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#2

“Seeing Red”

Part Two

By

Kage Logan

 

Gotham City
The Hub, the secret headquarters of the new Red Hood.

Red Hood's first mystery turned out to be a real test of his skills. He tracked down a group of cloaked men who had kidnapped a young woman for their mysterious mistress known only as the Blood Countess.

After defeating the men and leaving them tied up for the police, Red Hood discovered the young woman he saved was actually a masked vigilante, whose name he never even learned. Good thing he slipped a tracer on her when she wasn't looking.

Now within the Hub's war room, Red Hood and Webs had been going over all the information they had gathered in the past couple days since the incident.

“Webs, mark each section of the city where kidnappings with young women have occurred,” Red Hood said as he stood before a large holographic map of Gotham City . “I want to see if there's any sort of pattern that we're missing.”

“No problemo,” said Webs as he began working. He sat a few feet away at a virtual hard light computer station typing in commands. “Okay, the kidnappings you wanted are marked in red. Also just so you know the kidnappings aren't limited to Gotham City,” Webs commented as he brought up maps of Metropolis, Gateway City, New York City, Star City, and Fawcett City. “There have been at least a dozen kidnappings in these other cities. Most of the missing where found some time later dead and drained of their blood. Also a fun fact to know is that at least one or more unknown female costumed adventurers have been reported missing as well.”

“Do you have any names to go along with these missing super types?”

“A few,” Webs said as he brought up pictures and names of the girls over the cities they disappeared from. “A lot of them are unknowns so far, I have a program running that will search every known data base and then put profiles and names together for us to use. Out of all the names that we have, the most interesting one… is this one,” Webs said, bringing up a picture of a white haired young woman onto the screen.

The look on Red Hood's face was one of pure surprise. “No way,” he said looking at the picture on the holo-screen in front of him. “Rose Wilson, the daughter of Deathstroke the Terminator, Slade Wilson, is missing? I'll go out on a limb and say that Slade doesn't know she's missing, or he'd be tearing the world apart looking for her.”

“Reports say he's currently busy at the moment,” Webs stated. “Plus there's that whole fall out they had a while back with him trying to use her and kryptonite as a weapon to kill Superman. So just how do you plan to find these people anyways?”

“I have a feeling they're going to be coming after that girl again,” Red Hood replied as he walked over to one of the hard light consoles and began typing in a series of numbers. “Which is why……I slipped a tracer on her when she wasn't looking,” he continued as he activated the tracer. “She's currently in the Gotham Heights district.”

“Fancy part of town,” Webs said as he took control of the tracer screen.

“Very,” Hood commented while looking over the screen with the missing girls on it. “Did your research come up with anything on this Blood Countess person?”

“A few leads, but nothing concrete at the moment,” Webs replied while bringing up a new screen. “Rumor has it that this Blood Countess took over some underground territory that belonged to a low level street gang. One of the only survivors was a kid named Javier Gonzales. His report of what happened says that the lady was pale white with fiery red hair and that she sucked the life out of his entire crew. The only reason he survived was that he was running late and was able to hide while the others were being killed.”

“Sounds like she might be a meta-human,” Red Hood said walking over to a nearby table, picked up his helmet. He put it on and locked it shut.

“By the way, the Tailor called, he said your new bike is finished.” Webs said while part of the wall opened up to reveal a large assortment of weapons and gadgets.

“I'll pick it up on the way,” Hood said as he finished loading up his utility belt.

Walking over to another wall, Red Hood placed his ungloved hand on the wall and waited as a sensor scanned his hand print. Once everything was cleared the wall opened up to reveal an elevator that would take him to the rooftop.

“Okay, radio and visual check,” Red Hood said as he walked to the edge of the roof.

{{Eyes and ears are running smoothly.}}

“Good to hear. I'll be in contact later. Hood out,” Hood said leaping off the top of the building over to the edge of another one. Firing a grappling hook that was mounted in his wrist gauntlet, Hood swung downward and through the streets of Gotham City.

And from a different rooftop a mysterious new player watched as Red Hood left. “Target located,” she said speaking into a cell phone before stepping back into the shadows.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Tailor's Warehouse

It only took him ten minutes to reach the Tailor's warehouse workshop. As soon as he made it known he was there, a series of scans started in order to make sure he was clean. The Tailor liked his privacy and that meant that when you met up with him, you came alone. No eyes or ears except his were allowed once inside. A few minutes later, Red Hood was allowed entrance to see the Wizard.

