In Gotham Harbor:

[jla_villains]

Bane cracks his knuckles, still waiting. "Your friend here has planted a bomb on the boat, Amigo. Hope you can swim," he comments, staying between Batman and the crimelords, and thus between him and Kathy. He's in no hurry about this fight, and is certainly no raging monster to charge blindly. His eyes narrow, focusing on the Bat, and continuing

Comments

[_darkknight_]

"I swim fine," Batman answers lowly as he circles, ostensibly to get a better position on Kathy and the crime lords. "Do you?"

[jla_villains]

Bane is wary, holding his position for the most part. He's aware of his surroundings, particularly after being defeated after falling through the bat-signal light last time. He learns from his mistakes, and knows quite well he can take the Bat as long as he keeps it a fight on open ground.

"I swim fine Amigo. How about your friend there, in her condition?" he asks, making very sure to keep his back to Kathy and the crimelords, and himself between them and Batman. They wanted the best protection money could buy, they have it.

[kathy_duquesne]

Kathy knows that Bane is bluffing about the bomb; the brute stopped her before she could set it.

But she knows where it is... and she knows what she needs to do.

If she could just catch her breath...

But Penguin doesn't look like he wants to give her that chance.

[_darkknight_]

Batman knows she needs to catch her breath. That's part of the reason behind the song and dance with Bane.

"They're paying you a lot," growls the Dark Knight as he continues his slow circling. "What's her safety worth?"

Is he offering to buy off Bane?

[jla_villains]

Bane smiles behind the mask. Ah yes, Batman isn't about to let anyone get killed. He steps back, putting a huge hand on Kathy's head, so much for letting her recover. "To me, Amigo? Nothing. I was paid to keep Bats off this boat. Didn't say how I needed to go about it. You want her to live? Then you both need to get off this boat and stay off." He turns his hand a little, ignoring the presence or protests of the crimelords if they have any objection to this renegotiation.

"And then the Batwoman needs to do a disappearing act. These are my terms... so, what's her life worth to you, Amigo?"

[jla_extras]

There's one man left in this scenario who's starting to think it's time to cut his losses. Bane's making his own deals. The goddamned Bat has found them... and it's only a matter of time. Dammit!

The Penguin's dealing with the Duquesnes... Bane's got Batman occupied.

Backing slowly into the darkness, he edges toward an escape route, trying not to draw any attention to himself as he does so.

[_darkknight_]

Escaping the Bat isn't that easy. Batman raises his hand under the cape, a tip emerges, and something goes off. Ah, his launched bolas, aimed for Thorne's legs.

[jla_villains]

While a ways off from enough pressure to break a neck yet, Bane applies a little more pressure to Kathy's neck. "Amigo, perhaps you were not listening. I cannot accept any new business until my contract is fulfilled. If she is going to leave this boat alive, then you both leave this boat, comprende?"

[_darkknight_]

"Comprendo," Batman snarls. "Give her to me."

[_darkknight_]

The bolas won't be loosened easily, and neither will Batman be simply turned aside. Carleton Duquesne's distraction could not have come at a better time. Once Bane's attention is forced away from Kathy, the Bat will whisk her to one side so one of her compatriots can take her to safety.

And then he'll deal with Bane.

[kathy_duquesne]

Batman is able to grab Kathy while she stares at her father's suddenly lifeless form.

The look in her eyes is one that he may recognize.

[jla_villains]

Bane turns his attention fully on Batman and Cathy, flexing, curling his hands into fists, and waiting. "That was foolish... and unfortunate. But there should be no more interruptions."
Its clear he's still willing to deal... or to kill whoever he needs to to get the job done.

[_darkknight_]

"Go," Batman snaps to Kathy as he prepares to square off against Bane. Their fights are never pleasant, but his intention is simply to guard the women's exits before he goes as well.

There's the bomb to consider.