Into the Wild

[grimknight]

It was during his search for the allusive Jason Todd, that the bat became aware of the destruction to Blackgate… Something he had worked in secret with Gordon about offering help to get the prison up and running again—especially now with the Feds out of Gotham. The Bat also became aware of Scourge’s departure of Blackgate—being the main cause of said destruction, an explosion in fact—he had kept side notes on Scourge’s whereabouts all the while handling the mayhem Gotham was eternally in. It wasn’t until the radar picked up one of the Titan’s departures after Scourge, that the Bat had to set aside other detective work, and target Scourge. What was the goon doing all the way in India…?

The Bat checked the supercomputer’s readouts of the location, honing into where the Titan’s frequency checked in—Starfire was there, and they were both located in the deep jungles nestled between Tibet and Everest. Once coordinates are locked, the Bat takes off—leaving a brief outline itinerary for Alfred to follow and relay to Dick. It would be a few hours before the Batwing arrives at its final destination within the jungles of India—specifically located right beside the massive towering pyramids. Now the Bat is aware of why Scourge would pick such a remote place to infiltrate… Durga’s Eye. It would be moments and supreme skill that made it capable for the Bat to enter into what appeared to be an all-out brawl between Tamaranean Princess “Kory Anders” known as Starfire, and Jorden Derisma, aka Scourge.

“Scourge!” The Bat’s dark voice boomed over the falling rocks that now littered the pyramid’s cave entrance. “STOP!”

No sooner had the Bat shouted his order, Scourge had dropped the mythical artifact—appearing to be in some sort of trance between realities. The Bat swooped in, narrowly avoiding some of the falling rock debris. As Scourge lifted the knife to his own throat, the Bat suddenly delivered the man a swift kick to the hand—making him drop the knife, the bladed flailing from arm’s reach.

“Starfire, apprehend Scourge. I’ll get the Durga’s Eye.” The Bat commanded, his presence suddenly apparent, and his authority even more so.

[Kory Anders - Starfire]

There had come a booming voice. It half shook the cave. That and the many rocks. Which now the dust still hung thickly in the air. It didn't hinder Starfire's green eyes. It was a little misty. Cloudy, but with her tamaranean eyes she could see with decent detail. As she hovered in the air. Strong with will and intent. Which she knew was to end this. Stop him. Before he set even more chaos across India. The world. The children. As her lips half curled. With her tight fist. Though what was that voice. It didn't take her long. It was like the looming dark of darkness. It was a rather cold voice, but with so much power. So much respect. Scourge? So he did have a name. As Starfire skimmed like a firefly through the air around this murderer. On Tamaran it would be death. As she felt her hand, but on earth she had learnt. Although she didn't always really understand it. Compassion for the enemy. This Scourge, will be stopped.

There now as he almost curled in fright at her presence.Threatened her with a knife. Something that couldn't mark her, before turning it on himself. His eyes suddenly seemed to see someone else. Straight through her and around her. There his screamed bellowed in Starfire's ear. She couldn't help to think this what he deserved. Did he stay long enough to hear the screams of those he caused to die? Doubting it left dint. What was it though? That a hero once said. You can't choose who you save. As he put the blade to his neck. Before Starfire could flutter a movement. It was when Starfire finally saw him. Well to some extent. As the Dark Knight flew in. A bat in the cave. It could be rather poetic. As something so massively black and dark. He hide so well. Blended in. He had that presence. She could feel his coldness. Kory hadn't really had the chance to ever really talk to him, but he didn't seem the kind to create a rather smiling conversation. It was a little like icicles to her nerves, but he was rather brilliant. Before she could really batter an eye, the knife was flung out of Scourge's hand. There came Batman's sharp words to Starfire. To obey. She was already feeling the target. As she curled up her fist. Her eyes glowed that little bit brighter. Half smiling, not a great deal to anyone.

"With Pleasure!"

