'In the Shadow of Bane'
(This story is set in the world of 'The F.U.T.A.' It is a sequel to a story I co-wrote with squarepeg3d for his comic series. That comic is called 'Bane of all Things.' The title was a bit of a play on words. It was a joy to work on and I've been given his permission to take those characters for another walk. This new story was written with BillyBatson the actual mastermind and creator of Emiko Kasunaga and her guardian/bodyguard Mizu. I had plenty of back and forth with him about how his characters would behave and react in all the situations the story throws up. His input was priceless and is one of the reasons I'm so proud of our tale. So please enjoy our Story... )
Chapter 9, "Grand Master Goddess!"
It took over two hours before the crew was set up for the next part of the shoot. Emi watched the monitors closely. After her big scene, and all the activities it had entailed, she should have been much more relaxed. Probably exhausted. Instead she was super excited. She was in the technical centre. A curtained off room everything fed into. Ten monitors were arrayed in front of her, four of which were split screen feeds. Multiple digital recording racks blinked and flashed in merry compliance. A couple of laptops acted as a controlling hub. To the uninitiated it looked extremely complex. Emi however could see the wondrous simplicity of it all. Back on screen she watched the final preparations taking place. She was buzzing.
Mizu had spent a good thirty minutes walking around the set with Shaylah and Sunny. Ingrid and Rose, the two hand held camera operators, had also been in close attendance. There had been discussions. Mizu was the focus. She nodded from time to time in understanding, taking in the information. Emi noticed Ingrid pointing out the location of each camera. Shaylah would at times describe something, an action or a pose she hoped to get. Mizu would nod. A few times she would shake her head in a negative way, pointing something out. Then Shaylah, Sunny and the others would be the ones listening. There were a few grins and even a 'Guffaw' of laughter from Ingrid, which Emi heard clearly all the way from the room. Cameras got moved. Angles got changed. Emi watched as tape was applied to the ground. Locations were marked. Placements indicated. None of them could be seen on the monitors. Mizu seemed to be the one directing this endeavour.
Fox appeared with hot drinks for all and sundry. There was more chat. Ingrid, Rose and Sunny led her around the set, filling her in on what was happening. From what Emi could see on screen, Fox only appeared to be half listening.
The only other thing of note was a sound from downstairs. Emi was almost certain she heard eight or nine sharp cracks. A few minutes later Shaylah and a laughing Mizu appeared. She didn't hear what was said, just Mizu's final words, "trust me."
The set was cleared. Actors moved to their positions. The space suddenly seemed completely empty. Except for one monitor. The camera feed was fixed looking across a section of the pillared warehouse. In the shadow of the third column stood Mizu. It was the only shot she was visible in. Ingrid and Rose, were shadowy shapes, as they moved to take up their positions. Fox, Emi knew, was hiding in place, awaiting her cue.
About thirty seconds passed. Shaylah called for a final check on camera status, Emi, from her position, could see everything was working perfectly and gave the check signal. She was part of the behind the scenes crew now. It was so exciting. A few moments later Shaylah called action.
.....
Batgirl crept through the open doors into a cavernous empty warehouse. Large high windows allowed the street lighting to illuminate the space. It created a pattern of long shadows and shade. The idea of light, but really it just caused variety amongst the shade.
"I'm sure I saw something," whispered Sunny, monologuing for the benefit of the audience. "Perhaps it was just a trick of the light."
She took a few more steps. Then straightened up as if she had decided there was nothing. A soft green light flickered, about the midpoint of the chamber. It looked like the reflected glow of a digital device, a mobile phone most likely.
"There really is someone here," she whispered, knowing the audience couldn't read her mind, "but who, and what are they doing here?"
She crept forward again. Moving from one column to another. Trying to stay as hidden as she could. The light flickered again. She could make out the leg of a desk chair, but the rest was hidden behind a thick pillar.
"Could someone be on the phone?" she whispered, "No that would be silly, I would hear them, perhaps they're texting."
She stealthily moved forward. Then dashed the last few feet, lunging around the column to catch the interloper. There was indeed a chair, and a mobile phone, but no person. There was also a set of handcuffs. The phone blinked again. There was a message pending. Batgirl picked up the phone and scrolled to 'Message Select.'
"This is a trap! You have two choices," she read aloud, "Either, put on the cuffs and sit down, or...."
The message ended. She looked quizzically at the phone, "or what?"
"Or I will put them on you," said a sultry voice from the darkness.
Sunny dropped the phone startled, then shifted into a fighting stance.
"Who are you?" she demanded. The leather of her gloves creaked slightly as she clenched her fists.
"Hmm, hero costumes seemed to have changed somewhat since I was last here," spoke the voice again. A figure detached itself from the shadows and stepped forward. "Certainly, there used to be a lot more..." she paused looking at Sunny's nudity, her eye's glinted in the darkness, "material to them. Don't you get cold parading around like that? Though, I'm sure you're popular."
