Ra's Al Ghul vs The Ventriloquist (Wesker) - [Ra's Al Ghul]

[Deleted]

(Author's note:  Takes place BEFORE Jeepers Creepers).

The Ventriloquist club, located off Electric Street and V.  Fifteen years ago, it was a semi-vibrant establishment that catered to the odd art of Ventriloquism in Gotham City.  There was a medium sized bar which lined the entire east wall of the building.  It had been the home and base of operations of the Gotham Rogue known as the Ventriloquist/Arnold Wesker.  That was a different time. 

Present day it is an abandoned rat infested facility long been out of business of any type of patron.  The windows were boarded up, white chalk outlaying murder crime scenes on the sidewalk in front, and moss growing on the outer walls.  Inside, the main stage area was layered with dust, over turned chairs on-top of blackened stained table cloths, shattered beer bottles, and broken glass littering the floors.  It was still the criminal home of the Ventriloquist who was desperately trying to scratch by with any type of monetary funding It could get.       

Charles 'Rhino' Daley still remembers working here as a bouncer during his college years.  The former linebacker had been a college drop out.  When this place was thriving, or when Scarface was in charge and at the height of his power, the dough was rolling in.  The women came around, the cars were expensive, the food was delicious.  The big man had been working some side jobs for the Falcone family lately, an underling not really being noticed by the higher ups yet.  He was doing this to make more then ends meat.  Mugsy, one of his partners in crime, had been spending an increased amount of time outside of the gang of three, making good money as a mook for another Gotham Crime Lord. 

Rhino leaned against the bar, helping himself to a bear when he heard the sickening sound of blood splattering against the wall.  In one of the backrooms, Arnold 'Ventriloqust' Wesker was hacking away at the remains of a homeless person who squatted just around the corner street.

"Heeeeeeeeeee!!!"

Excellent job Arnold.  You're getting better with me everyday.  Two-handed this time.

The voice was also coming from the other room.  It was a higher shrill pitch voice, one that sounded like Judge Doom from the movie 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit.' 

It had been a few weeks since Scarface had made an appearance.  Only this new voice called Chipper.  By nature, Rhino was loyal to a fault.  He loved working for Scarface.  Scarface was competent, smart, shrewd, and violent without crossing the line.  Scarface had some type of moral code.  Chipper was completely different.  It had turned Arnold Wesker aka the Ventriloquist into a psychotic murderer, killing innocents, and random people.  Brining out the absolute worst traits in Arnold Wesker, someone who was already deranged to begin with. 

Rhino was very uncomfortable with this sadistic crap.  He figured giving it one more week before leaving for good. Until then, he had a obligation to keep up as the enforcer of this gang.

A few more sounds of squishing and blood splattering from the back room came out before Arnold Wesker 'the Ventriloquist, came out into the main area.

The villain was dressed in a gaudy tan suit with blood stains all over it along with the matching pants.  Underneath was a black dress shirt with a half-hanging bow-tie.  The Ventriloquist had gained a few pounds, and now resembled a rounder man with love handles, the same bottle coked glasses, and bushy hair.

"Rhino, go fetch another bum. We need more practice.  Heeeeee." 

Rhino clenched his fist.  "Listen idiot. I'm tired of listening to you."

"Oh. But Oh.  M----mister Scarface would be very displeased if you didn't listen to me.  I--i--if you don't do what I say, Scarface is never coming back! Heeee." 

Rhino wanted to see Scarface.  He was loyal to the boss.  Somewhere deep in the psyche of Wesker, the mob boss existed or that is what Mugsy and Ratso had told him. 

"Fine you sicko creep.  I'll be right back."  With that Rhino left out of the emergency exit.

The windows had been boarded up, but the main door to the club remained locked with a simple door lock.

Wesker/Ventriloquist sat down at one of the tables, holding on tightly to the fireaxe.  Chipper would never leave It's side. It was nice to the Ventriloquist.  It made It feel complete.

In glee the Ventriloquist began to chime as it fully loosened the bow tie around It's neck.

"Baaa--Baaaa black sheep have you any wool? 

Yes-Sir! Yes-Sir!  Three bags full. Heeeeee."

Arnold.....We have company.....

Wesker leapt from the table, knocking over the chair It was sitting on and almost banging It's knee.  The Villain looked all around, clutching the fire-axe against It's chest.

"Who's there? Who? Who? Who? Heee."

