Chapter Two - Overwhelming Abdication

June 2011

Lancaster, Pennsylvania



Veronica opened her eyes to a gun barrel.

Without thinking, she pushed the chair forward with her feet, making it impact amidst his crotch. The nondescript man let out an ‘oomph’ but was once again swinging the gun in her direction. She retaliated quickly by letting her chair fly at his face, then upending the table to dodge any stray bullets.

The man in a daze in seconds, and then Veronica was on him, holding the gun to his chin.

“Where is he?”

The man swallowed, but said nothing.

“Where is he?!”

A quiet chuckle escaped his mouth. “You’ll never find him.”

“Really?” Her cynical tone lingered in his ears, but her eyes held a fire he’d seen in only a few individuals. “I’ve gotten this far.” She promptly shot him in the knee. “Care to try again?”

“AAAAAAAAGH! YOU LITTLE BITCH!”

“Ooh, strong words, but nothing new. It’ll be your stomach next time. So answer me honestly. Where. is. BANE?!”

He hissed sharply to try and ignore the pain in his leg. “Gotham. He’s in Gotham City. Now, are you done playing games, little girl? There’s no way you can fight him.”

“I never said anything about fighting him. I just want him dead. And no, we’re not done. I have one last thing to do here.”

“What’s that?”

“Gain satisfaction.” With that, she hit him in rapid succession, favoring the butt of the gun to connect with his face. She stopped only upon noticing he was unconscious.

Thereupon the door burst open, and she swung the gun around. Logan and Mac stood in the doorway, faces flushed. Veronica lowered the gun slowly.

“Veronica, are you okay?” Logan asked, gripping her shoulders.

Her face was set. “I will be.”

“We got worried when you weren’t at the police station. Mac, fortunately, memorized the guy’s license plate and we followed it here.”

“Glad you did. What about Wallace and Weevil?”

“Acting as sentinels outside, just in case this guy wasn’t alone.”

“Trust me, he was.” She started walking. “We need to get back to the hotel now, and start packing.”

“Where we going?” This came from Weevil, leaning on the side of the van.

“Gotham City.”

“Gotham?!”

“You nuts, V?”

“Veronica, the cops there will be on us like wolves on sheep!”

Veronica shook her head. “We managed to evade them thus far. Besides I get the feeling they’ll be otherwise occupied.”

They all paused for a minute. “Bane’s there, isn’t he?” Wallace finally asked.

“Yep.”

Another pause.

It was almost frightening the way they all, save Veronica, chorused, “We’re in.”

She glanced at each of them turn, looking for any hint of uncertainty. She found none, and nodded. “Let’s go.”