Her voice rang in rather deeply for Starfire. As her hair now flew into a fiery contrail through the space of the cave. Unlike the shadow Batman created, Starfire created light. Fire. She almost burnt through the cave air. Barely fluttering at a thought, but she had to wonder what was that artefact. Yet it wasn't the focus now. Scourge was. As she planted her feet just inches away. He barely seemed all that big before, but he was seeming even smaller now. Starfire as moments of reaching the ground her hand firmly reached for his collar. To hopefully take him roughly in her grasp. As she half smirked. Brew with a deep breath. As she motioned to restrain him and put him in a place, where he probably couldn't even hurt himself.

[jokerforever]

The voices were distorted. He didn't understand. Something struck his arm, sending the blade clattering across the cool rock. Scourge whimpered quietly and pulled his arm in close. A few moments passed, then he felt a hand touch him, and he freaked. Anger surged throughout his small form, drowning out the throbbing pain. He thrashed, his flailing fist catching Starfire in the chin, the elbow of his other arm striking her ribs. Scourge jerked away and rolled, struggling to get a grip on something that he could use to haul his broken form up. His hand struck something hard, Batman's boot. Of course, he didn't know it was Batman. All he could see was fire and flashes of red and white as agony tore through his veins. He reached up and snagged a hold of Batman, grabbing some type of hanging fabric that felt a little like leather. What was it?

He pulled himself up higher, straining his arms until he could stand on his one foot. He placed a hand on what seemed like a shoulder and felt around with his other hand, which struck Batman's right butt cheek. Scourge grabbed at it curiously, confused. Was that a person he had a hold of? His other hand moved from the anonymous figure's shoulder feeling around his face. Were those lips? What's the hell? As far as he was concerned, only he and Starfire were here. It seemed to him that she had kicked away the knife. But this body was broad and a bit to large for a chick, unless she was a gorilla. He wrapped the thing in a tight hug, trying to figure out who it was.

OOC: Sorry, I had to much chocolete. So totally had to do that. ^^

[grimknight]

Amidst the debris of rubble and dust in the pyramid cave he spotted what he was looking for through those specialized lenses of his: the Durga’s Eye. Mythos on the artifact stated that whoever placed their hand upon such a relic would behold the power of time travel done by altering reality—essentially getting transported back to the reality of their choice in time, thus giving them the ability to alter future outcomes. In other words? This was an artifact far too powerful to leave out in the wild yonder for any Joe Shmoe to come across—Joe Shmoe in this case being Jorden Derisma. How the goon had come to know about such an artifact was beyond him, and apparently just by gauging the small amount of exposure the Joker henchman had with this relic cleared seemed to take a costly toll on his mental psyche and prowess. Great. Just what the Bat needed, another incurably insane Joker henchman. If things hadn’t kept the Bat so busy in China and with Jason Todd… Then perhaps he would’ve taken a little more time to get Derisma the proper care he actually needed. But because Batman was spread as thin as he was…? Jason was missing, Nigma was giving the ADA Rachel Dawes hell, and Blackgate was a pile of rubble back in Gotham—and here the Bat was in India, trying to clean up this mess.

At least he had managed to arrive in the nick of time BEFORE the artifact could be adequately accessed to cause major, irreparable damage. He stooped over and picked up the Durga’s Eye stone, collecting it with extreme care and caution before he suddenly felt someone… Groping his leg and behind. What the…? He immediately reacted in knee-jerk style and twisted back, slamming a sharp elbow directly into Scourge’s face with enough force to knock the mentally unstable man unconscious. No one sexually harassed the Bat. No one. He looked to Starfire—never having truly met the Teen Titan, but knowing all about her history—especially a history shared with Robin, better known now as Nightwing.

“Didn’t I tell you to apprehend him?”

The Bat growled and then sent a painfully sharp kick to Scourge’s ribs, letting out some rage-driven-aggression. He then did a quick survey of the pyramid.

“You okay?” Unblinking, white slits for eyes now gazed intensely upon Starfire. “I assume he travelled alone. How did you manage to tail him?”

