HL: Chapter 32

Jackie pummeled Neutron with a flurry of knee-strikes as he and the big-ass sentient field of radioactive particles flew through the air out over Miller Harbor. The asshole'd tried hammering a couple punched into Jackie with that glowing shit hanging 'round his fists, but Jackie's armor ain't made outta cardboard. Shit didn't do much to him, 'cept bruise Jackie's ribs a bit. Then Jackie'd got his arms 'round Neutron's wrists and the punching'd stopped. Now, as they flew over Miller Harbor, Jackie hadta figure out some kinda way to breach Neutron's suit so the asshole'd dissipate into background radiation. Problem was, without being able to use his arms, Jackie ain't able to use any of the normal means to do that sorta thing. He'd tried using the Great Sand River Wears away the Steel and Qirin's Burning Gaze Techniques, since neither of those needed hands free, but Neutron was savvy to being hit by laser eyes or breath weapons, probably 'cause Superman'd had heat vision and freeze breath as part of his power package.

That was how come Jackie had started on the knees, trying to tenderize the asshole and get him to break concentration or some shit. That ain't easy, though, after all, it ain't like the Guy had a normal body or nothing. As he hit Neutron with one last Chi-powered Knee Strike, though, the Asshole seemed to fold in on himself for a sec before bursting out into some kinda shockwave of radioactive energy. The shockwave shook Jackie loose and sent him flying backward down toward the waterline. Jackie arrested his momentum using the Resplendent Crane Catches the Wind Technique, but Neutron was ready for him, blasting him with both barrels as he fired a beam of energy from both his fists at Jackie. The beam seared into Jackie's chest and slammed him back down under the water, steam from the seawater of the harbor flash-boiling around him.

With an effort of will and a surge of Chi, Jackie disappeared in a puff of sand just before he was driven into the bottom of the Harbor, reappearing further away as he used the Great Sand River Bears Away the Serpent Technique to avoid being smashed into the seafloor. It was a damn good thing he did, too, 'cause the Radioactive Energy continued on and glassed the fucking silt at the bottom of the Harbor. There ain't no way that Jackie wouldn't've been stuck in some kinda molten glass prison long enough for Neutron to pull some other shit outta his ass to try and finish him. Growling, Jackie swam for the surface, drawing on his Greater Talisman of Beasts to borrow the power of the Black Tortoise of the North for a bit. Not only was the Black Tortoise able to breathe underwater, something Jackie exploited the shit outta for the moment, but it was also able to control Water. While Jackie already knew a buncha Wuxing Elementalist Spells to let him do that, the power he was borrowing amped them all up considerably.

With a surge of magical energy and a mystic gesture, Jackie summoned the power of Wuxing Elementalism to force a big-ass waterspout to surge up and smack Neutron outta the sky. Neutron ain't exactly used to fighting guys who could turn the damn terrain against him with magic, after all, and Jackie gambled that sorta thing would take the Asshole by surprise, especially since it'd been at least a minute since Jackie'd gone underwater without surfacing. To his credit, it worked damn well. Neutron was smashed outta the air by the waterspout as Jackie leaped out outta the water, taking flight using the Resplendant Crane Takes Flight Technique. As he did so, Jackie reached out for the torrent of water that was smashing Neutron away and tugged on it with magic power and a mystic gesture. The Waterspout Neutron was caught up in solidified, turning to ice.

Now was Jackie's chance, while he had the Asshole frozen in place. Neutron'd gotten a couple licks in, and Jackie could feel his ribs aching from bruises even as he felt the burns on his chest rub raw against the inside of his armor. Shit ain't nothing a couple of healing pills could handle, but he wanted to finish this first so he had a chance to heal up. Summoning Heaven and Flame Chi and mixing them together in his Ajna Chakra. The Qirin's Burning Gaze lashed outta his eyes and seared into the trapped form of Neutron, carving a glowing line across the chest of his Armor. The damnedest thing was, it apparently ain't enough on its own to break open the damn chestplate.

"Fuck it, gonna haveta get up close and personal, then." Growled Jackie as he bombed forward.

