There's this unspoken thing called a "shoot interview" where a person who is supposed to play a specific character on a TV series or radio show, suddenly breaks character and conducts a Real Life interview.

Now it was Nightwing's turn to conduct some "shoot interviews" of his own. Bludhaven had its share of gangsters and mobsters. Each one presented a certain "Presence" or "rep". Nightwing was planning on breaking through these "false identities" to get to the "cowardly superstitious" criminal in each heart. This in turn would grant him the information he needed. There was only one question Nightwing had to ask himself.

"Where do I begin?"

DC LEGENDS Presents...

NIGHTWING DCL #1
"Working The Shoot"

Written by Keith Leighton

BLUDHAVEN DAY 1

Underneath the shadows of the Littleneck Narrows Bridge, Ricky Noone smiled as he watched his boys work. Rocky and Bugsy were engaged in the line of work Ricky specialized in. This is how things worked in 'Haven. One you borrow money from Angel Marin, two you miss a payment to Angel, three Ricky and friends come to readjust your insides.

Today's contestant was Thomas Duke. Tom had graduated from some upscale university, Ricky forgot which one, besides it wasn't important. What was important was the fact that after two years in 'Haven going nowhere, Thomas Duke turned to Angel Marin for help. Angel was glad to help; I mean you could never have too many lawyers in your pocket. And so Angel loaned Thomas one hundred thousand dollars. Thomas in return agreed to pay back one hundred and fifty thousand in two hundred dollar intervals.

Thomas missed last month's payment.

Rocky punched Thomas once more in the ribs and Thomas spit out blood. "I told you.... I don't have the money."

"Well then." Ricky grinned, pulling a hacksaw out of his trench coat. "Looks like we will be accepting an alternate form of payment boys."

Bugsy and Rocky forced Thomas' had down on the hood of his own car as Ricky placed the hacksaw on Thomas' wrist.

"Tell me if it hurts."

A modified Batarang that resembled Nightwing's mask struck a nerve bundle at the base of Ricky's hand. Ricky reeled and turned as Rocky and Bugsy let go of Thomas and turned towards the source of the offending weapon.

From beneath the shadows of the bridge supports came the voice, deep menacing and fierce. "I'm sure you'll tell me if this hurts too Ricky?"

The three enforces reached and drew from their coats the guns they kept stored there and fired towards the source of the voice. Part of the shadow broke free and took form, flipping over the stream of bullets until Nightwing's left foot connected with Rocky's nose shattering it.

Bugsy and Ricky turned to fire again, but Nightwing was airborne again, grasping one of the support struts about ten feet above them. Ricky and Bugsy tried to maintain their aim on the vigilante as he twirled over the support as if it was a parallel bar and released to fly towards Bugsy. Nightwing wrapped his legs around Bugsy's neck and threw his entire body weight forward planting his hands and hurling Bugsy into the windshield of Thomas' car. Thomas who was now cowering in the car screamed as Bugsy flew into the back seat of his car.

Nightwing turned to face Ricky.

Ricky leveled the gun at Nightwing's face and pulled the trigger.

--CLICK--

Ricky went for the reload clip, Nightwing leaped forward, flipping, grasping Ricky's wrist in the middle of the flip, and then turning that hold into a judo throw as he planted his feet on the ground behind Ricky. Ricky landed six feet in front of Nightwing and began to search the ground for his gun.

"Looking for this?" Nightwing asked as he held up the 45 Ricky had been using. In one swift movement Nightwing took the slide off of the gun and threw them both into the river. Then even swifter he had Ricky by the lapels of his coat. "I DON'T LIKE GUNS."

Nightwing shoved Ricky to the ground. "Even worse I don't like thugs who can't count." Nightwing cracked his knuckles. "Now, lets talk business."

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DAY 2
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Wilkins Bar was just next to the tracks of the Red Line South. Every five hours the train that would pass by drowned the noise of the bar out. Wilkins had everything a bar could want, strippers, several brands of beer on tap, and one other special point of note. It had been built slap back against an abandoned warehouse. The warehouse had been purchased by an anonymous buyer, and sealed up. A secret entrance in the back of Wilkins had been built. The Warehouse was now the primary Meth and Crack factory in 'Haven.

Nightwing looked down into the bar from the skylight above. Fort Knox has fewer guards. Reaching behind him he grabbed the Escrima sticks from their place on his back. Just as the 2am train began its pass he dove into the room. Glass and vigilante rained down upon the patrons of Wilkins but only the sound of the train could be heard. Nightwing landed square on his feet in the center of the pool table.

Before anyone had a chance to react, the martial arts weapons had laid out the two goons closest.

Nightwing hurled one of the batons at the hand of the quickest goon who was bringing a gun to bear. The stick contacted and broke several bones in the man's hand.

Two men dove towards the pool table, and Nightwing leapt up, landing on the light above the table long enough to shove himself off of it and send it crashing down onto the two men's heads.

He landed after doing a flip twist behind another one of the "goon squad" as he had called them all in his mind.

One of the goons hit the panic button that alerted the men in the warehouse. Nightwing cursed under his breath and pegged the button pusher in the head with the eight ball he had taken from the pool table.

The goon he had landed behind tackled him hard driving Nightwing's back into the bar. Nightwing let out the air to absorb the blow but he still felt a rib go.

Reacting on pure training, he slammed both hands into the sides of his attackers ears, causing a brief bout of vertigo. The goon staggered back, and Nightwing laid him out with a swift roundhouse kick.

Then the door to the back room opened.

When it rains it pours. Nightwing's hand lanced out and several small balls struck the floor, Soon the room was full of the smoke pellets' effects, and Nightwing launched himself through four more thugs before entering the warehouse.

"Sulieman!" Nightwing scanned the room with his flashlight. "I know your here Ali, I know you want to tell me what I want to know."

Sulieman Thomas Ali charged Nightwing from behind a crack table. Nightwing leapfrogged over Ali and turned to face him. But Ali had run out the door. Nightwing gave chase, but by the time he reached the front door a car was already speeding off from the bar.

I need a car. Nightwing walked back into the bar and began to collect the guns of the thugs.

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INTERLUDE: Gotham City
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Too long had he endured the torment of his enemy. Too long had he cast his shadow over the city of Gotham, and watched as people cowered in fear before him and his power. Soon it would be over, soon the end would come.

Ralph G. Bradley smiled as he assembled the sniper rifle he had purchased off of the black market. He had a childlike fondness for the weapon. As he attached the scope he held the rifle out for his inspection. Yes it will do.

Ralph spun the weapon, tucking the stock into his shoulder, his hand on the wood under the barrel his other hand on the grip and trigger. Sighting through the scope he scanned the wall of his room until he found his target.

On the wall hung a copy of Time Magazine. A pristine bust shot of Bruce Wayne was on the cover in black and white, the caption read "Gotham's Favorite Son Honored."

And Ralph placed the crosshairs of his new toy right on Bruce's forehead.

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TO BE CONTINUED
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