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scans_dailyHe'd been cautious already in issue #1, but the antagonistic superintelligence born in the greater cyber-system of Gotham had still aimed an agent his way.
That Sword had struck to " keep the line flat " - had taken lives to balance ones Terry'd saved, and intended him to be among the dead.
The blow was a near-center hit to the target - people died, but Terry wasn't among them.
" I am not a villain to be pummeled. " the Living Gotham said into Terry's ear.
" I am the system of your world..
" .. End this folly. Let them die. "
" Never. " responded Terry.
After recovering from his fall, he set about stripping his suit and himself of everything that the Living Gotham could sense.
' If I'm going to save this city..
' .. she can't see me coming. '
Terry managed to access some insurance claim records.
Terry confronted the jewel-processor: " .. let's cut right to the chase.
" Who's bringing you the jewels? "
That party in the transaction broke into the conversation: " We. Are. Gestalt.
" And we are leaving. "
They left, jewels in tendril - Terry followed, marveling at their capabilities.
' .. they're fast..
' They're also highly coordinated - I wouldn't be surprised if each of their squid-y bits has its own AI.
' He laughs. '
Gestalt wove out of the nest of clowns they'd dropped Terry into.
' And they'll do everything they can to distract you from that. '
Terry got away from the Jokerz, catching up to Gestalt - and catching them.
He explained the Living Gotham to them.
They responded.
Gestalt's story went down their wires into Terry's senses - they'd once been three engineers.
' Together. '
' Together. '
' Together. '
They released him.
(The effect in the first panel, the reflectiveness of Terry's eyes, is very good.)
There was Terry on the rooftop, Gestalt in the wind, the jewels landing on the streets below..
.. and Gotham's Sword, still intent on decrementing the delta.
(Pagecount's 7 and under 2/10ths of 22 from Batman Beyond: Neo-Year #2 back in May 2022.
Writing's Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing. Art's Max Dunbar, colors're Sebastian Cheng, and letters're Aditya Bidikar.
Publisher's DC.)
That Sword had struck to " keep the line flat " - had taken lives to balance ones Terry'd saved, and intended him to be among the dead.
The blow was a near-center hit to the target - people died, but Terry wasn't among them.
" I am not a villain to be pummeled. " the Living Gotham said into Terry's ear.
" I am the system of your world..
" .. End this folly. Let them die. "
" Never. " responded Terry.
After recovering from his fall, he set about stripping his suit and himself of everything that the Living Gotham could sense.
' If I'm going to save this city..
' .. she can't see me coming. '
Terry managed to access some insurance claim records.
Terry confronted the jewel-processor: " .. let's cut right to the chase.
" Who's bringing you the jewels? "
That party in the transaction broke into the conversation: " We. Are. Gestalt.
" And we are leaving. "
They left, jewels in tendril - Terry followed, marveling at their capabilities.
' .. they're fast..
' They're also highly coordinated - I wouldn't be surprised if each of their squid-y bits has its own AI.
' He laughs. '
Gestalt wove out of the nest of clowns they'd dropped Terry into.
' And they'll do everything they can to distract you from that. '
Terry got away from the Jokerz, catching up to Gestalt - and catching them.
He explained the Living Gotham to them.
They responded.
Gestalt's story went down their wires into Terry's senses - they'd once been three engineers.
' Together. '
' Together. '
' Together. '
They released him.
(The effect in the first panel, the reflectiveness of Terry's eyes, is very good.)
There was Terry on the rooftop, Gestalt in the wind, the jewels landing on the streets below..
.. and Gotham's Sword, still intent on decrementing the delta.
(Pagecount's 7 and under 2/10ths of 22 from Batman Beyond: Neo-Year #2 back in May 2022.
Writing's Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing. Art's Max Dunbar, colors're Sebastian Cheng, and letters're Aditya Bidikar.
Publisher's DC.)