As he did so, a blade of pure Chi formed on his outstretched hand as he used the Razored Talons of the Resplendant Crane technique to form a claw of condensed, pure Chi. Jackie figured his prior technique'd weakened Neutron's Armor enough that one good blow'd tear the chestpiece wide open and start dissipating the Asshole into background radiation. Unfortunately, just before he reached Neutron, the Asshole managed to bust loose from the prison of mystic ice Jackie'd held him in and fired off a big-ass blast of Radioactive Energy Jackie's way. The snapshot took Jackie off-guard and he ain't had time to dodge, just tank the blow. Immediately, Jackie pulled up a buncha Dragon Chi for the Qirin's Glorious Coat, reinforcing it with the Strong-Maned Pig's Bristly Hide and laying the Iron Armor on top just to be sure.

The point-blank blast still hurt like a bitch, boiling the flesh offa Jackie's outstretched arm between the joints of his armor and burning him as his mystic armor glowed red hot. Jackie pushed through the pain, though, and slammed his Chi Claw into the weakened Chestpiece of Neutron's Armor, carving into the weakened metal and composite, busting a buncha circuitry, and breaching the suit. Suddenly, Neutron's chest began to glow a blazing white as Jackie sailed past, causing a massive explosion as the asshole dissipated in a big-ass explosion out over Miller Harbor, which slammed Jackie down and into the water from the force of the explosion.

Jackie slammed into the seafloor at supersonic speed like a bullet being shot outta a gun, his bruised ribs cracking from the force. All things considered, though, shit coulda been a lot worse, and even though Jackie had burns over half his body and a buncha cracked ribs, he'd take the hits any day. He could handle it, plus he had ways of healing. Babs and Tim ain't got that going for 'em, and especially none of the GCPD officers that Neutron'd taken hostage were able to do that sorta thing. That don't mean they ain't helpful in other ways, though. After all, a couple moments after he hit the seafloor beneath Miller Harbor, Jackie found himself being fished outta the drink by a Police Boat.

"Christ, Kid, you took a beating there, huh?" Questioned the familiar voice of Detective Harvey Bullock.

"Bamboo Chute. Left hip." Grunted Jackie between coughs to get the seawater outta his lungs.

"You heard the kid, Rook. Get to it." Grunted Bullock.

A Younger, Black Officer made his way over to Jackie's downed form and grabbed the pill chute offa his belt, frowning as he opened up the mystically-reinforced bamboo to see a buncha different colored pills.

"What am I looking for?" Queried the Rookie Cop.

"Red Pills. Healing." Huffed Jackie between lungfuls of air.

"You heard him, Rook. Red healing pills." Smirked Bullock.

The Rookie handed Jackie a couple of Red Healing Chi Pills, which Jackie immediately began downing. He sighed as he felt his ribs firm up, cracks healing up in an instant, then his burns began to go away as he chowed down on more pills. Soon enough, Jackie'd been fully healed, though it took more of his healing pills to do it than he'd've liked to admit. He guessed that sorta shit was just par for the course when you were going toe-to-toe with the kinda guy who tended to fuck around with the Man of Steel on the regular, though. As he straightened up, the Rookie put the remaining pills back into Jackie's Pill Chute and handed it back to him. Jackie took the chute with a nod and clipped it back onto his belt.

"Thanks. What's your name, Officer?" Asked Jackie.

"Name's Bock, Mackenzie Bock. Folks at the Academy called me Hardback." Nodded the Rookie.

"Yeah, yeah, friends all around. You got any idea who that wackjob was, Kid?" Questioned Bullock.

"Neutron, he used to be one of Superman's buncha regular foes. Guess he figured that with the Man of Steel outta the picture, he might as well try his luck across the Delaware Bay." Jackie answered.

"Yeah? You just throw down with a guy like that and come out on top?" Queried Bullock.

"Looks like." Shrugged Jackie.

"You were pretty beat up. How many times do you think you can do that sort of thing?" Asked the Rookie, Bock.

"As many as it takes." Huffed Jackie.

"Better you than me, Kid. Look, you meet back up with the Bat and tell him that sorta thing ain't exactly what we're set up for here in Gotham." Pointed out Bullock.

"Trust me, he knows. He's been nagging me 'bout upping stakes and fucking off to somewhere else. Apparently, he thinks Vicki Vale's little expose's got folks thinking 'bout challenging me now that Big Blue ain't around no more." Groused Jackie.

"He might just be onto something, Kid. You gonna take his advice?" Questioned Bullock.

"Before? No way in hell. Now? I ain't really got a choice, now do I?" Queried Jackie.

"One thing growing up in the Hood taught me is that there's always a choice. Most folks just choose comfort over what's right." Grunted Bock.

"Yeah, well, in this case, me doing that could wind up with a whole lotta folks dead. I ain't ready for that sorta carnage to be on my conscience." Admitted Jackie.