[Deleted]

Flies slowly dotted around the dim light that sat above the entrance to the Ventriloquist's Club, bouncing off the cracked bulb, unable to reach the light source they were drawn to by the surrounding chipped and dusty glass. Though focused solely on their unexplainable attraction to said light, they quickly dispersed as the sound of an approaching engine cut short their obviously enthralling task. From around the corner at the end of the gloomy and pot hole ridden road came the source of the light noise, a sleek and refined sedan approached, the rubber of the tires creasing slowly over the tarmac. The car was by far the most expensive object in the street, which wouldn't actually take much. In fact as he looked through the tinted windows Ra's wondered how many of these buildings he could purchase with the money alone he spent on the suit he was wearing.

It took a few seconds before the vehicle actually arrived at the entrance to the former hot spot, with the cutting out of the engine silencing the only real noise coming from the avenue, though the buzz of distant traffic floated through the hot mid Summer night. The first man to get out of the car stood at least 6'5ft, a hulking figure, a hairless Gorilla in a black suit. Yet for a man of his size, Ubu was not lacking in speed or cunning with him being the most recent of his family to hold the hereditary position as the Demon's Shield, a Bodyguard who dedicated their life to the protection of their master. And for such a vital position, Ra's would not accept anyone who did not meet his lofty expectations. No Ubu had given cause for disappointment as of yet. The clicking of his shoes only stopped as he reached the rear door nearest to the pavement, opening it for Ra's who quickly stood out of his car, cane in hand, as his eyes darted over the building before him.

They say first impressions are the most important so unless the Ventrioloquest had a hidden pleasure palace with in, Ra's al Ghul would continue to question why he was actually standing there on the street in the dead of night instead of some grunt. Then he remembered; because exercise is important and he was curious to meet with a talking doll, though he'd seen stranger things exsist. "I won't be long." A quick order would suffice for Ubu, it was clear that he understood as he grunted and crossed his arms, ever a man of few words. Turning back to the door, Ra's rapped his knuckles onto the faded paint covered wood, hoping that it wouldn't fall off its hinges as he did so. It would be a few seconds before anyone answered so he had enough time to give the Club's exterior a closer inspection. A rotten building which sat on a decayed street in a disgusting part of a corrupted City, the Gotham that the Detective passionately fought to protect, a morgue with traffic lights.

Foot steps approach, cheap shoes filled with heavy feet, a rusted lock breaks open followed by the arching open of the door. The man before him was no Arnold Wesker, that's if the infomation he had on the man has correct, though it always was. "Good evening, I would like to speak with Mr. Wesker." While speaking he looked the figure before him up and down, swearing that he shared the collective features of every hired thug in this forsaken arm pit of a City, more brawn than brains. It was a good thing Ra's had both. The voice from the distance sounded more like what he expected. "My name is not important, Sir, but I have buisiness to attend with you."

[Deleted]

It was Rhino who answered the front door. The brute sized up the stranger.   The man knew how to dress, and easily depicted that of an individual who represented wealth and money.  He asked for Wesker.  Rhino was never known for his brains, buit that does not necessarily mean he was an imbecile.  If this man was looking for the Ventriloquist and had a job to offer, it could mean more money for the gang.

"Sure pal. C'mon in."  Rhino stepped to the side in order to allow Ra's Al Ghul to enter, and then led the man inside of the abandoned nightclub.

Standing beside one of the tables was Arnold Wesker.  Wearing an un-tucked black dress shirt that had the first button undone over a pair of  tan khaki pants.  The Ventriloquist stood up from the table It was sitting at with a fire axe in hand.  On the blade of the fire axe was a drawn pair of black eyes, and a pointed noise. In essence there was a face painted on the weapon.

Greetings.  Welcome to the our home.  My name is Chipper, and I am the new king of this realm, and as such you must pay homage prior to speaking with me.  If you have come seeking Scarface, he no longer exists. Only the Ventriloquist and Chipper remain. Yes they do. So it is one-thousand dollars in cash, an then you shall have the honor of addressing us. If you do not have the monetary funds to pay this tri'gute (Ventriloquist cannot pronounce the letter 'B') then you may leave.

The voice that could be heard through the room, seemed to be coming from the fire-axe.  The Ventriloquist Itself smiled in glee, looking forward to hearing the response of the stranger, chiming a nursery rhyme after speaking through the fire-axe. 

"Little Boy Blue Come blow your horn.  The sheep's in the meadow, the cow's in the corn!  Heeee."

Rhino, was intent on watching what would unfold.  The large man leaned against the wall and folded his arms.  This would be interesting to say the least.  Now he would see how this Chipper character held up to others. 