Sunny blinked then looked down at herself, suddenly aware of her lack of clothing.
"You didn't answer my question," said Sunny forcefully, "are you a friend or foe?"
The figure stepped further into the light. She was tall, taller than the Batgirl. Her hair was dark, the cut put most of Mizu's face in shadow. Fox had altered the line of her eyebrows. The eyes were now less friendly, less forgiving. The facial make-up emphasised certain characteristics and altered others. It was still Mizu, but a much darker, villainous version. A crooked smile, like a predator examining a curiosity, touched only her mouth.
"Questions of identity are so subjective," she said with a heavy sigh. She paused considering her next words carefully.
"Like you, I'm a friend to those who are... deserving," she said lightly, her left hand waved, indicating the windows and the world beyond. She looked to the city. Her smile became warm and disarming. The Batgirl, eased her stance, relaxing.
Then the smile vanished and was replaced by a cruel hate filled grimace. The hands twisted into fists. Her stance changed from peaceful to entirely menacing. She seemed to grow in size, but perhaps that was just a trick of the shadows.
"And like you. I can be a foe to those who earn retribution," she said, her words sharp and venomous.
Sunny felt a shiver of actual fear and stepped backwards. Her brain almost entering fight or flight mode. A few feet away, from her hiding place, she heard Fox's voice, a quiet 'Fuck me!' She fought back her instincts and sought her next line.
"Your name, what is your name?" she said finally. Her voice sounded weak, scared. She was.
Mizu stepped forward completely now, revealing herself and her costume, before stating her name.
"Some once called me Lady Shiva," she said. Her eyes wandered for a moment as if remembering something from long ago.
Then she refocused on Sunny. Fully on Sunny, "but you will know me as vengeance. As the reason you will always fear the darkness, and after tonight. Always look to it. Crave it." Her voice was hard and cold. It wasn't a statement of possibility, but a statement of what would be.
"I... I don't understand," stuttered Sunny.
"Did you really think you could capture Bane, inflict your sordid practices on Bane, and be allowed to pay no price?" spat Lady Shiva, she closed the distance to Sunny, "The League of Shadows suffers no insults, but pays them back in kind."
Sunny's eyes flashed wide, recognising the situation. Recognising this Lady Shiva as an enemy. She swung a fist dramatically at Mizu, who sidestepped the attack with nonchalant ease, then pushed the redhead away. Sunny stumbled behind a column. Out of camera view, and into the arms of Fox.
"Nice job Sunny," whispered her double, "now watch me make Mizu work."
Fox spun around the far side of the column and raced at Mizu. In the darkness and shadow the differences in actresses was lost. Only the Batgirl custom defined who was who. Fox was the Batgirl now and the battle was about to begin. She had considered going easy on Mizu. Her ego, though, demanded she establish who was top dog.
She started with a flying kick that Mizu simply side stepped. Then a series of punches, hooks and jabs. Mizu stepped away from some, slipped aside from others. She neither blocked nor returned any attack. It was like trying to strike a ghost. Another flurry of blows and Fox was yet to make contact. It was becoming alarming. It was as if Mizu could read her every move, almost before she made it.
Fox changed tactics and feinted to jab, but instead spun into a back kick. Finally contact, though not the result she'd expected. Mizu blocked with a forearm that felt like an iron bar, and then slapped her hard on the ass with her free hand. The impact made her yelp! Her eyes met the Lady Shiva costumed actress, who smiled. Right, she thought. The gloves were off. No holding back.
She attacked again, varying her combinations, frenetically trying to catch the clothed fighter off guard. Mizu for her part had stopped simply dodging. She blocked more than half the blows now, yet still dodged the others.
It took Fox a minute to realise that Mizu was guiding her to the areas of best lighting. At times she was reacting as if Fox had actually hit her. She had done no such thing, it was slightly frustrating. No, in fact it was hugely frustrating.
"You fight well little one," said Shiva, as she countered a combination of kicks, "but I grow bored of our little dance. What say you put on those handcuffs and we move on."
Fox was about to say something when Sunny's voice sounded out, "No chance Shiva, tonight there will be justice."
Fox had two thoughts in that moment. The first was, 'who the hell thought up that corny line.' The second was, 'for fuck sake Sunny, don't piss her off!'
"Oh I agree little one," laughed Mizu, and changed her stance, "tonight there will be justice."
Fox swung for Mizu's head. The guardian leaned out of the way, then used Fox's momentum against her. Spinning forwards into a new area of the set. Fox turned preparing to attack, but now she was completely on the defensive.
Mizu's attacks were blindingly fast. She was struck twice on the side before she had even registered the blows were coming. The expected bloom of pain didn't come, instead she felt only the slightest touch. Another sequence of moves ended in a pattering of soft taps on her abdomen and thigh. Her body had already started to react in anticipation of a pummelling that didn't occur. Mizu was pulling her blows. Fox knew then she was over matched. This was not an equal fight. Mizu was extraordinary. She began to watch her eyes and things became easier.