"Sounds like you're gonna be leaving then. Shame. Couple of the Girls down at the station are gonna be disappointed. Ever since you started playing for the Good Guys, you've got yourself a couple fans." Chuckled Bullock.

"Oh yeah?" Asked Jackie.

"I've only been around for a couple months, and even I've seen it." Nodded Bock.

"Thing is, I always sorta figured you and Batgirl were an item." Remarked Bullock.

"We were." Grunted Jackie.

"Past tense?" Questioned Bock.

"Yeah. What, you never broken up with someone before?" Queried Jackie as he looked over at Bullock, who had some kinda sour look on his face.

"Nah, it ain't that. Just I'm out a hundred bucks in the office pool is all." Groused Bullock.

"The Cops bet on the love lives of Superheros?" Asked Jackie.

"Kid, you got any idea what the vast majority of policework is? It's a lotta sitting at a desk going through reports, sifting through evidence, and comparing notes. Even a city like Gotham ain't exciting enough that we're out on the beat twenty-four seven. We gotta get through the day somehow." Opined Bullock.

"I guess, but if you really want to win a pool, I can tell you that Nightwing and that Alien he has on his team are an item, at least on-again-off-again." Informed Jackie.

"That'd be cheating, Kid. Thought you were supposed to be over that sorta thing by now." Deadpanned Bullock.

"Take the tip or don't. I gotta get back to base to report in. The Bat's expecting me." Shrugged Jackie.

"Yeah, sure thing, Kid." Waved off Bullock.

Then Jackie leaped up into the air using the Resplendant Crane Takes Flight Technique and headed North over the rooftops for Bristol County and the Batcave. Behind him, Detective Harvey Bullock and Officer Mackenzie Bock watched him go for a bit before turning back to coordinate with Detective Renee Montoya on land. Hopefully, one Wayne Shipping Container Ship a few wounded officers, and a bit of part of the edge of one pier of Miller Harbor would be the only damage from this.

Against a Superman-level opponent, Harvey Bullock'd call that a win any day of the week, after all. . .

XXXX

Jackie returned to the Batcave shortly after being fished outta the drink. He pulled his Black Tiger Mask off and marched over to Bruce, who was seated at the Batcomputer, a feed of the Docks being piped through one of the monitors. Jackie ain't too sure how Bruce was getting that feed, but he wouldn't be too surprised if the Bat had cameras all over the Godsdamned City keeping an eye on shit. As he made his way over, Bruce spoke up, not even bothering to turn around in his chair.

"You handled that well enough, though I could've done without the loss of one of my Container Ships. The Venture Star cost one-hundred-fifty million, you know." Spoke up Bruce.

"That shit couldn't've been prevented. Besides, it ain't like you're not insured." Pointed out Jackie.

"I suppose not. Have you given any thought about what I said?" Questioned Bruce.

"About leaving? Yeah, I thought we covered that, though?" Queried Jackie.

"I want to hear you say it to my face." Insisted Bruce.

"Fine. You were right. Gotham ain't set up to handle that caliber of opponent. I'm gonna be leaving for New York City just as soon as I get my shit in order here." Ground out Jackie.

"Good. You don't have to like it, but it needs to happen." Intoned Bruce.

"Don't be that guy, Bruce. Ain't nobody likes that guy." Griped Jackie.

"How soon until you can get your affairs in order?" Asked Bruce.

"Maybe two or three days. First I gotta take care of that shit with Wu Ping's Ghost. Top up the binding on that Vase and call in Doc Fate. Then I gotta tell my Uncles the news and get my shit together." Informed Jackie.

"And if you didn't have to deal with Wu Ping's Ghost?" Questioned Bruce.

"Come again? I don't think I heard you right, you saying you wanna leave that shit as is?" Queried Jackie.

"Not exactly." Refuted Bruce.

"Then what, Bruce? Last I checked, you ain't got anyone else already here and in town to deal with it, unless you've been holding out on me?" Asked Jackie.

"It's come to my attention that there's an Occultist of some renown who not only takes commissions for a fee, but also lives in Gotham Village. Jason Blood." Mused Bruce.

"Sir Jason? You really don't wanna get mixed up in his whole deal, Bruce. Trust me on this. Just let me do it." Tried Jackie.

"It's already done. I've wired him his fee, and he'll be here in a few days to not only handle the binding but also exorcise Wu Ping. My primary concern right now is that no more Superman-Level Opponents come to Gotham." Refused Bruce.