“Man, the next thing you know you'll be asking people to bend over and spread'em,” Red Hood commented as he walked down the entrance way, past several dozen colorful costumes and right into the main workshop.

“I'd only do that if I really didn't like you,” said the Tailor. “Getting down to business, once the money is transferred into my account, then you can take your new bike.”

Taking the electronic money transfer system Tailor held in his hand, Red Hood typed in the account number and then had the money transferred from the Swiss Bank. The Tailor then took the machine and made sure the money was transferred to his own account.

“Are we good?”

“We are good my friend,” he replied as soon as the money transfer was confirmed. “Everything was done just like you wanted it. With the new EXP engine in this baby, you could give the Flash a run for his money. Just remember not to over do it with pushing the engines for a while. Anything else you need?”

“Yeah, information,” Red Hood replied. “I need to know anything you may know about a red haired, white skinned meta that can drain the life out of people.”

“Sounds familiar,” Tailor replied taking a seat at his work bench. “Word is she's not from around here, if you know what I mean. A while back this new woman shows up and starts taking over….”

“Yeah, I already know that part. What did you mean not from around here?”

“Maybe you should take that helmet off so you can hear,” Tailor continued. “One of the East End kids that used to work for Catwoman took some pictures of the woman, her men, and the equipment they were using. Check this out,” Tailor said as he brought the pictures up on a large flat screen overhead. “What do you notice about these pictures?”

“That's Apokoliptian tech they're sporting,” Red Hood noticed. “The thugs you can see look like Parademons. That could mean this woman's from Apokolips.”

“Right on the money,” Tailor said. “I think the woman may be one of those Furies that gave Superman some trouble a while back. Now the question you have to answer is why a bunch of boot lickers from Apokolips are on earth trying to take over some low level street gangs.”

“That would be the million dollar question, wouldn't it,” Red Hood said walking over to his crimson red and black street bike. He tossed the Tailor a wad of money before starting the bike up. “I'll be in contact if I need anything else.”

“Of course you will,” the Tailor said as he opened the side door of the building in order for Red Hood to leave.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Somewhere in Gotham City
The condo of Bloody Mary

Within a large room Bloody Mary sat before her followers. They watched as she drank the blood from a young woman that was just pulled off the streets. Once she was finished she pushed the body away like some pushing the dinner plate away after they were full.

“Now what do we know about this young woman that escaped us the other night?” she asked after licking the blood from her lips.

“Mistress, our spies have finally tracked the woman down,” one of the men said. “We are prepared to bring her to you and now await your orders.”

“Very well, but,” Bloody Mary began as she snapped her fingers. From a room nearby, four Parademons entered and stood at Mary's' side. “The Parademons will go along in case this masked man interferes again. If he does, then I want his head,” she said looking at the men. She then turned to the Parademon next to her and said, “If they fail, kill them and bring me their heads.”

The Parademons all sort of grunted in agreement and bowed slightly.

“Good. Then go and do not fail,” Bloody Mary said as she pointed to the exit.

Once the cloaked men and the Parademons were gone, Bloody Mary returned to her throne seat and sat in silence for a moment before a voice began talking from the shadows.

“Sweet Mary,” the voice said as an old woman walked out of the shadows. “Granny is proud of you my dear. You have proved yourself worthy of the love and training dear old Granny has bestowed upon you.”

“I live to serve, Granny,” Mary said as she stood from her seat and stepped aside allowing Granny to sit. “The latest batch of recruits, are currently being prepared for delivery to Apokolips as we speak. They should be ready to go by the end of the day.”

“Good, good,” Granny Goodness said as she rubbed her wrinkly old hands together. “Our lord and master the great Darkseid will be pleased with these new recruits for the Female Furies. Continue to please the master and you shall be rewarded for your hard work, my darling.”

“I live to serve, Granny,” Bloody Mary said as she slightly bowed before the withered old crone. “Would you like to see several of the recruits that I believe will serve you the best, dear Granny?”

“Of course my little dumpling,” Granny said standing from the chair and following Mary through a secret door way that lead to a large white room with different sizes of machines that did any number of things. Along the walls there sat glass tubes that held a couple dozen half naked females suspended with in them.

“Out of all of them, these two show the most potential of all,” Bloody Mary said extending her arm out to point out two tubes at the very end. One held an African American woman and the other held the young woman known as Rose Wilson, asleep within. “This one….,” she began to explain pointing to the African American woman. “…was found wandering the streets. Since she has no name and incredible light based powers she has been named Wundra. The other one….,” she continued moving over to Roses' tube. “….is a fierce fighter known on this world as Ravager. She is a well trained fighter and assassin, and with your loving touch Granny, I believe she could become a fine addition to the Female Furies.”