Even now as the Bat spoke, getting the facts, he began to cuff and bind up the renegade criminal now struggling to catch his breath on the ground before him.

[Kory Anders - Starfire]

As the tamaranean took that lunge before this murderer. Her own anger was very much on the boiling point, but she was more contained as she could be. He was after all but one man. The cave didn't seem the type of structure to handle a much greater bomb, a star more or less. As the streak of black, as Batman sort to get the artefact. Starfire's orange fist curled around Scourge's collar. As the second she did it, he began to squirm under neath her grasp. He was like a worm. A very distasteful worm. Causing the flames of her hair to dance as she set to make sure he was retrained, but as though he was weak in comparison. He managed to slip her grasp. A small blow sailing through her chin. Her ribs. They were like tiny dints, if anything, but it aided enough to cause her fingers to slip enough for his escape.

Oh, no. Starfire brewed into her fiery head. He wasn't getting away that easy. Not from a tamaranean and certainly not from her. As with the faint little shake to her head. Rose a little higher. Like a floating ball of fire. Catching as Scourge instead finding a door. A proper escape. He ran straight into the Batman. As if she could almost half roll her eyes. That couldn't be a smart move. Caught between the Dark Knight and the Tamaranean Princess. His luck was going to run out. As her body churned the energy beneath her flesh. This time there be more chance it well. It would hit its mark. As Stafire's eyes glowed like lazers. Failing much to hear the growl over her star slightly rising. As the kick came from Batman. Starfire let go of the starbolts from her eyes. As streaks of purple and pink. Sailed through the space. In the direction of Scourge. Set just right that it would stun him, not commit her own murder. Though it would hurt like hell. Very little mercy was in her heart as he very much did not show mercy to those he killed. He didn't deserve compassion, but on Earth jail was justice. Although that starbolt felt good. As Starfire kept upon her target, she wasn't about to let herself be fooled again. As her fists laid out beside her with balls of light. Of fire.

As her chest heavy began to settle back down. As for the moment Scourge seemed well rather contained. As Batman stood as the amazing specimen that he was. He was to be admired. He knew his battle field well. As she brought her fist down. As he almost seemed to throw kindness towards her. She did have to blink. Still there was no feel of great passion or joy, but she had to half smile. Gracefully landing closely to the ground. A part from the dust that covered her, she seemed in tact. Although the repeated bashing at certain areas might actually make bruise. It wouldn't be there for long, though. Her hands falling to her bare hips.

"I'll be fine, thanks... Are you okay? He seemed to have quite a hold on you."

Starfire expressed kindly. Putting her weariness towards him behind. As always she had hope. Even if she thought she could read him so well, there was a lot she couldn't. As Nightwing expressed he just didn't know her. Even if he wasn't the warmest she'd met, Batman still had goodness there and on some level he cared... As Starfire motioned closer. As she asked kindly as she motioned a gentle hand to his arm. Offered a friendly smile. This maybe her only chance to feel something from him. As her feelings for Nightwing would never change.

"It appears he was alone. Wonder Girl sent me, to stop the chaos... He made quite a trail across India, I just followed the breadcrumbs..."

Stafire didn't reach her hand out too long and soon took it back. It was a bit like touching stone and she could feel what Nightwing felt. Perhaps it was the cause of her judgement, but it did hurt her heart. Some of the treatment he gave the man she loved, that she just didn't agree with. That caused him to hide his heart. Starfire expressed as her eyes trailed to where Scourge was on the ground. Her eyes trailing to his dark mask as she mentioned Wonder Girl, he would know of whom she spoke of. Perhaps in only passing. She was like her sister. The titans would always be a family. Her tone slowed a little as she mentioned the trail of death this man caused. Recalling the fire that he started. With her passion and will it wasn't hard to find the mark to hit. As she looked to the dark knight. It reminded her of what Nightwing had once said to her, but it was seemingly something that was maybe an inside type of thing.

"I''m surprised to see you, Wonder Girl didn't mention you'd be dropping in. Did you come for the artefact? If you have your hands full I can take him? I just hope he doesn't get sea sick."

