"Aye, there's the rub" - Open, but leads to a Bat

[Rose]

Rose swallowed three oxycodone dry and sat back in the scalding water, trying to quieten her complaining body and hopefully her racing mind as well. She hadn't felt like this since her father's accellerated training after he had changed her. This even worse than when the Titans had put her through her paces what seemed like forever ago, teaching her to defend herself just after they had all discovered that her father was one of the team's worst enemies.

WHY was she here again? What had possessed her to seek the Bat out, to train her as a detective? Who did she really need to prove herself to? She couldn't really remeber now. Another decision based on rage and impulsiveness. But, damnit... she would see this through and prove it to the Batman, at least. Maybe rub that bitch Batgirl's nose in it too.

He had her doing research using his information-gsathering resources, trying to put the various seeming-unrelated data point together into strands of people and events that could be woven into a whole... something solid to go on. There were patterns within patterns, but whoever could see the whole picture hidden in the array would know who was doing what before they did it. Was that the secret to always being in the right place at the right time, as Batman always seemed to be? It was actually a little frightening to know that it was possible to do all this. Were there already people or organizations predicting what other people would do? Were there already people doing this for no good?
It was something of a stretch to find these patterns, though she could see that there were techniques, little secrets that helped immensely. She still had to extend herself, though, let her subconscious take over. But that made her feel like she was falling into something bigger than herself, like she was losing contact with reality. That scared Rose, of course... it wasn't so long ago that her father had forced a psychotic break on her. She had found her way back, clawed her way back to sanity. How, she wasn't really sure. It might have been with Dick's help... it was all still a bit fuzzy. She didn't even really remember WHY she had put her eye out, only that it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Her brain never really stopped working, her instincts constantly screamed at her to avoid walking past windows, to check before she went around a corner, to scan for snipers. She was always looking for ways to escape a room, places that she might be ambushed. If she couldn't see someone's hands, she was always on her guard. It was really wearying and it never stopped unless she took enough meds to knock herself out cold ; but of course that was dangerous for her (because for sure that would be the time that an enemy would actually attack)... and worse, she wasn't 100% sure that she wouldn't go on a sleep-walking murder spree if she blacked out rather than just sleep.
Worse, then would come the nightmares she couldn't escape from.

Still, the little bit of pain from the hot water and the drugs took the edge off, relaxed her a bit and helped her feel floaty. Too soon the water would be cold and she'd go to bed, take something to help her close her eyes and mess around under the sheets until sleep took her away for a little while... at least until she woke in a cold sweat, trying not to scream at some half-formed horror clawing at her in her dreams.

"Thanks for everything, dad. Love you too."

<OOC note: I am 90% sure that Rose knows the identities of most of the original Titans, but if not there's only one word that needs to be changed above.>

[Rose]

Location, location, location. That was the mantra of the successful business owner.
This group certainly had that down well, at least so far as Rose could tell. She had been watching the place for a week now and had seen a thriving business being done here. There had been methamphetamines going in and out, what had to be guns being bought and sold, and even girls being brought in by van. It was that last that decided the time of her raid.

It was dark and quiet when she snuck into the building, finding a spot on the office level above the warehouse floor, where noone really went even when the place was active. She had set up a small but powerful spotlight so it would shine just so. Then she waited.

A motley crew of criminals had been collected some time later for a gun deal, the conversation getting more animated as it went on. Just as it reached its peak she switched on the light. All eyes were drawn to the sudden flood of light which illuminated a costume of yellow and orange and a mask with only one eye. A shout went up and the thugs all scrambled for their various weapons just as Rose stepped back out of the light, letting fly a truncheon and then another. One struck the man just bringing his assault rifle into line, knocking him out clean. The other winged a younger man, near the door. The impact knocked him down and sent him sprawling. She needed a witness.

The Ravager dove off the balcony in a sort of swan dive, ending up astride a now-flattened man.
She drew her weapons, this time a pair of good-sized lengths of rattan rather than her usual katanas. She had decided to be a good little hero, which meant not leaving a bloody wake behind her when she busted up drug rings.
The first thug to her landing spot was to her immediate right, and he got a snap blow to the right collarbone then the same stick to his temple. A step forward and a thrust took a second criminal in the solar plexus and the same to his face as he bent over in pain. She threw one of the sticks at a third man that was attempting to bring a pistol into line. That struck him in the shoulder, forcing him to drop the gun. Rose crossed the space quickly and laid him out with a blow to the skull.
There was only one remaining foe, and Ravager knew he was near the door feigning unconsciousness, which was just what she wanted anyway.
She struck a pose in case he was watching.
"You boys tell your bosses: the Ravager is coming for them."
Rose turned away from the door, which was the opening the young dealer was looking for. He leapt up and threw open the door, to charge through.
She followed to the threshold, to see his figure receding at top speed.

"That should shake things up a little." she said, grinning.

[Batman]

Alot of members, past and present, in the hero community have made a case for me being paranoid. Theres a certain expectation, based upon my past actions, that I keep a close eye on the entire world, with an army of spy satelites helping me keep track of every detail, every moment of life on earth. I"ve even seen the rare civilian conspiracy theorist who has suggested that I manipulate world events to my own benefit.