“Very good,” Granny said as she smiled, which showed off the cracks in her withered old face. “And what of this soon to be new addition to our fold, what is her status?”

“My followers and a group of Parademons are on their way to bring her back as we speak,” Mary replied.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Almost a half hour later.

The man known as the Red Hood never really knew how boring a stake out could be until tonight. Deciding to keep an eye on the young woman he saved a few nights ago, he now found himself sitting on a near by roof top watching her apartment located within the expensive Gotham Heights District.

“Hey Webs, you got any information on that pale skinned red head?” Hood asked as tried to stifle a yawn.

{{I checked almost every data base I know of and found a mention of her from a report from the Suicide Squad that was then handed over to the D.E.O. a while back. Apparently when a member of the Female Furies named Lashina was stranded here on Earth with amnesia, she was recruited under the name Duchess. After she got her memories back she disclosed some information on some of the other Furies, including one named Bloody Mary. During this time, Mary was a newbie who could drink peoples' blood and discharge telekinetic beams from her eyes.}}

“So we are dealing with people from Apokolips.”

{{Appears so,}} Webs said over the comm-link. {{The two questions to answer now are why are they here and what do they want? The answer to the second question is simple given what they have been up too lately. They want the female metas' for some reason.}}

“I'm not sure what they want them for, but I do know for sure that they are from Apokolips,” Red Hood said as he stood up from where he was sitting and watched as four large objects flew towards the building he was watching. “Believe it or not I have four Parademons heading for our girl's apartment. They must really want this girl if they're sending in the attack dogs like this.”

{{No kidding,}} Webs agreed as he watched what Red Hood saw through his helmet cam. {{How are you going to play this one out?}}

“I figure I'd wing it,” Red Hood said as he took a cylinder from his belt, aimed one of the Parademons, and fired as soon as he had a lock on his target. From with in the cylinder a small missile like object sailed through the air and within a few seconds impacted with one of the Parademons causing him to convulse as several thousand watts of electricity surged through his body.

{{I think you got their attention now,}} Webs commented as he watched the Parademons turn towards Red Hood's location. Even without magnification Webs could see the snarling faces of the Parademons as they sailed across the air heading towards Red Hood's position. {{If plan ‘A' was to wing it, then I think plan ‘B' would be to run for it.}}

“Plan ‘B' sounds good, but I think I'm going to have to add a small twist of my own,” Red Hood said as he took a handful of small objects that looked like horse pills from the pouch on his belt. Once the Parademons were close enough he tossed them into the air and watched as they exploded releasing a combination of black thick smoke and tear gas.

With the Parademons blinded for the moment Hood moved in to begin his attack. This was the first time that Hood had gone up against a group of Parademons before. He had read about them in the many files he had studied over the months he was in hiding on this world. Even though they were tough, they were at a disadvantage when it came to brains.

With the help of the sensors in his helmet he was able to navigate through the black smoke with ease and began his attack. He tapped one on the shoulder and as he turned he was met with a powerful left hook punch that would have knocked a normal man out cold. However the blow only merely stunned the Parademon for a moment. And that moment was all Red Hood needed as he took something off the Parademons belt and left a couple presents on his opponents belt and back. Rolling out of the way, he pressed a small detonator and waited for the two large explosions that he knew would signal that at least one of the Parademons was down for the count.

{{That was good work for at least one of them,}} Webs said as the sights from the camera began to clear. {{But what do you plan on doing about the other two?}}

“I'm the ‘fly by the seat of my pants' type of guy,” Red Hood said as he noticed that the other three Parademons where coming out of the smoke screen. “In fact I think it's time to fly right about now.” He fired a cable line and leapt off the top of the building.

The Parademons took to the skies in order to follow Red Hood. However if the savage attack troops of Apokolips paid any attention they would have seen that Red Hood was stationed below on the ledge of the building. Once they were in position, he unleashed a bolo that impacted with one of the Parademons and began to wrap around until two bolos impacted and released a couple thousand volts of electricity through the Parademon sending him falling to the ground.

The last two Parademons circled around and were coming back for a second wave of attacks. This time the two Parademons were armed and ready as the opened fire on Red Hood. Reacting with the speed and quickness at his command, Red Hood leapt out of the way of the laser fire and through the window into the safety of the building next door.