Starfire was surprised the bat would be dropping in. Although it seemed fitting to see him in a cave. It must be the artefact. As her green eyes glazed over it. It really did have that thing of don't touch me. Especially now after watching this man go crazy, if he wasn't crazy already before. Expressed that she could lumber him back to Gotham as he might be juggling that artefact and perhaps best out of reach. Sea sick maybe good from him, but not for her barely covered skin and suit. Luckily there be an ocean to dunk him in. She had worse. It was better than that beast snot she was once covered in. That wasn't even from his nose. At least she didn't think it was his nose. Shaking her head slightly. It was just a matter of finding a place to hold this killer. It wouldn't be too difficult.

[jokerforever]

Scourge's head jerked back as something connected with his face. He stumbled backwards as blood flowed from his nose, right onto his backside. A flash of pain doubled that which he had already been feeling as he knocked his ankle painfully on the rock floor, along with a creeping darkness he despretly tried to shove away. The kick didn't help either. Now he could celebrate bruised ribs, a shattered ankle, and a broken nose. Yay. He didn't even know who hit him. The voice seemed familier, but it was distorted. Scourge rolled into a ball again, just before something else slammed into him. The fire returned, it was all around him, engulfing him. He uncurled and screamed in agony, writhing as he found himself in a ball again. His head clouded for a moment as dizzyness took him and he froze up for several moments, confused. Then something touched him again, trying to secure his arms, and he flailed again, catching Batman on the head with his wrist fear causing him to panic as he suddenly saw him. Not Batman, but a grim looking bearded man with a dagger, trying to carve out his eyes. "No!" Scourge yelled, grabbing Batman's arm with his other hand and biting down on the thick black leather sleeve of the jacket he saw.

[grimknight]

As Starfire held out her hand in a formal and friendly manner in effort to shake the Bat’s own gloved hand, she would find her welcoming gesture to be unreciprocated. Neither hand of the Bat’s lifted to shake hers in polite return, instead his hands remained hidden beneath the inky black, specialized synthetic cape that now wrapped tightly about his tall, lean, muscular, and armored dark form. Indeed, it was quite fitting to see Batman in the sort of setting he stood silently within—a watchfully stoic bat within a grimly dark cave. Once Starfire had informed him of her well-being and how it was she came to track down Scourge, the answer to the question of how she knew to be in this precise location (she was sent here on a Titan mission) now made sense.

He had never truly socialized or worked in depth with the Titans. The Bat only actually had the limited amount interaction with the young group of heroes as he did due to Dick's joining their team long ago as Robin. It was from that point of leaving Batman and joining the Titans where he eventually matured from Robin into Nightwing. In passing, Batman had heard of the members, had files compiled on all the Titans locked away in his supercomputer; but in all honesty, the Bat had very little if anything to do with super hero team. As far as he was concerned, they were the ones responsible for taking Robin away from his side. Especially Starfire.

He was aware of the puppy love romance both she and Dick shared. Needless to say, the Bat's sentiments weren't exactly of a fond nature. Still, Starfire was stepping up to the plate and fighting on his side during this crucial situation with Scourge--for now. The Bat could and was willing to work with this fact. For now. His attention suddenly focused acutely on Derisma who was now seemed to be dangerously flailing about and screaming wildly out of control. Bypassing her question as to why the Bat had decided to make an appearance, he narrowly dodged a flinging wrist of Scourge’s aimed indiscriminately at his cowl covered head.

“He touched the Durga’s Eye, didn’t he? He made contact with the artifact?”

Sure, he knew Jorden Derisma had his issues, severe psychological issues considering he worked for the Joker—but he had never known the goon to act quite like this. He was practically raving mad, out-of-control, and clearly mentally disturbed. He had to calm Scourge down before he inadvertently hurt himself. The Bat pulled out a portable syringe filled with a potent sedative from the confines of his utility belt, then managed to pin Scourge down long enough to stick him with the drug. He pumped the sedative into Scourge—hoping that if it wasn’t able to knock the man out, then at least it might help temper the wild seizing fits of violence he was enduring.

