The king sat high upon his throne, his courtiers packed the hall.
A thousand splendid lamps shone bright, illuminating the glorious feast.
They laughed and jeered, their voices crashing like thunder.
-"Sword of God"
Dark clouds gradually gathered overhead, then a fine drizzle began to fall, draping the entire square in a damp, chilly web of gray.
"I hate Gotham's weather. Seriously. Open the window and it's damp. Keep it closed and it's stuffy."
Li Jie cracked the car window and watched the rain soak the polished obsidian tiles of the square until they gleamed like mirrors, reflecting the tower's cold, distorted silhouette. GCPD officers were doing their best to persuade the reporters camped there to leave.
"If these guys film Black Mask when he gets here and broadcast it, that'll be one hell of a story." Wilson chuckled with a hint of schadenfreude. "Wonder if His Honor the mayor can still keep a lid on it."
"Hard to say. What if Gordon puts up a good fight? Then it's the Gotham Police Department bravely defeating terrorists. There's a political achievement right there." Li Jie shrugged. "Besides, as long as they save Wayne Tower and keep the reporters happy, how would the public know how well they fought or how many casualties there were? Hm?"
A low, thunderous rumble came from the horizon. He looked up, but no lightning flashed among the clouds. Meanwhile, ripples suddenly spread through the puddles on the ground.
"Prepare for combat!"
Gordon's hoarse shout rang out over the radio channel. The officers maintaining order abandoned the reporters and cameramen still waving their credentials and gesticulating, drew their guns, and sprinted behind the defensive line of police cars. Each found cover and stared intently ahead.
"Stay mobile," Li Jie instructed quietly. "Safety first."
Wilson tightened his