“Two Parademons down,” Red Hood said sweeping the broken glass off of his clothes. “You know you would figure that someone would have noticed that Parademons were running wild in Gotham City. Where's Batgirl or Nightwing, when you need them? Heck at this moment I'd take Green Lantern's help.”

{{I'm picking up reports that have people saying that Hal Jordan is dead. They say that he was killed by Chemo out in Coast City,}} Webs said as he monitored news reports from the West Coast. {{I give him a day before he pops up alive and well.}}

“Let's just hope he hasn't used up all his ‘get out of death free' cards,” Red Hood said as he looked out the window trying to catch sight of the last two Parademons. “Anyway, back to business. I got two Parademons performing a search pattern as we speak.”

{{And by search pattern you mean…?}}

“I mean they are blowing things up in order to find me,” Red Hood replied as headed up to the roof of the building. “I've got some special redarangs I could use, but just in case you should have the Marines number on speed dial. You know we should look into starting our own group,” he suggested as he came up on the last flight of stairs. “You know something small, maybe three or four members.”

{{You mean like what the Birds of Prey had before they disbanded?}}

“Maybe but that name is primarily known for being all female operatives,” Red Hood said kicking in the rooftop access door. “Plus I think the name might be copyrighted.”

Once back on the roof, Red Hood was just in time to catch one of the Parademons flying over head. Taking a redarang out of his belt, he clicked it open and tossed it towards the Parademon flying over him. The redarang sailed up and nailed the Parademon in the stomach. On impact it exploded releasing enough liquid nitrogen to freeze the flight harness that allowed him to fly. Another redarang that impacted a second later exploded and shattered the harness and sent the Parademon crashing down to the street below.

“That is not going to be pretty to clean up later,” Red Hood said looking down at the now dead Parademon. “Good thing these guys come a dime a dozen. Three down and one to go,” Red Hood said as searched the sky looking for the last Parademon.

The Parademon in question had landed silently on the roof that Red Hood was standing on and had watched as his brother Parademon fell to his death. Taking up his laser staff he charged it up and fired a blast that nailed Red Hood in the back.

“Arrrgghhh,” Red Hood screamed out in pain as he fell forward face first onto the ground.

The last Parademon began to move closer like an animal stalking his prey. Moving in for the kill the Parademon never realized that someone could be playing possum. Using his staff to turn the body over, Red Hood came up fast and smashed his helmet into the demons face causing the Parademon to howl in pain.

With his helmet now cracked, Hood unlocked the seals and removed his helmet. “Man these things are expensive,” he said looking at the helmet that was now almost shattered in the front. Taking out a small ear piece for the comm-link and placing it in his ear he attempted to contact Webs. “Hey Webster you there?”

{{Yeah I'm here,}} Webs replied. {{What happened? Your helmet went off line.}}

“I broke it on this Parademon's face,” he replied as he took a crimson red domino mask from his belt and placed it on his face. “Haven't worn this thing in a while,” said Hood as he adjusted the mask to make it feel right.

{{What about the Parademon, what happened to him?}}

“He's still here. I'll get back to you in a couple minutes,” Red Hood said as he took off running at the Parademon.

Like a switch being clicked on, his strength, speed, and reflexes become supercharged. Leaping into the air, he delivered a spinning thrust kick to the Parademon's already injured face and then comes back with a front kick to the monsters stomach sending him reeling backwards. Moving forward quickly he hit the demon with a series of right and left hooks, followed by a couple jabs, and then finishes off with a massive upper cut that takes the Parademon off his feet and places him on his back for a count of ten.

{{Dude it happened again didn't it?}} Webs asked as he monitored all of Red Hood's vitals. {[Todd, we are going to have to figure out where these increased abilities are coming from. You don't register as a meta-human and your bio-scans all came back normal. Yet somehow you are gaining increased strength and reflexes from out of nowhere.}}

“A mystery for another time old friend, the last Parademon is down. Call the D.E.O. and let them know that they have a clean up in Gotham City,” Red Hood said walking back to the shattered helmet. Pressing a small button on the inside and walking away he watched as the helmet detonated vaporizing the helmet and all traces of the tech hidden with in. “I'm going to head back to the girls apartment and check up on her, before heading back to the Hub.”

{{I'll be waiting,}} Webs said before the line went silent.

Rushing back over the rooftops and heading back to the Gotham Heights District, Red Hood arrived at the young woman's apartment and found the place in shambles. Furniture destroyed and a couple of knocked out guys in the same cloaks as the ones he fought the other night.