“I’ve run across Scourge before. Real name, Jorden Derisma—he’s one of Joker’s thugs. A street scum low-life with a questionable mental state. But I’ve never seen him behave like this.”

The Bat then pulled the small stone back out of its carefully concealed pouch on his utility belt and let his wrist computer console scan in the artifact.

“The Durga’s Eye is rumored to contain an ancient Tibetan mystic energy that can allow one passage back through time, distort reality, and change the world as we know it today as well as alter the future. In other words, such power like this can’t just fall into anyone’s hands. As far as I know, just touching the stone with bare hands activates its power. From the looks of Scourge’s physical and mental state, he must’ve activated something. Or maybe he is suffering from some unknown side effects after being exposed to the power of the Durga’s Eye.”

He looked to Starfire with a fierce intensity—the Dark Knight was all business, all about the mission at hand. “Keep a close eye on him while I collect the analysis for the Durga’s Eye.”

He was definitely not known for his casual, conversation-based, warm and friendly demeanor. He certainly was no Superman. He was a grim vigilante who took silent guard over an even more grim city.

“He’s not going anywhere until I figure out just how much damage he’s done. Neither are you. No one leaves—not yet.”

The Bat now waited for the analysis of the artifact to complete, needing more information on the mystical stone than the few bullet point facts he had memorized after reading a book on Tibetan mysticism years ago…

[Kory Anders - Starfire]

Just as Starfire lent out a moment of hope. Batman. The dark knight was as cold as she expected him to be. With little gesture. Really little of nothing. Rather like a stone wall. Just happened to be all black and rubbery. As her green eyes trailed up his shadow. She wasn't surprised. With what she could see. There was just so little joy. Passion. To say he didn't have a presence would be a lie. He was just the kind to push another way. Even now, more so when it came to Dick. Trying to make Dick fit into a mould. A cage. One can only take. Starfire's eyes trailed from his dark mask. Someone that should of loved Dick. Not punish him for his mistakes. Most importantly not punish him for being human. In Kory's mind. In how she was brought up. Batman should of accepted Dick rather than trying to change him. Half curling her hand into a fist. He wasn't there when Dick broke down. When he put all the blame on himself. With the titans. As Starfire shadowly smiled behind. Dick found that different kind of family. The joyful kind. A family that truly loved him

Starfire knew the man. How strong willed Nightwing was. It was the one thing Batman couldn't tame. Nor his heart. To her, they are more than just heroes. Starfire was skilled and a trained warrior. Fierce in battle, but without joy. You can become rather like a shell. For her one was giving a life for a reason... It was rather ironic as it seemed where as Batman seemed in her mind to try and change Dick to be a certain way. Dick was hoping he could change Batman. Which led to the fights. As Kory felt numerous times, half shaking her head. Somewhere. As her eyes grazed over his darkness. He did really care for Dick. For Nightwing... He perhaps just didn't know how to show it. He was just a certain way. Quite opposite to hers. Dick was now in a better place, but he still returned to what Batman enforced into him from time to time...

Now, now. Was the time to be that hero. To stop this evilness. As soon after her starbolts fled across into Scourge. He bled out a horrific scream. In great agony and delusional. That was putting it lightly. As he moved to attack Batman. Starfire was ready to help, but he seemed well covered. As Starfire's eyes intensely looked over Scourge. His eyes. There was still that change. As she tried to read his emotions. His actions. As Batman was trying to dodge and hold him down. Starfire crossed the space. With her strength she grabbed Scourge and motioned to hold him down. She was maybe a bit weak from the hundreds of Rocks that had hit her flesh and being under ground, but she still had quite a lot left. As Starfire's eyes continued to look him over. Before looked off to find Batman as he pointed the syringe and went to shoot.