[Deleted]

Stepping over the threshold of the door it felt like one was walking the same rain stained cracked floor of the pavement outside, albeit now it was slightly darker with only a few dimly lit lights dotted about to illuminate every dank recess of the spacious interior, a room which would be best left in darkness. Once he had moved past the shoulder holster wearing Concierge, Ra's took in the immediate location around him as the door was firmly shut behind him, blowing cold air onto the back of his neck as it did so. Rotted wood and moss combined into a single scent which ran up his nostrils as he inhaled through his sharply angled nose, the smell of decay that seemed to fill all of Gotham, as if there was something twisted and broken at the core of the City's society. Clearly if you live here long enough it becomes the average, your lungs and heart become hardened to the sickening notion that the grime and filth brings.

The souls of his black leather shoes tapped lightly on the floor, a life time of work in his specialized field has left him with a quiet step. In fact Ra's was surprised that he hadn't been frisked yet for any concealed weapons, as far as they know he could be there to murder both of them, or perhaps they just didn't believe him to be a serious threat which would signify an undeserved overconfidence. He was only a few steps in when the Ventriloquist spoke, though Ra's never saw fit to respond until he was within a few meters of the table he stood at. Now his eyes were fixated solely on the axe in his hands as he inspected the image on the side. Picking up one of the chairs that stood upside down on the dust ridden table, Ra's sat it down upon the splintered wooden floor, patting it down before leisurely sitting upon it, one leg placed up on top of the other.

"Please sit down, Mr. Wesker. I hope for your sake you don't intend on using that axe." As he sat down, Ra's undid one of the buttons on his jacket so he could sit more comfortably, wrapping both hands together by lining up the fingers. Formality and silence are often more intimidating than an axe and a henchman. It quickly dawned upon that they wouldn't be having an intellectual conversation any time soon. An axe, poor weapon choice at this range especially as the user would be required to put all their effort into lifting and swinging it which would not only leave them fatigued in a short matter of time but it allows for split second gaps in their attack as they miss their target, enough time for a man such as Ra's to strike. "If I wanted to kill you you'd be dead already and I wouldn't have wasted the time to come down to this slum to speak with you. Please so remember that before you do anything that you'll regret." Eyes of green give an unflinching glance, a stare which some believe to be hypnotic to the beholder.

[Deleted]

[[Sorry for the shorty.  Constrained for time, and could not save my work ]]

Wesker tightened his grip around the handle of the axe.  Chipper was the weapon's name.  Telling Wesker to sit down and relax in a situation like this was like telling a child that candy was bad for them. Sure it might have been true in this case, for this stranger certainly had an aura that displayed a sign of power.  However, like an infant of young child, they were unable to process or rationally understand why the candy was bad for them, due to their level of functioning.

Wesker was similar to this.  He could not function the gravity of who this was, and what he represented.

A---are you threatening Us?  You could kill Us in our own home? You make us laugh.

Wesker took a step forward, grasping the handle of chipper with both hands.  This represented the two handed fighting technique they had been practicing together.  The two handed technique allowed for more power and was pretty much a guartentee for death for a normal mortal, or a maiming at least.

"Tell us who you are.  We will only ask this once....if not.....we'll attack.  Heeeeeee."

[Deleted]

If he was a more emotive man Ra's would have rolled his eyes at the very thought of this fool's attempted threats, but being the man he is a simple sigh would suffice as he rubbed his thumb lightly over the cold metal on the top of his cane. A part of him actually wanted him to swing that cumbersome axe at him, the part of him that was addicted to the thrill of violence, the part of him he would argue that did not exist. Few sensations stack up to the uncertainty and euphoria felt during a brawl, as heart beats race and the true worth of a man can be tested. No doubt The Ventriloquist and his weapon of choice would not provide such a thrilling brawl, if any violence did break out. "Mr Wesker I don't threaten."

Running his piercing fingers through his granite stained beard, Ra's continued to look at the man shaking with anger before him. And as he looked at the decorated axe in his hands, or remembered the wooden figure that he once used, his hatred of madness continued to be fueled. Simply put, to be a criminal was to be lost in the swarm of insanity, a rotting sickness of the mind which contaminated any hope of establishing a utopia. Though in the grand scheme of things Arnold Wesker is just another mad man screaming at the world, what he represents is far more worrying, that men such as him are an integrated component of modern society. Which means that the effort required to dislodge them will be far greater.

There was no chance of Ra's revealing who he was or what is intent was, not to a common psychopath such as the Ventriloquist. "Only a fool states his intent to attack his opponent, Mr. Wesker. Were you to now make a lunge for me, countering such a move would be a trivial matter, even with your friend's help." As he refered about his bodyguard, he gave an extended look to the figure by the wall, assessing that he neither would pose much of a challenge. "I am here mostly out of pure curiousity to be honest, and when you're my age a little bit of exercise can go a long way." And all this piece of field work was was a short stint of much needed exercise. "So pray make the move thatthe voices in your heard are telling you to."

