cowledcrusader

[John will get the door before those Kryptonian powers accidentally knock it down. He gives Clark a nod in greeting.]

We're all here. Early no less.

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[Batman will of course nod to Clark when John regards the full attendance. When Clark has fully stepped inside and the door is secured, Batman will speak up to Clark.]

How much about the string of murders do you know?

Edited Date: 2010-03-30 05:15 am (UTC)

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[He gives John a return nod before turning to Bruce to answer.]

The ones behind it are Kadaj and Yazoo, a pair of brothers who use a sword and a pair of guns, respectively, for their weapons. They started their killings on Monday, and they've killed at least four people so far.

[The journal system is surprisingly useful for gathering information like this. Of course, super-hearing doesn't hurt matters.]

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The Blue Rogues had a meeting about it. A man named Vincent knew a great deal about them due to his previous dealings with them. Both here and in his own world.

[Just... standing around and listening also works too.]

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[Batman folds his arms over his chest as he speaks.]

Cid Highwind also had a great deal of knowledge about them too. It seems they are what he calls "Remnants" of another person, known as Sephiroth. Strangely, Sephiroth is present in Luceti at this time, but has not taken any known aggressive actions at this time.

Kadaj and Yazoo likely began this murder spree when their brother Loz was sent back to his own dimension. The killings are likely meant to be a demand for the Malnosso to return him, despite that being something beyond their power. They either don't care if they're caught or don't believe they'd lose if confronted. I'm leaning toward the latter, based on Kadaj's behavior.

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Then it's our job to prove them wrong.

[Despite the boldness of the statement, Superman's expression is grim.]

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[John nods at Clark's assessment. Just what he was thinking.]

The Rogues have an elaborate plan in mind. It could work, but I think it's better we handle this personally. And directly.

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[Batman nods.]

Odds are, they'd probably fall for any trap we laid for them if we gave them the proper bait. They're very powerful, from what Cid has suggested. But they're weak-minded. They have pride that can easily be exploited. I suggest we start there. And splitting them up if we can. One target is always easier to take down than two.

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[He considers possibilities in his head.] I like John's idea of being direct. A challenge to the two of them, issued from outside the town, could bring them in that direction. The problem is breaking up their strength on the way without dividing our own. Unless you want to split into two groups.

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I think it's safe to say Clark could handle either one on his own. Which leaves the other for Bruce and I. [Which brings them to a more pressing issue.] Which leaves us the problem of what to do with them once defeated.

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The tunnels nullify any and all supernatural, metahuman, magical, and technological enhancements made to an individual. Anyone in the tunnels is reduced to the physical strength of a human being. That's the best place to keep them. It had been tried once before. The issue is keeping them there so they won't escape.

I doubt the Malnosso had the foresight to put prison cells down there.

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Once they're subdued and brought down there, a set of guards can be set up to watch them until cells can be built. Without their powers or weapons, all we'd need to do is make sure they're outmatched in basic physical condition, and preferably numbers.

Besides, even if we did have cells, guards would be a necessity.

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We'll be relying on the good graces of the Malnosso to keep them subdued. [Prisons inside of a prison. The irony was not lost on him.] It's a better than the alternative, which would only be a week long solution.

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And it would go against the very thing we stand for.

...Keeping them pacified won't be a problem once we get them down there. Powerful tranquilizers are always an option until we get a secure set of cells set up.

[Batman's mentally cursing himself for not preparing for this sooner. Should've been one of the first things he looked into doing once he found about the tunnels. But he didn't. Live and learn.]

But that won't come into play until after we've taken care of them. Clark, Cid warned me that it was possible they could use magic derived from a compound called Materia. He said it was unlikely the Malnosso let them keep it after the draft, but the possibility remains there.

Even so, I doubt either one of them would be capable of defeating you.

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[Clark gives John a concerned look when he mentions that "solution", but Bruce speaks up about it before he can, so he just nods in response to his statement.]

Do we have a decent supply of tranqs on hand?

I'll keep the fact that they might have magic in mind. Will they be able to run it through their weapons as well, or just use it as spells?

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[John's expression remains unreadable.]

The clinic is likely supplied the same way as the other stores. It shouldn't be difficult to find the components we need there.

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I doubt it would, Clark. Cid suggested that they embedded it into their arms, so it might not have a connection to the weapon at all. Unfortunately, I don't have any of it to study.

As for tranquilizers, they're easy enough to acquire. As John said, the clinic has basic anethesias and thanks to the Malnosso giving us electricity, I can always prepare more if we need it. Proper use of Luceti's abundant plantlife will produce additional compounds should the situation require.

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Then we've got a plan. I'd say there's no time like the present, but I'm guessing you have a few other things you need to look into, don't you Batman? [He gives Bruce his usual "I don't know what you're up to but I know you're up to something look.]

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Until we have a time and place, Clark and I can begin assembling the components for a prison cell. [It will take some good old fashioned sweat and toil to assemble it in the tunnels, but above ground it will be no difficult task for the two of them.]

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[Suddenly, something comes back to his memory. People had indeed attempted this before. And it had worked. But...]

...That might not take too long. Though the Malnosso didn't set up secure cells in the tunnels, I believe someone else made the attempt. When the Medic vivisected someone named Klonoa.

I have not been down there to examine them yet, but I have my doubts they'll be secure to the degree we desire. First thing is to evaluate them and then strengthen them as needed.

By the time that's done I should have a plan to draw the Remnants into the open.

[Of course, Batman doesn't know Lloyd's skill at craftsmanship. The cells might very well be excellently made..]

Edited Date: 2010-03-31 05:28 am (UTC)

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