These ideas are largely absurd. As large and well funded as Wayne Enterprises is, there is no way that I could afford total observation of the entire planet, or that if I did, that the IRS and other corporate watchdogs would not take notice of that kind of a money exchange.

That said, I do know what happens in my city.

It is my city by the way, and no one elses. I might let other heroes base out of here, but that does not any stretch of the imagination mean that I don't watch them like a hawk. I know their comings and goings, their conflicts, their enemies. I still keep a finger on the pulse, and deal with situations that arise.

Rose Wilson is one such situation. In large part, my acceptance in training her as a detective was based around cultivating an ally in the heroing community that understood my methods, that could assist me on matters that need that specific touch...It is most certainly not so that she could could set up shop in my city.

It not so much that she's stopping crime, because thats certainly a boon to the city, and something that prevents me from having to deal with the matter personally. No, the issue is her technice. Self agrandaizing in the way she chose will escalate matters, bring her to the attention of the major players in the city.

I don't need Penguin of Two-Face sending out hitsquads after her, and getting civilians caught in the crossfire. They know well enough to not even try it with me...but she'll be viewed as an X factor, a possible weakpoint to be exploited or used.

Thats not really acceptable.

I consider this all from my perch, nestled on the ledge of a building above her, binoculars trained as she finishes with the crowd below. When she's finished with her act I drop in behind her silently, speaking in a low growl that should inform her to my annoyance on this issue.

"Having fun? The man you let go had three warrants to his name, one for assault with a deadly weapon. I hope making a name for yourself was worth letting him go."

[Rose]

Rose would have liked to claim that she knew that someone was there, and maybe if it had been most other people, she may well have known. But this was the Bat, and he had a way of not being there from moment to moment.

Still, she did her best to pretend that she knew he was there all the time.
"I wondered when you would get here," she said as she collected her things and zip-tied the thugs she had just beaten.

Rose stood her ground and listened as he berated her, watching him from behind her Ravager mask, trying to read his body language and listen for cues in is voice. She doubted there was much to glean from this master of self-control, but it was good practice.

She shrugged as he said his peace.
"I wasn't trying to make a name for myself. I just wanted them to look twice into shadows when they left on their business."
She looked down at the thugs sprawled around her, then towards the way the one man had fled. "What do I care if he was in trouble? He doesn't do what he does because he wants to. He didn't wake up one morning and say 'Hey! I think I'll go sell meth today to feed my habit because it's so _cooool_."
She sighed.
"It's just business.If these people had opportunities they'd take them. But they don't, so they do this.And surely they know by now that they're just pawns in this game we're playing. They have bosses that play with the police, and above them are the costumed sociopaths with funny names that play with us. Sometimes they get caught in the middle. But I can't say he's any worse than me, or a genius ape with mind-powers, or a guy in green that goes around shooting people with trick arrows. What excuse do we have? We don't _have_ to dress up like this and do what we do. But, we do, for whatever reason... revenge or misguided guilt or just because we can't do anything else because we can't be normal ever again."
She shrugs again.
"But these guys, they're just in it to make a buck to feed their families."

Rose pauses for a moment, but not long enough for him to start again.
"So, teach me. Teach me how to do this so I don't have to flail around here looking for leads. I want to know how to find the nexus, how to hit the lynchpin that will bring the whole organization down... so these guys can stay out of they way."

She expects him to dismiss her, to tell her she's dreaming and the world doesn't work that way. Maybe he's right. But she's has to find something to hold on to, or she'll lose herself again.

[Batman]

The first part of the response doesn't surprise me. Its typical to hear younger crime fighters choosing to view crime as a social problem, rather than an ethical one. Even Green Arrow is bad to fall into that trap.

Its not a complety inaccurate view either. There's no question that crime rates raise in economicly depressed areas, or that many criminals choose crime because of a lack of viable oppertunities.

All of that is true...but it also ignores the simple fact that criminals escalate the longer that they're active. Petty theft finds it way to armed robbery, assaults turn into murders...Even the Joker started out as a jewel thief before he turned to genocide. Left unchecked criminals just go farther and farther across the line...until they're stopped.

Jails are a flawed institution, but the chance of recidivism is a drop in the bucket next to the threat posed by crime unchecked.

Overall I'm inclined to just brush aside her argument as an excuse for letting one get away...but then she manages to surprise me.

Showing her how to think tactically when it comes to crime-fighting is an interesting challenge, and not one to be taken lightly. I've seen in Jason Todd what a risk that can be.

Though at worst, it will give me an additional degree of control to ensure that messes like this do not escalate.

I nod to her, pointing to one of the men on the ground, the one that seemed to be giving the orders earlier. Face doesn't look familar offhand, but I know the type. Tough guy, hard to get informaiton out. Perfect for this exercise.

"Bring him to the roof."

Pulling out my grapnel, I line up and fire it, zipping my way up to a fire escape near the roof. Working quickly to loop the grapnel line through the metal stairway, and letting the end hang at about eye level.