[Deleted]

The world the citizens of Gotham lived in was truly a dark place, and despite the best attempts by Batman and the others to contain it, the city only seems to get worse at times.  Maybe it was his altruistic attempts to not kill or rid the Earth of the dangerous rogues, or a failure in the rehabilitation system (which seemed more of the case).  Wesker listened to what the man had to say.  He had still not answered the direct question, revealing his identity, nor would the man do so until something changed about the situation.  What the man said was right about how only a fool would state that he or she would attack just before doing so.  Arnold Wesker took a deep breath, then slowly relaxed.

Dummy....Oh....Dummy.....put down the axe and listen to what the man has to say...

"Mi----Mister Scarface?!  W---where are you!?"  Arnold asked outloud.

Rhino's ear perked at the mention of Scarface.  It had been a few weeks since Scarface appeared.

Ah'm right where ye put me ye stupid idiot...

"Y---yes--yes Sir!"


Chipper, the fire axe clanged to the wooden floor as Wesker dropped the weapon. The Ventriloquist shuffled his feet to behind the bar, lifted up a floor board to reveal a heavily dusted mannequin. It was Scarface, in a black and white pin-stripped suit.

"Ack...Ackk....Dust me off why don't ye! And hurry it up!"

"Y--Yes sir..right away."

Wesker picked up Scarface and dusted the mannequin off. After doing so, Wesker placed the white fedora on his head. Scarface let out a soft whistle which prompted Rhino to leave the room and head upstairs.

Wesker turned Scarface to face Ra's Al Ghul.

"Howdeee. Welcome. The name is Scarface, and forgive me for the rude welcoming. Sit Sit Mister.....and have a drink. Anything to drink. We have the finest 'gourbon, whiskey, and wine in all of Gotham. Remember Scarface is da name. MUGSY!"

One of the mooks came into the room with a comfortable chair followed by Rhino who brought out a nicer table. The two of them set the dressings up for Ra's Al Ghul to sit. Wesker began to bring out the bottles of drinks from behind the bar for Ra's to choose from.

"We're a little short on cash, right now Mister...otherwise ye can have some food to eat on our 'gehalf. Ah' hope you can forgive us. Heh."

[Deleted]

With a peeked brow, Ra's carefully watched the diminutive man hobble from his chair to the bar, bewildered by this new voice that he spoke with. Eyes of wonder sat in front of a brain that simply couldn't comprehend the man's mental inabilities, which only made him further question his being there. It was obvious that although the lights were on nobody was home, and if there was then there was not a single set consciousness but several housed in the one mind, each voice battling for dominance over Wesker's actions. Where as before he had spoke through the weapon now his mouth piece would be a faded doll, carved from a dull oak and garbed in a suit fit for a child. Where as most people would find this charade amusing, Ra's only found it infuriating as it confirmed that simply put, he was dealing with a deluded fool whose empire extended no further than the walls of this dilapidated building.

"Unless you have a bottle of Henri Jayer Vosnne-Romanee hiden behind there, Mr. Wesker, water will suffice." Alcohol had never greatly interested Ra's, for it was a pleasure which over time would decay the mind and slow the senses, a luxury which he could not afford himself, even if he did just realize the irony in what he just said. "But I'm not here to enjoy pleasantries, I would prefer to offer your...'enterprise' a proposal. Evidently you're a small cog in the machine that is Gotham but every part has a role to play no matter how small." Standing from his chair, Ra's pushed back the steel legged seat over the rough ground, causing a piercing screetch as he did so that echoed through the room. "Simply put I desire infomation, nothing much. And in return I'll provide you with whatever you want."

It was one thing to read a report given by a non contact operative, yet it is quite another to investigate in person, talking with those who know best. To gain a true picture of the situation in Gotham, one must ask those who have a part in it and as it is poor art to march head first into war without a level of reconasance, Ra's was here now speaking with those who would know better than most. With a few strides he walked over to the bar side, running his finger across the dust covered wood before rubbing his prints together. Ra's placed his cane upon the bar, holding it down with both of his hands as he inspected the lack of bottles that should adorn the many empty rows behind the bar. Cob webs ran across the edges of the cracked mirror that sat on the wall, which Ra's used to correct his tie briefly as he approached. "Who do you believe are at the top of Gotham's criminal world?"