"I caught sight when he let go, Batman. He most defiantly touched it... "

With her hands still motioned quite firmly upon the murderer. As Starfire looked to Batman. Nodding her head slightly. Starfire knew very little of the artefact. Up until now. As was half kneeled down to best take a hold. Her hold loosening as it seemed ok for now. As Starfire listened and took in who this man really was. From Gotham. In India. It hadn't been the first murderer to cross country, but was he really working alone? With what Batman said. Why did they need who ever it was, need this? Her eyes shone dead cold over Scourge. He came for that and had to kill just for sport. As her hands coiled lightly. She could almost feel his crazed emotions. Her eyes looked into his. Rather not wanting to looking to his sick eyes, but this change made her curious. As to what was happening to him. As Batman told her about the Artefact. Just as he started mentioning it. The manipulations of the past, it gave her goosebumps. Why did it even exist? As her eyes trailed to the artefact. One shouldn't live in the past and neither should they change it. There. Starfire agreed it had to be protected. As her hands returned to her knees. As her eyes searched Scourge. What was he seeing? He was or had seen something. Someone. Did he even see the cave? All her senses told her he was reacting out of fear.

"It makes sense now... The change in his eyes. His emotions.. I... From what I can feel. Batman. If it is tied to the past as you say... it seems he is reliving something as we speak or it's distorted as you said. It was like he saw someone else, like he's somewhere else...Though all I feel from him is fear. Karma perhaps, its very little of what he deserves... I understand... Something this dangerous needs protection. Though I strongly feel it needs to be destroyed. What was in the past should stay there "

Well for the most part it was making sense. She couldn't see what Scourge was seeing and she rather didn't want to, but his fear was easy felt. Where he had stood up to her in such a manner before and now curled in fear. Where had jumped from something she couldn't see. Reliving? Distorted? Yet whatever it was. He had quickly regretted starting it. There was pain and as her eyes then trailed to his ankle it was more than that kind of pain. Perhaps it was cursed. Not that she greatly believed, but stranger things had happened. With the blood mess he created, perhaps justice was finally catching up to him. Perhaps he was living his worst fear. What ever it was. Starfire was sure he was seeing something else. For whatever reason. Starfire was sure this was why Batman was here. It wasn't just a shiny toy. In Tamaran something like this would have been destroyed the second it was created. It wouldn't even exist. There came his look. It was ice cold. Somehow please wasn't something she'd imagine to come out of his mouth. Her mission was to stop the chaos. To stop Scourge. Despite her distaste to Batman's manner, she would keep to eyes on him. Then his command made her rather annoyed. She wouldn't let him pull her strings, but given the seriousness of the situation. Starfire knew there was a reason for it, but it sure didn't give him the right for such treatment. It was quite a glimpse to what Dick can be like, but to this extent? As Starfire frowned. Her eyes trailed as he moved towards the Artefact.

"I'll keep two eyes on him... He's caused quite enough damage, just look at the bloody trail he's left, I'll see to it that it ends... Just give us the signal, So I can put him behind bars... There's still some pieces to pick up... Be careful"

As quickly her eyes then regained on Scourge. As then she rose back to her feet. For now she felt the ground, but she felt her fiery nature still. Her eyes burning upon the killer. She came to stop him and that she was going to do. As she looked to Batman in the corner of her eye. As she recalled the mess Scourge truly had made. Those that suffered. Were still suffering. Just as Starfire was staying on her terms. The situation. Not so much Batman, but she respected him enough. Though there came a point. Still as her face softened. A her eyes trailed to where his attention was. To now see so close before her what it had done to Scourge. Starfire expressed just that bit of a concern. Whether or not he cared.

[jokerforever]

Scourge whimpered when he was no longer able to move. Something was holding him down, but he couldn't see what. His vision was black again, he was blind. Scourge had forgotten where he was or his purpose here. Now all he was doing was waiting for the next wave of images to cause more pain both mental and physical. But the worst pain he was aware of now was his shattered angle. His ribs and face stung to, but not as badly as his ankle.

