Jason wished he could give a fuck beyond the hostage they were here for, but honestly? This latest cult’s lack of originality just pissed him off. Times like this, he wished contacts were an option to hide the glow so Dick would stop it with the puppy dog eyes.
“Stupid fucking corrosive reservoir condition,” he muttered.
“I’m fine, O. Just being a normal amount of crazy.”
“Chatter,” Batman snapped.
Jason groaned and checked his position for the fifth time. On Batman’s signal, they all dropped.
The plan was simple: neutralize the doomsday cultists trying to summon a creature to protect its daughter. They’d done harder, more complicated extractions with half the manpower and a quarter of the time.
Maybe it was the itch in his bones.
Maybe it was the sudden headache.
Maybe it didn’t matter what distracted him, because the outcome was the same. Jason had been pulling the unconscious hostage out of the summoning circle when he felt something hot against his neck.
Of course someone got a lucky shot.
All Jason could do was fling the girl clear as the green rose around him.
“Madam, I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to step back,” Alfred said calmly, cocking his shot gun.
“Good thing you’re not gonna need that since it won’t work,” the glowing woman said. She crossed her arms and tapped a spectral foot. “Listen, this is entertaining, but it was a fight just to get here. I know you can help me get to my son.”
“And I believe I asked you to identify yourself.”
“Right, Jason didn’t have any pictures of me…”
“Catherine Todd, at your service, Mr. Alfred.” The ghost glared. “Some fucker decided to botch summoning a, “nurturing spirit that would burn the world for their child,” so here I am.”
Alfred blinked, which was practically a spit take for him, and the shot gun lowered a fraction.
“Ms. Todd, that is quite the remarkable story. I don’t mean to cast any doubt, but…”
“Did I mention that I beat the shit out of Sheila for the right to be here?” Catherine’s smile was all knives. “The bitch might be blood, but that’s my baby she sold out. The spell didn’t leave much room beyond that.”
“Does that sound plausible?” Alfred said into his comm.
“It’s way more than probable,” Oracle responded. “I’ve lost Hood, RR, Wing and B. Black Bat was closest and is attempting recon.”
“Tell Barbara that Jason falling into the circle probably triggered a strong enough pulse to fry their tech. Ecto doesn’t play well with untreated electronics.” Catherine laughed at the carefully blank look Alfred gave. “Dead men tell no tales is a fucking lie. We’ve gotta pass the time somehow.”
“Well that’s… Hmm.” Barbara groaned. “If she knows, she knows. Bringing her down might be worth it.”
It was finally Alfred’s turn to smirk. He opened the door and lead Catherine towards the cave. Bruce wouldn’t like it, but he could be mollified. Video evidence of Sheila’s loss would be a powerful bribe.