“Webs, we've got a problem,” Hood said looking around the apartment. “The Parademons were a distraction. Looks like they got the girl.”

{{It's a good thing that the tracer you had on her is still active,}} said Webs. {{It looks like they are heading north. I don't know if you can catch up with them this time.}}

“Keep watching the tracer,” Hood said as he saw one of the men beginning to stir from underneath some rubble. “I think I found someone to talk to.” He pulled the man out and tossed him into a wall. “We're going to have a nice chat about what I want to know.”

“I shall tell you nothing,” the man said as he spat in Red Hoods face.

“I'd have to disagree,” Red Hood said as his eyes narrowed at the man. “'Cause believe me, by the time I'm finished, you're going to be begging to tell me what I want to know.”

About ten minutes later Red Hood walked out of the apartment and contacted Webs.

{{So what did you learn?}} Webs asked as the comm-link came back on line.

“They're going to turn the captured female heroes into a new batch of Female Fury trainees,” he replied as he headed down to the alley where he had hidden his bike earlier. “Webs I'm going to need an address and I'm going to need some equipment,” he continued as he looked at the device he took from one of the Parademons. He'd never seen one in real life, only in some files he had read on Apokolips and New Genesis, but he knew that it was a Mother Box that was able to open a boom tube and that it would be his surprise move when the final fight came later on.

{{Are doing a hit and run or is this an all out war type of occasion?}} asked Webs.

“A little bit of A and a little bit of B,” Hood said as he speed out of the alley and headed towards the address that Webs downloaded in the motorcycles GPS system. “I'm hoping that I can do this with out using the B part though.”

{{I'll have the package waiting for you on the roof near the address when you get there.}}

“Thanks and wish me luck.”

{{Good luck bro.}}

As Red Hood left, the mystery figure from before stood in the shadows watching. Once everything was finished the figure opened a cell phone again and began to speak. “He's everything you believed him to be sir. Should I make contact and extend the offer?”

{{Yes,}} the person on the other end replied.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The headquarters of Bloody Mary.
Sometime later.

At the moment Bloody Mary was not happy at all. A simple mission to bring back a potential powerful new recruit turned into one big mess. Only two of her servants returned with the girl and she lost four Parademons in the process. Granny would not be pleased by the loss of the Parademons, however she knew that the crop of recruits would make her somewhat happy in the end. If she wasn't, then Mary would just give her a few of her servants to torture and kill.

“You did well and for your service you shall be rewarded,” Bloody Mary said as two members of the Photon Patrol; regular soldiers who used Parademon flight harnesses; came up behind the two men. With out warning both Photon Patrol members raised their blades up and brought them down slicing the men's heads off.

“I thought you said that they would be rewarded mistress?” one of Blood Mary's servants asked as they walked towards the secret lab.

“I did and their reward was a quick death,” Mary replied entering the lab leaving the servant outside. Once inside the lab Bloody Mary came face to face with the young woman who was now chained in some sort of energy shackles. “You should be a worthy addition to Grannie's plans, my lovely. Wouldn't you agree Granny?”

“Oh yes,” Granny Goodness said as she came closer to the young woman. “She will make a fine addition to the new army of Female Furies. Once we make her better that is,” the old woman said touching the young woman with the end of her shock stick, sending a couple thousand volts of electricity through her making her yell in pain and sending her to her knees. “Oh yes, Darkseid shall be pleased.”

With a tear falling down her face the young woman watched as Granny Goodness and Bloody Mary laughed at her pain. However their laughs faded once they saw her stand back up and said with a defiant look on her face. "Go to hell."

“My sweet child,” Granny began as she shocked her over and over again until she fell flat on the floor and even then she shocked her once more for good measure. “I was born in hell,” Granny said as she watched the unidentified woman's body spasm. “I believe we shall begin with her. She will be my finest creation yet.”

Before the young woman passed out she once again heard the cackle from the demented old gargoyle that was Granny Goodness.

Too Be Continued….

 

Next Issue: Red Hood finds himself facing Bloody Mary and her forces in order to rescue the kidnapped women. Can our hero face an army of hardened and brutal warriors from Apokolips or will he fall before their might? That and the question of who the mystery person watching Red Hood will be answered next issue as ‘Seeing Red' comes to a close.

Authors Note: Just so no one gets confused, the Photon Patrol guys aren't made up they are another form of foot soldiers from Apokolips that appeared in Mister Miracle #25. I've found very little information about them except that they are regular soldiers using Parademon flying harnesses. If any one has any other information about them or what they look like please send it along.