Then he became aware of a sharp pain that quickly faded and a nagging exhaustion that threatened to sink him into oblivion. Scourge curled into a ball once more and closed his eyes, fearing what he might see should he open them again. He pushed away the blissful thought of sleep. What if the images took over his dreams and he was never able to wake up?

The thought sent a tremor of fear through his body and he struggled to stay awake, to busy with that to do much else. What if these never went away? What if the horrifying immages plagued him forever? Surely there had to be some way to fix it! He couldn't live like this. He'd kill himself before that happened. "Please help." He whimpered to anyone around him. He could hear distorted voices, he only hoped it wasn't just another trick of the mind.

[grimknight]

The Bat had no time to ponder over his quasi-partnership with Starfire as well as her ties to Nightwing. Right now, Scourge was a mess and the Durga’s Eye was vibrating, showing signs of wanting to dispel some sort of energy. Analysis complete, the Bat learned that in order for Scourge to return to a normal state of mind and to stop the heinous visions that plagued him, the energy of the artifact would need to be unleashed. The energy needed to be expelled and contained.

“Watch him.”

The Bat commanded darkly to Starfire and then began to pull out random bits of tech toy parts that were nestled safely within the endless compartments of his utility belt. Soon enough the Bat had created a tech device—a makeshift computer hard drive complete with a quartz-alloy base to allow for energy absorption.

“I think the only way we can stop these visions as well as contain the Durga’s Eye is by expelling the energy from it and containing it. I created a makeshift neuro-sensory hard drive, able to link up to both Jorden and the Durga’s Eye. It will flush out all the images Scourge is being plagued with as well as energy the artifact is expelling and contain it within the crystal quartz core I placed in the device.”

The Bat then moved over to Jorden’s semi-sedated form and hooked up the sensory nodes from his makeshift created tech-hard drive, then connected more node wires to the Durga’s Eye stone.

“Hope this works. If it does? The screen on this hard drive will project just what it is that is haunting Scourge.” The Bat’s tone was ominous—if this didn’t work, he might have to resort to more extreme measures…

[Kory Anders - Starfire]

There was the scowl. That quite dark look upon her. The watchful eyes. It wasn't a feeling that made her feel all that comfortable. Every move was carefully watched. There was that sense of gloominess, but he was a proud man. They had set out with somehow the same thing. At least they were here on the similar path. This wasn't the time for paths to cross. Or even frayed wires. Within it all. Starfire was hopeful. There was always a chance to give. She was sure. As her green eyes glowed just faintly upon the Dark Knight. Never had she been in much a moment with him. Not alone at least and this was surprisingly more words. There. There had to be some sort of understanding. As Starfire crossed her head. Stubborn they might be she thought humorously. He was still glorious in a lot of aspects, but Starfire knew she had to remain on her guard. To a degree. With her look towards him brought his attention or so it seemed. As again with his dark remarks. Frowned slightly before her eyes returned to Scourge.

Causing her eyes to bounce. Here and there. Watching him squirm. Crying out. Screaming. That ended up rather all mumbled and rolled into one. Eventually pulling himself in a ball. There was both emotional pain and physical. His ankle was from what she could see was discoloured. Broken. Some how as he clamoured in this position. He was fearful of what was in his head more. It was more painful. If not for the previous onslaught through India and Starfire having no clue. She might actually find that hint of compassion. She was tingling towards that human consumption, but she was still a warrior. As he whimpered. Called out to almost shadows. Starfire crouched. Her hand came to his shoulder to do something. Take a better look. Almost felt some sort of wave wash over her. Feeling quite something that was seeming never to end in his head. Almost to the point Starfire shook her head. Her energy must have absorbed it to some degree. As for a split second she saw Tamaran. Citadel. As quickly Starfire removed her hand. Her face slightly changed a shade, but she strong enough. She had vowed to move on. It was temptation.

