then I take it seriously.

“I… I need more money from you.” 

I simply give her a raised brow as this is rather odd not for her asking for more money but the fact she is acting odd while doing so. She knows me well enough by now to know I have no issue paying her more since she could make an argument that she has improved enough that I could send her on far more important jobs than when I had first met her. 

“There is more isn’t there?” My question is all but confirmed as she frowns and looks down for a moment taking in a breath and letting it out finally looking up at me properly with a firm resolve in her eyes. 

“I also will eventually have to leave. I have a younger sister that is in a bad situation right now and I intend on correcting that by taking her with me when I leave Gotham. But I need enough money to do so and I won’t be here to work for you after that.” She says despite the fire in her and hardening her resolve I can still hear the weight pressing down on her as she says all of this to me. 

“Knowing how much you have invested in me the only thing I can think of to give to you to let me go is…” She says while turning her head from me as a vulnerable look comes over her face she brings her hands down to her shirt and starts lifting it but is immediately stopped by my hands holding hers as she looks at me confused.

“That won’t be needed. Ever. Jade, I appreciate you and I am thankful you could be honest with me and brought this up to me personally.” I say holding her hands gently and guiding them away from her shirt as she lets it go and it falls back down over her stomach. Oddly enough for a brief moment she has a look of dissatisfaction on her face when I stopped her.

“You trying to do this tells me how important and how much it means to you. If it means that much to you then you will have that money and the chance to leave this city behind with your sister.” I say with the utmost seriousness to her as she looks skeptical but hope forms in her eyes. 

“You mean that? You're not lying?” Jade says with disbelief like everything I just said was a hallucination. 

Placing both hands on her shoulders and bringing my face to her as I stare into those grey pools, “No. I mean it. Besides being my student and employee you are also my friend,” I gently squeeze her shoulders and note the edges of her lips going down briefly at what I called her before it goes back to a growing smile, “And I refuse to not help my friends when they need me. You have stuck by my side when you could have bailed any time you wanted.”

I place my hand on her back as we walk together going towards the back where some fake leather chairs are placed taking seats. “When your training in the past was at a level most people in this city would have hired you as muscle without hesitation when seeing what you could do back then and you still stayed with me. So you have proven to me that I can trust you and now I want you to trust me. Alright?” 

She shakes her head at me as her smile looks more genuine than the fake Cheshire cat smiles she likes to use. “So how much do you need?”

At my question, she hesitates though it is far more brief than it was before as she gives the answer and I could only whistle at the number. She grimaces before my hand being held in front of her, “None of that now, it is a lot but I can do it.” 

Her expression turns into one of disbelief, “Daniel you can't be serious.”

“I am. The resources given to me won’t be used up in helping you and it will barely dip into them.” 

“What’s the catch?” She says it like it was pulling teeth for her.

I merely blink in confusion before remembering native Gothamite. “There is none.”

“Jade, listen. There is no catch, no angle, or any kind of strings. Remember despite how I may act and have adapted to this city I am not a native like you are. I help my friends when they have proven themselves to me and you have more than proven that to me.”

Her jaw tenses and I can see the tension in her body despite how well she hides it. Why is she getting so upset by this?

“I can’t just accept it. I have to give something back to you.” She grits out.

Bringing a hand through my hair in exasperation. Is she doing this out of pride? What the hell has my life become…

“Jade, you owe me nothing.” I say back calmly trying to convey this simple concept back to her.

“No. I do. I will pay you back for this.” She says with such finality you would think she was the one giving the orders to me.

“Alright, I have a couple of important jobs coming up that I might need your help with if you want to.”

“Done.”

“Not done. If I were you I wouldn’t be smiling considering what these jobs are involved with.” I say far more serious as my expression has an edge to it that makes Jade realize that this is far more serious than a simple milk run equivalent in Gotham.

“What are the jobs?” She said back with a searching gaze.

“Some contacts of mine have tipped me off about the Court,” At the mere mention of them, Jade's body tenses up like a cat with its hackles raised, “They are on the move again.”

Before I could go any further in my explanation, feeling like something physical and massive was placed both on my soul and the warehouse. Well at least it wasn’t a massive headache dropped on me out of nowhere… I hope.

 For the Masters of the Mystic Arts, the grounds of Kamar- Taj is their sanctuary, their fortress, and their school all in one. It is a place where they can open their mind, and truly ascend to new heights in awareness as they explore Creation itself. Alas... even they knew not to focus everything in one place, and it is with that in mind that I offer you this. Whether you wish to place this in a mountain range so that it is hidden away from the eyes of most, or have it as a Warehouse attachment, this ancient site contains everything one needs to build an order. Rooms for monks to stay in, a great library to fill with many books, a courtyard to practice, an armory for magical items you may possess, and even a storage unit that supplies as much mundane food, water, and tea to sate those who follow the Mystic Arts. Even better, those who practice here will find their minds opening more quickly than usual, having an accelerated effect that will leave training of the body and mystical practices half again as effective. ...oh, and there's a wifi router installed.

 It can be difficult for those who are unaware of the world around them to grasp that they know nothing. It can also be difficult to show them just how small their worldview has been all this time, or help them. But the first step to learning is awareness. This is a substantial supply of books regarding the body, such as a map of the nervous system, MRIs, and more importantly, chakra points and how to just open them. These maps for the body will help bring awareness to would-be students, and how to show them the wonders of the world or themselves. For an additional undiscounted 100CP, you may also gain a substantial collection of spellbooks that will assist in helping you learn the formation of spells, the art of drawing energies to power them, and the basics in casting them. Just be aware that the warning labels come AFTER the spells.

 * The cost includes the upgrade

 Rare is the heretek with wealth or connections enough to acquire the resources to pursue innovation without raising suspicion. Most must make do with whatever they can scavenge or build for themselves, and fortune seems to often favor them when harvesting useful components from wrecked machines. More often than not, the most delicate and valuable pieces of technology can be pulled intact from wrecks you find or create.