"Look, Bruce, I know you don't really do magic, but this ain't gonna go the way you want. Sir Jason ain't exactly the most stable. He shares his Psyche with a Godsdamned Demon. Even you've gotta know what kinda bad Juju that can bring when dealing with a Dark Sorcerer like Wu Ping." Pointed out Jackie.

"It's done, Jackie. We're moving on. If you don't need to deal with Wu Ping and the Vase, how soon can you be out of Gotham?" Reiterated Bruce.

"Forty-eight hours at the latest, but when Wu Ping fucks with Etrigan through Sir Jason, and when this whole thing blows up on you, don't come crawling to me 'bout it, cause I ain't gonna say shit 'cept I told you so." Scowled Jackie.

"Your objection's been noted." Intoned Bruce.

"Fine. Grand. Fucking Peachy." Sighed Jackie.

And with that, Jackie made his way out of the Batcave and back toward Yuen Manor. His Uncles were a bit shocked he was gonna be heading out to New York City, but not that shocked. Apparently, they expected something like this when Bixi showed up. Still, it don't make it any easier a pill to swallow. His Uncle Chen cooked up a buncha different dishes, Chicken and Beef Fried Rice, Pork Wonton Soup, Jiaozi, the works. It was Steph who got hit the hardest by his leaving, though.

"If the Bats make you leave, how soon before they do the same to me? Or any of us?" She questioned.

"I doubt they'll force you to leave, Steph. You ain't had a front page spread with you dealing with Bixi live in technicolor to draw the Superman-level crazies to you." Pointed out Jackie.

"Still, I don't like that he can just make you leave like that. Who does he think he is? The King of Gotham or something?" Queried Steph.

"It's for the best, really." Insisted Jackie's Uncle Chen.

"Yeah, besides, I couldn't keep taking time off to watch out for him, after all." Nodded Jackie's Uncle Li.

"You're leaving too?" Asked Steph.

"Sorry, but Duty Calls. The Old Man put me on a timer for getting back to being the Family Troubleshooter, and with Jackie headed to New York City, that timer's been sped up a lot." Shrugged Jackie's Uncle Li.

"I'll still be here to keep an eye on things, and Wen will pop in and out, like he tends to do. You won't be alone." Offered Jackie's Uncle Chen.

"That's not what it feels like." Grumbled Steph.

"Hey. You know I ain't ever gonna leave you alone, right? You say the word, and I'll come running down from New York City, Bat or no Bat." Intoned Jackie.

"You'd better." Huffed Steph.

"Promise." Nodded Jackie.

With that, Dinner Turned to more fun subjects. Steph's time at school, the latest Hong Kong Action movies, Music, that sorta thing. Eventually, though, the food was eaten, and all that was left was to clear the dishes, wash up, and head to bed. Jackie'd already packed what he needed to into a buncha armory bags, which were sitting in his Camaro. This would be the last night he'd spend in the Yuen Manor in Gotham. He'd be leaving in the morning for New York City, after all. He hugged his Uncles and his Adoptive Kid Sister, and headed off to bed for the night, hoping to get a full night's sleep.

When morning came, he'd be hitting the road for New York City, Gotham in the rear view mirror as he drove outta Bristol County toward the North. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, so here we have the next chapter. Jackie manages to beat Neutron, but gets beaten up in the process badly enough that it took a bunch of Healing Chi Pills to heal from. That in turn made him realize that Gotham just wasn't set up for these kinds of opponents, and that if it turned into the sort of thing that Metropolis did for Superman, he'd eventually get overwhelmed. If that happened, Bruce, Tim, and Babs wouldn't be able to deal with whoever was strong enough to beat him. That, in turn, meant that Bruce was right and he needed to leave, though Steph wasn't taking it well.

Now, Jackie's off to New York City, not just for a one-off mission to deal with someone like Papa Midnite, but to actually live there. Fortunately, he has contact info for the JSA, and they aren't the only ones in New York City. Lest we forget, NYC is also home to Power Girl and Firestorm, both of which can act as backup in a fight against a Superman-level opponent while Jackie gets mentored in the finer points of being a superhero by the members of the DCU's original Super-team.

At any rate, the next chapter will include Jackie's Arrival in New York City, then I'll have an interlude showing Bruce and Etrigan trying to deal with Wu Ping's Ghost back in Gotham, before we return to Jackie in New York City.

Stay tuned. . .