As her hand fell it half punched the ground. Causing it to crumble at her strength. As Starfire resisted. Felt that hold of emotion, being swallowed. Moved on. As her skin slightly tingled. Then breathed or to that extent. As Batman spoke. Hopefully it would work. Her green eyes passed between. Starfire nodded her head trying to really wrap around what he had said. Before Starfire shifted over to then allow Batman room. As came over to where Scourge had crawled into a ball. Starfire's eyes waved towards Batman's as he expressed hope. That was something. An emotion she quite felt the same. As her eyes expressed lightly upon his. Felt the faint ramp of her heart that this would work. Realising through it all. She was glad Batman was here. There was that piece where she wanted to see what Dick saw and moments. She defiantly did. Almost smiled, but this really wasn't the time. As Starfire with her firm grip helped to make sure Scourge was kept still enough. Yet out of the way so Starfire wouldn't interrupt the process. Although despite that brief moment, she didn't fear to touch him. As she had confronted it, she could fight it.

"I hope so too... I'll be on the ready if Scourge gets out of line... He's not escaping."

Starfire agreed but not as in the same tone as his, more hopeful. More will. Her eyes did show that hope for this as she looked to his. Starfire nodded as she spoke. Scourge wasn't going anywhere unless within her grip. If any chance he'd get a surge of energy she was here to stop him. She was here in some form to also help Batman. Or in work with. At least not work against. Her eyes moved to hook with Batman's with her last words. As her hands then firmly motioned towards his covered legs. To help pin him down and not to make things worse with any energy being passed through or out of him. It as Starfire had possibly experienced would probably mingle with her energy she was made of, a bit differently. Starfire wasn't in the way of mind to really question whether it would effect her better or worse. The main thing Starfire wouldn't let it happen. As along with the hopeful bat, waited for the device to do its thing.

[jokerforever]

Scourge heard the voices again, still distorted and unrecognizable. He was still struggling against the sedatives, and that, atleast, was helping to relieve him of some of the more vivid memories. Something or someone touched him and he flinched as that brought a new vision. An old memory from his childhood. He was standing in a ring of laughing, pointing middle schoolers. There was no background because he couldn't clearly remember the old cafeteria the memory was taking place in. It had been picture day, Christmas pictures, actually, and he had managed to dig out something nice from his small, smelly closet even though he knew his family wouldn't bother to buy the pictures. He had been wearing some nice white pants that day and some big bully of his had slipped chocolete milk into his chair. It was just one of those common, little things that caused so much. He had bated that bully, which was why the next memory had blood in it, rather then chocolete milk.

Jorden stood over the mangled, unrecognizable corpse of his biggest bully, the one who had put the milk in his chair and did so much more terrible things. He held a crimson stained kitchen knife in one hand, and a glistening red fork in the other. He had been sure the damn bully had screamed and begged before he had died. The cuts that crisscrossed the other boy's shirtless body were shallow, but long, and in the most painful places Jorden could think of. He was missing several fingers. But soon the boy's screams and please grew sparse as he slipped farther away, and Scourge had slither the boy's wrist, letting him bleed to death. It had been a horrible death, but Scourge wasn't done yet. He knew he had ti flee or he would go to prison. He turned and fled from the scene just as the image broke into peices, fading away.

The images began to grow smaller and less detailed. The next one was simply him sitting at his window on his birthday with nothing but his age to show. He obviously hadn't celebrated his birthday. Couldn't, in fact. The memory ended with sound of someone yelling at him for not doing his chores before being replaced by bright, vivid fire as his highschool exploded in revenge for all that had happened there. It had happened on graduation day, to make it worse, and there had been very few survivors.

Then, slowly, the images receeded, only occasionally flashing within his mind and mostly lacking details. Slowly, Scourge began to realize where he was. The cave. Everest. Durga's Eye. He tried to bolt upright with a gasp, but someone held him down. Starfire! His visions faded, changing to a flash of red as his ribs burned, his nose stung, and his ankle throbbed. He gave a surprised squeek at the sudden agony that shot through his body and he relaxed with a groan. When his vision came back into focus, it took him a moment to recognize everything. Including someone else. Batman? When had he gotten here?