When Rose arrives, I have everything allready prepped and ready to go. Explaining it casually as tie the man upsidedown, hanging over the abyss, hands bound behind his back.

"The first key to effectivly handling any situation tactically, is having good intelligence. This man isn't high on the chain, but he knows something....Something that we can use. Wake him up and then interrogate him. Don't bother with physical violence, thats not an effective way to glean information. Intimidation works best...Make him believe that you're going to kill him, and he'll sell you his soul to stay alive."

[Rose]

Rose quirks a little smile, has she actually caused the Bat to pause? But then he is moving again, scooping up one of the thugs and taking him up to the roof. He's left some line behind so she can follow.
"I need to get me one of those", she says as she climbs after.
He's there waiting for her, the other man bound upside-down and hanging over the side of the building.
Rose is to wake up the guy, and try to intimidate him. She can't use violence, instead she's to intimidate him.

A few slaps and the thug comes around.

"Huh? Oh, shit! The hell?" he sputters as he realizes where exactly he is.
"DO you fuckers know who I am? The boss'll murder..."

Rose turns on the Ravager, protecting her presence out. She pitches her voice down, trying to emulate the Bat a little. His act works, of course.
"They can't save you, punk. I'm going to cut this rope and watch you make a red stain on the sidewalk."
She grins, fey. "And I'm gonna enjoy every second. But I'm going to let you squirm for a while."

He laughs nervously. "You won't. You're a good guy, bitch. You can't do shit like that."

She shakes her head sadly. "I'm the Ravager. If you haven't heard of me, you've heard of my father... Deathstroke the Terminator. I could really care less if insects like you live or die." She sets him spinning in place on the cable, forcing a snicker.

"Fuck! Stop! No.. you're bluffing. You can't. You can't."

She grins again, pulling the side of her mask up... not enough to show much in the way of details, just peeling it away along with her eyepatch to reveal her empty eyesocket.
"My eye didn't mean a thing to me, just to prove a point. You dying will be a service to the community."
She puts her mask back in place and looks over the edge, laughing. "Wheee! Long way down. It'll be fun for a second or two."

"What do you want?!" He almost shrieks. "Let me go!"

She steps back from the edge and spins in place, as if she was dancing to music only she can hear. "I don't know. I don't know. I want to hear you scream."
She draws a katana and leaps to the ledge. "Let's do it now!"

"Noooo!" he does scream, the crotch of his pants getting damp suddenly.

"No?" Rose tries to sound disappointed. "No? Well... distract me, then. Tell me about your operation and your bosses. Maybe that'll be enough..."

[Batman]

Interrogation is a careful process. As fluid, often chaotic as it can seem to others, theres nearly always an underlying principle at work, a method behind how things are done.

You can't go around beating up criminals and expect sensical responses as a result. It simply doesn't work that well. All you do then is drive the criminal into survival mode where they'll either cease to be cognitave, or drive their will from them so much that they'll say literally anything to get away.

Its a long process to learn, but Ravage performs well at it. I slip into the background as she works, watching from a distance as she works the thug over, using his predicament and her intimidating skills to win the day, never seriously injuring him.

That more than anything gives me hope for her training. Too much violence just makes more obstacles than it can ever take away, and thats a factor she'll learn to appreciate as she matures in the role. Her restraint shows she can hold back that side.

Were she Dick, or Tim I'd be inclined to compliment her at this moment, to drive home the lesson learned, but she takes more after Jason by style, and that requires a steadier hand, and less positive reinforcement.

I step around from behind her, letting the thug see me for the fist time, lightly pushing against his chest with one hand, letting him swing in the breeze.

"This isn't the usual play. I took a look at some of your drug shipments....its not any street drug I've ever seen. Tell us what it is, and where you got it...and maybe I won't let my friend here play with you any more."

The man stutters to himself for a moment, trembling on the line like a caught fish and then he squeeks out two pieces of information.

"It-Its Two-Face's shit. Some k-kinda new shit from New York. Local guys call it Jayd...Only h-he knows where it came from."

The first part isn't too much of a surprise. There are only a couple of players in this city that wield the sort of power, and Harvey is the only one I know that uses this sort of brute force methodoloy, hand in hand with exotic merchandise. For there to be prostitution involved though, he must have been losing some coin tosses of late. He generally draws the line at that sort of thing...generally.

The drugs are another issue entirely. Jayd is something I've been hearing whispers about for the last few months. Some sort of new designed steroid, not that different from Venom, but with some mind altering characteristics that have more in common with joker venom. Chemical analysis has shown few common componets with either though, aside from a very complex, almost designer structure. Probably engineered in a lab for that sort of refinement...anyones guess what its doing in Gotham though.

Still, if I can backtrack a supplier through Harvey...that could be useful.

I turn back to Rose, gesturing to our friend.

"See to it that him and his friends make it into police custody. Make it memorable, you want to make the right impression. I'll meet you back at base. I've got some investigation to do."

[Rose]

<I think this needs a scene change>